The Global Certification Forum (GCF) and the Cellular Operators Association of India (COAI) inked a deal to work together to promote interoperability for devices entering the country’s mobile market.

In a statement, the pair said that the Indian market is growing at a rate of 20 per cent per year, with more than 600 devices launched annually. “However, issues with low quality handsets are undermining the experience of mobile users generally and increasing costs for network operators”, it continued.

GCF and COAI will work to identify potential certification requirements that may be specific to India, such as high temperature resistance and performance issues that are not yet part of the global scheme.

GCF said that although “most of the best-selling, higher tier handsets from well known international brands are already GCF-certified, extending certification to lower tier devices can contribute to an improved mobile experience for all consumers”.