Press Information Bureau

Government of India

Ministry of Communications & Information Technology

21-January-2013 14:02 IST

Union Minister for Communications and IT, Shri Kapil Sibal inaugurated the Specific Absorption Rate (SAR) lab, which will audit the SAR values of mobile phones; and the Next Generation Network (NGN) lab in the Telecommunication Engineering Centre (TEC), here today.  Shri Sibal pointed out that while world standards with regard to SAR had been adopted earlier, we are adopting even more stringent standards as in the USA, Brazil, China and in some other countries. He underlined that health safeguards have to be a priority. The minister asked the TEC to prepare their equipment for testing 4G and also 5G .

Specific Absorption Rate (SAR) lab in TEC

The Telecommunication Engineering Centre has commissioned a Lab for measurement of Specific Absorption Rate (SAR) for the mobile handsets.  SAR is closely related to electric field strengths produced inside human body tissues while making calls.  Lower the value of SAR, safer the mobile handset for the human use.

The TEC SAR Lab is one of its kind as it is the first lab in India for independent audit of SAR value, self-certified by mobile handset manufacturers and importers in India.  The lab utilizes the existing radio frequency chamber available with TEC.

As per the DoT Memorandum of January 25, 2012, the mobile handset manufacturers in India have to provide self-declaration of SAR value on the handsets.  As regards imported handsets from other countries, manufacturers, apart from self-declaration of SAR, shall specify the SAR information on their documents for verification by the appropriate authority.  Suitable amendments in the Indian Telegraph Rules under Indian Telegraph Act 1985 shall be enacted for strict compliance.  As per this Memorandum, TEC has been mandated to conduct the audit on self-certified mobile handsets.

This Lab is capable of making SAR measurement for CDMA, GSM 2G and 3G mobile handsets in the frequency band of 800 MHz, 900 MHz, 1800 MHz and 2100 MHz.  The lab is also capable of measuring SAR value against the International Commission on non-Ionizing Radio Protection (ICNIRP) limit of 2 Watt per Kilogram measured over 10 gm. of tissue as well as the recently   adopted unit in human i.e. 1.6 Watt per Kg measured over 1 gm of tissue. The will also undertake request from mobile handset manufacturers for testing the devices on their request, for a fee.

Next Generation Network (NGN) lab in TEC

The Next Generation Network (NGN) lab in TEC is a unique test infrastructure in the country  which is capable of subjecting Internet Protocol (IP) based equipment for Conformance and Interoperability testing. The cost of the lab is Rupees 3.5 crore. The lab is equipped with Testing and Measurement Equipment manufactured by M/s Spirent of USA and supplied by  M/s Sterlite as System Integrator.

Internet Protocol (IP) address is a basic requirement for accessing Internet and Internet-enabled services. Internet Protocol version 4 (IPv4) address  space has been exhausted and IPv6 has taken off. NGN lab has the capability to test both IPv4 and IPv6 and the migration scenarios. The lab also supports the NGN based Interconnection and Voice Over Internet Protocol (VoIP). Introduction of VoIP and transition to IPv6 is envisaged in NTP-2012.

The IPv6 testing is one of the key features of NGN lab. IPv6 Ready Logo Forum which is international body, has been approached for accreditation for IPv6 testing. It is targeted to obtain IPv6 Ready Logo Certification by March 31, 2013.

Remote Testing of the products from the NGN lab is one of the key features. The lab is upgradable from the present 1G/10G Electrical/Optical Interfaces to 40G/100G optical interfaces. The test facility can also be augmented to take care of testing of Cloud Computing based implementations.

Expected Users of the lab are Equipment Vendors of NGN products, Application Software Providers, Indigenous Manufacturers of EPABX/IP based equipment and Academic Institutions. IIT Kanpur has tested their IPv6 traffic tool which is installed in ALTTC, BSNL.  CDOT has now offered its GPON equipment for Network Management Interface testing.

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MV/RK

SAR compliance strengthened as self-declared handset values face independent audit and regulatory amendment nationwide. The SAR lab will independently audit SAR values self-declared by mobile handset manufacturers and importers pursuant to the DoT memorandum, with TEC mandated to conduct audits and proposed amendments to the Indian Telegraph Rules to ensure strict compliance; the lab measures SAR across CDMA and GSM bands against international limits including the ICNIRP-derived metric and the 1.6 W/kg standard and will provide fee-based testing on request.