International market access information in October

Vietnam TQC increases TAC certification fees.

According to Decision No. 213/Q?-TT?LCL dated October 18, 2024, Vietnam Telecommunications Metrology and Quality Center TQC announced that it will increase TAC certification fees.

TQC is a subsidiary of VNTA and is the first and only conformity assessment certification body designated by the Ministry of Information and Communications of Vietnam for IT products and radio equipment.

The new TAC certification fee standard will be implemented on November 1, 2024.

Vietnam MIC announces the launch of 5G network.

On October 16, 2024, Vietnam's Ministry of Information and Communications MIC issued a press release announcing that its mobile company Viettel launched Vietnam's first 5G network and became the first company in Vietnam to officially provide 5G services.

The press release claimed that Viettel's 5G network provides speeds ranging from 700mbps to 1gbps, which is 10 times faster than 4G and has almost zero latency. It can realize instant response services such as self-driving cars, remote surgery, remote control of smart factories, virtual reality classrooms, etc.

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) of the United States revised the requirements for wireless microphones.

On October 8, 2024, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) of the United States issued the final rule of Appendix A of FCC Report 24-22, which revised the requirements of Part 15 and Part 74 of the wireless microphones for the TV band, 600 MHz guard band, 600 MHz duplex gap, 941.5-944 MHz, 944-952 MHz, 952.850-956.250 MHz, 956.45-959.85 MHz, 1435-1525 MHz, 6875-6900 MHz and 7100-7125 MHz bands.

On October 18, 2024, the FCC issued the final rule for wireless microphones in the above-mentioned bands and revised the technical rules for low-power auxiliary station (LPAS) equipment to allow the operation of the newly developed system-Wireless Multi-channel Audio System (WMAS).

These regulations shall come into force on November 18, 2024.

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) of the United States requires all mobile devices to be compatible with hearing aids.

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) of the United States issued new regulations on October 17, 2024, requiring all mobile devices (such as smartphones) to be compatible with hearing aids.

At the same time, the FCC also formulated Bluetooth coupling requirements to encourage mobile phone manufacturers to abandon proprietary Bluetooth coupling standards to ensure more universal connections between mobile devices and hearing aids (including over-the-counter hearing aids).

The US FCC allows NGSO to carry out fixed satellite services in the 17.3-17.8 GHz frequency band.

The US Federal Communications Commission (FCC) issued a notice on September 27, 2024, to amend Part 2 and Part 25 of the Commission's rules to allow NGSO fixed satellite services (space station to Earth) to operate in the 17.3-17.8 frequency band.

The announcement claims that it will allow non-geostationary satellite orbit (NGSO) space stations to use the fixed satellite service (FSS) 17.3-17.7 GHz frequency band in the space station to Earth (downlink) direction on a co-primary basis with existing services and a co-primary basis with geostationary satellite orbit (GSO) space stations. It also allows NGSO FSS to use the downlink of the 17.7-17.8 GHz frequency band on a co-primary basis with GSO FSS services and on an unprotected basis for terrestrial fixed services. It also allows NGSO to authorize ground stations to receive FSS and authorize dynamic ground stations (es) to receive FSS from NGSO systems on an unprotected basis. By establishing appropriate technical safeguards, NGSO FSS can efficiently and effectively share the 17 GHz band with GSO FSS, broadcasting satellite service (BSS) and existing terrestrial fixed services without causing harmful interference.

Andorra Telecom plans to shut down the 3G network.

Andorra Telecom announced on October 14, 2024, that it will gradually shut down its 3G network to improve the efficiency of 4G and 5G networks. At present, Andorra has not announced the specific date for shutting down the 3G network, which is expected to be implemented in October 2026.

China Certification Quality Center CQC releases new standards for power products for household appliances and similar electrical appliances.

On October 12, 2024, China Certification Quality Center CQC issued a notice on the implementation of new standards for external power adapters, chargers and built-in switching power supplies for household appliances and similar electrical appliances.

