Apple, Samsung to benefit from India’s new parallel testing strategy: report
India is reportedly planning to test different components of electronic devices simultaneously to speed up their safety approvals. The new strategy is expected to boost the launch plans of smartphone giants such as Apple, Samsung and Xiaomi. Currently, it takes 16-21 weeks to test and certify products such as wireless earbuds and smartphones. The new method could shave off five to eight weeks from that. Earbuds could be tested faster first, and the government is likely to decide on other products later.
According to a report by Reuters, India will try to speed up safety approvals for new electronic devices through parallel testing. The plan to test different components of the devices simultaneously could shave five to eight weeks off the currently required period of 16 to 21 weeks.
According to the report, the decision for the pilot was taken after a closed-door meeting on Wednesday between officials from the Ministry of Electronics and Information and Technology (MeitY), the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS), the Manufacturers Association for Information Technology (MAIT) and executives from companies including Apple and Samsung.
“For the industry, it is directly linked to ease of doing business; for consumers, it will result in faster access to latest products,” Reuters quoted MAIT as saying in a statement. The Bureau of Indian Standards “has approved a pilot project under which a number of identified electronic hardware products will be tested in parallel,” it added.
The report, citing executives, suggests the testing process could take 16 weeks for a new Apple AirPods model. The procedure can take up to 21 weeks on average for smartphones and their components. Initially, earbuds will reportedly be tested more quickly, with the government deciding on other products later.
The government has clearly set a target of $300 billion in electronic products by 2026. This new measure could remove bottlenecks for businesses in the country.
Xiaomi, Samsung and Apple, which sell the most smartphones in India, are expected to benefit from this move.
