On September 22, 2026, the Cambodian Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (TRC) issued an official announcement strictly prohibiting the import, supply, and distribution of counterfeit and second-hand telecom equipment, aiming to curb the influx of non-compliant devices. TRC considers these devices to pose significant risks to public safety, network integrity, and national infrastructure. The main points are as follows:

• Prohibit any entity from importing or selling counterfeit and second-hand telecom hardware (including mobile phones, routers, and network equipment), and only permit the sale of brand-new authorized products;
• All equipment must hold a valid type approval certificate issued by the TRC. Additionally, the relevant entity must maintain a valid "qualified agent" qualification or obtain an import license when conducting business;
• Relevant stakeholders must comply with the above requirements within 60 days from the date of the announcement. Violations may result in device confiscation, fines, and the closure of digital sales platforms.

Click this link to view the original announcement issued by TRC.

On April 23, 2026, the Telecommunications Regulatory Commission (TRC) of Cambodia introduced a new Type Approval framework for telecommunications equipment, which is currently in the public comment phase. The proposal brings significant updates to the certification, labeling, and compliance processes, which are as follows:

• The framework divides equipment into the following three categories according to the risk level: Class A (low risk), personal computers (PCs), printers, short-range communication equipment, power supply equipment, etc.; Class B (medium risk), routers, switches, satellite communication equipment, etc.; Class C (high risk), mobile phones, base stations, Internet of Things (IoT) infrastructure, etc.; When evaluating multi-functional devices, they will be judged based on the highest risk level involved;
• Mandatory local representative: Overseas manufacturers must appoint a qualified local agent in Cambodia. This agent will be responsible for managing certification matters and ensuring that products comply with national regulatory requirements;
• Compliance labeling becomes mandatory: The existing certificate labeling system has been continued and strengthened, and all approved products must be labeled with the TRC compliance label (format: QA-YYYY-XXXX) before being placed on the market. Without this label, companies will not be able to distribute their products in Cambodia;
• Alignment with international standards: The framework requires that products and certification systems must be consistent with international standards such as ITU, IEC, ISO, ETSI, etc. Therefore, enterprises must verify whether their existing product certifications meet the above requirements, and the draft appendix lists the list of international standards adopted by various products;
• Clarify the validity period of the certificate: The validity period of the type approval certificate is 5 years. If it needs to be renewed, the enterprise must submit an application 30 days before the expiration of the certificate.

Click this link to view the original text of the TRC's new draft regulatory framework, which is open for comments until May 25, 2026.