TEC Drafts New Standard to Ensure Reliable Network Testing Tools for Cellular Networks

The Telecommunication Engineering Centre (TEC), under the Department of Telecommunications (DoT), has released a Draft Standard for Drive Tool Tester for Cellular Networks — Standard No. TEC 23040:2025. This draft aims to establish uniform testing and performance requirements for drive test tools used in evaluating cellular network quality across India. Drive tool testers play a vital role in assessing network coverage, signal strength, call quality, data speed, and overall user experience. With the expansion of 4G and 5G technologies, TEC’s new draft standard seeks to ensure that all drive testing tools comply with advanced technical and functional benchmarks.

Purpose of the Draft Standard

The newly proposed standard is designed to:

• Define the functional, quality, safety, and security requirements for drive test tools.
• Support all major radio access technologies — 2G (GSM), 3G (WCDMA), 4G (LTE/LTE-A), and 5G (NR).
• Enhance data consistency, reliability, and comparability of network performance results.
• Promote standardization and interoperability among testing solutions used by telecom operators, equipment manufacturers, and regulators.

Key Features Highlighted in the Draft

The draft standard specifies several important technical and operational requirements, including:

• Capability to perform coverage and performance testing for multi-technology networks (2G–5G).
• Support for data and voice testing, including VoLTE and VoNR.
• Integrated GPS-based location tracking during drive testing.
• Scanning of all frequency bands and capturing key network parameters.
• Post-processing and reporting tools to analyze test data efficiently.
• Compliance with EMI/EMC, safety, and security standards defined by TEC.

These measures will ensure that drive tool testers deliver accurate, secure, and consistent results — critical for improving network quality and user satisfaction.

Impact on the Telecom Industry

The introduction of this draft standard is a significant move towards ensuring network reliability and transparency in India’s telecom sector. By standardizing the performance of drive testing tools, TEC aims to:

• Strengthen quality of service (QoS) monitoring for telecom operators.
• Help identify coverage gaps, call drops, and network issues more effectively.
• Facilitate better compliance and reporting to regulatory authorities.
• Support India’s goal of expanding robust 5G infrastructure across the nation.

Public Consultation and Next Steps

The draft is currently open for stakeholder comments for a 60-day consultation period. Industry experts, telecom operators, vendors, and other stakeholders are invited to review and provide feedback before TEC finalizes the standard. Once approved, this standard will guide both telecom service providers and equipment manufacturers in ensuring their network testing tools meet TEC’s updated requirements. Conclusion The TEC Draft Standard for Drive Tool Tester for Cellular Networks represents a major step towards improving network testing quality, transparency, and reliability in India’s fast-growing telecom ecosystem. By setting clear and consistent guidelines, TEC is paving the way for more accurate performance assessments and enhanced mobile connectivity experiences nationwide.