The notice announced that the new version of GB/T 4706.1-2024 "Safety of Household and Similar Electrical Appliances Part 1: General Requirements" will replace the old version of GB/T 4706.1-2005 and will be implemented on August 1, 2026;

GB 4343.1-2024 "Electromagnetic Compatibility Requirements for Household Appliances, Power Tools and Similar Equipment Part 1: Emission" will replace the old version of GB 4343.1-2018 and will be implemented on June 1, 2026.

EU publishes Cyber Resilience Act.

The European Parliament and the Council of the European Union published the Cyber Resilience Act (CRA) in the Official Journal of the European Union on October 10, 2024. The Act aims to strengthen the EU's approach to cybersecurity, address cyber resilience issues at the EU level, and improve the functioning of the internal market by establishing a unified legal framework for basic cybersecurity requirements for placing products with digital elements on the EU market.

The Cyber Resilience Act applies to market products with digital elements, supply chains, market consumer products with digital elements, smart home products, and other products with digital elements specified in the Regulation. It will enter into force on October 30, 2024, the 20th day after publication, and will be implemented on October 30, 2027, 36 months after it enters into force.

Brazil's ANATEL requires mobile devices to support VoLTE technology.

Brazil's ANATEL issued Atc No. 14430 on October 8, 2024. The bill stipulates that products such as modules, access terminals and mobile devices entering the Brazilian market must support voice calls using VoLTE (voice over LTE) technology, including emergency calls, and exchange text messages through IMS (IP Multimedia Subsystem). If such devices only have 3G or lower technology, they will not be able to pass certification to enter the local market.

The bill will take effect on April 26, 2025. Before the bill takes effect, devices with only 3G or lower technology can still operate normally in Brazil.

Egypt's National Telecommunications Authority NTRA issues 5G service licenses to mobile operators.

On October 7, 2024, Egypt's National Telecommunications Authority NTRA issued a press release announcing that Orange Egypt, Vodafone Egypt, E&egypt and Telecom Egypt have signed 5G mobile phone network operating licenses.

The press release stated that with the signing of the 5G mobile phone network operating license, all mobile operators have obtained permission to operate 5G networks, which will contribute to the technological development of Egypt's communications infrastructure and enhance the competitiveness of the Egyptian market in terms of delivery services and value services.

Philippines NTC recommends that certified SRD short-range devices update certificates.

The National Telecommunications Commission of the Philippines NTC previously issued Memorandum No. 002-07-2024, which allocated the 5925-6425 MHz frequency band for SRD short-range devices. On September 23, 2024, the NTC issued a memorandum recommending that persons who have previously obtained a Type Acceptance Certificate (TAC) or Equipment Qualification Certificate (GEC) for 6 GHz band equipment apply to modify the relevant TAC/GEC certificates.

The modified certificate will indicate the frequency band of such SRD short-range devices in the range of 5925-6425 MHz, and the certificate number will be the same as the original certificate number.

UAE MoIAT updates national conformity mark and performance label

The UAE Ministry of Industry and Advanced Technology, MoIAT, has adopted Ministerial Resolution No. 137 of 2024, dated September 16, 2024, to adopt a new national conformity mark and performance label for certifying compliance of goods in the UAE.

The new mark for ECAS LVE (IT/audio products) is the Compliant mark, as shown below:

To facilitate a smooth transition, MoIAT stipulates:

Existing products: Goods that have entered the UAE market will have a 12-month transition period, that is, they will comply with the new requirements before September 14, 2025;

New products: All new goods entering the UAE market will need to comply with the new requirements within six months from the date of the resolution, that is, before March 15, 2025.

Bangladesh BTRC approves the use of the 5925-6425 MHz frequency band.

The Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) issued a notification on September 15, 2024, announcing that the Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) approved the inclusion of the 5925-6425 MHz spectrum in the 6GHz band into the national spectrum allocation policy for shared use in cellular mobile networks (including Wi-Fi, LOT Internet of Things and WLAN wireless local area networks). BTRC also pointed out that to provide services commercially in the above-mentioned frequency band, prior approval of the Commission must be obtained before allocating Taranga and importing and using radio equipment.