On October 4, 2023, the European Commission published Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2023/2392 in the Official Journal of the European Union containing new harmonized standards in support of the Radio Equipment Directive. The "Implementation Decision" has now been implemented, and the key points are updated as follows:

• The cellular equipment standard EN 301 908-1 has been updated to V15.2.1, EN 301 908-1 V15.1.1 will expire on April 4, 2025, and the previous version, EN 301 908-1 V13.1.1, has already expired on September 29, 2023;
• The DAB equipment standard EN 302 077 has been updated to V2.3.1 and EN 302 077-2 V1.1.1 will expire on April 4, 2025.

Click the this link to view the original implementation decision.

On September 29, 2023, the Federal Register officially released revisions to Title 47 to introduce a series of new standards:

• ANSI C63.4a–2017: Disturbance measurement method for low-voltage electrical and electronic equipment from 9kHz to 40GHz;
• ANSI C63.10–2020: License-exempt device test procedure. The mandatory date of this standard is October 30, 2025;
• ANSI C63.25.1–2018: 1 GHz to 18 GHz Field Validation Standard;

The above updates will take effect on October 30, 2023. Click this link to view the original Federal Register announcement.

Mexico's Federal Telecommunications Institute (IFETEL) previously held a public consultation on June 23, 2023 on a draft modification of IFT-011-2022: Technical Specifications for Mobile End Equipment Part 3 Emergency Alerts for Cellular Broadcasting Systems. On September 20, 2023, IFETEL released the official modification of NOM-221 Part 3. The main contents of the modification order are as follows:

• The channels designated to receive alert messages in mobile end devices shall not be used for advertising, promotional or other purposes other than those listed in the Technical Regulations;
• Channels 4380 (primary configuration) and 519 (secondary configuration) must be enabled and activated via an MMI code provided by the ETM manufacturer;
• Compliance with the alarm message display format in mobile end devices will be verified by using a digital radio communication simulator;
• The conformity assessment will continue for mobile terminal devices that are undergoing conformity assessment before the modification takes effect, and the assessment can be completed according to the content of the original standard;
• Testing laboratories and certification bodies may continue to publish test reports and CoCs in accordance with versions prior to IFT-011-2022 published on September 13, 2022, for up to 120 calendar days after the modifications take effect.

The amendment order has become effective on 21 September 2023. Click this link to view the original text of the change order.

Following the public consultation on June 28, 2023, on September 12, 2023, the Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED) website updated the list of ISED certification standards, this time with a major update to the reference standard ANSI C63.10:

• Until September 12, 2025, manufacturers can choose ANSI C63.10-2013 or ANSI C63.10-2020+Cor.1-2023;
• Only ANSI C63.10-2020 + Cor.1-2023 is allowed after September 12, 2025.

Click this link can be found on the ISED website for a list of relevant standards.

The Brazilian National Telecommunications Agency (ANATEL) issued Ato 13011/2023 on September 1, 2023, again postponing the execution of Ato 5159/2022. According to Act 13423/2022, the mandatory date for Ato 5159 is 21 October 2023, while according to the newly published Ato 13011/2023, power adapters used by mobile phones can still be tested and evaluated with Ato 3481/2019 until 18 April 2024. ATO 13011/2023 has come into effect on September 4, 2023.

Click this link to view the original article of Ato 13011/2023.

According to the bill, smartphones and tablets placed on the EU market must display information about their energy efficiency, battery life, protection against dust and water, and protection against accidental drops. This is the first time that a product on the EU market has been required to display a repairability score.

Ecodesign Act (EU) 2023/1670

In order to improve the energy efficiency and durability of mobile phone and tablet products, strict requirements have been put forward for the maintainability, reliability and recycling of products through eco-design principles such as open repair rights, increased product transparency, and recycling.

Ecodesign Act, manufacturers, importers or agents are obliged to provide critical spare parts to maintenance personnel within 5-10 working days until 7 years after the end of the sale of the product model on the EU market.

If a battery or back cover assembly is not available to the customer, the manufacturer needs to ensure that the product design meets the following requirements:

1. The cycle life is not less than 500 times, and after 500 times, there is at least 83% of the remaining capacity;

2. The battery cycle life is not less than 1000 times, and after 1000 times, there is at least 80% remaining capacity;

3. The product has IP67 dustproof and waterproof design.

The Act requires manufacturers, importers or agents to publish product repair manuals on their free websites to provide professional technicians or users with information related to the repair and maintenance of products, including product identification, disassembly diagrams, fault diagnosis information, necessary circuit connection diagrams, tag diagrams, and disassembly tool requirements.

In order to improve the durability of mobile phones and tablets, the bill requires that products must meet certain reliability requirements

1. Anti-drop design;

2. Mohs 4 hardness screen design;

3. IP44 dustproof and waterproof design

4. The battery cycle life is not less than 500 times;

5. Improve the battery management function and optimize the charging efficiency

6. Availability of operating system upgrades: at least 5 years after the product is placed on the market;

7. Professional repairers use any software or firmware required for replacement without discrimination.

Energy Efficiency Rating Labelling Act (EU) 2023/1669

According to the Act, all smartphones and tablets must be labelled with an energy efficiency rating and registered on the EU's public goods database EPREL before they can be placed on the market.

Energy efficiency labels for smartphones and tablets

In response to the two new EU Directives, the CTTL-Terminal Labs can provide a complete evaluation program for enterprises, and can contact xialijiao@caict.ac.cn if necessary.

The Saudi Standards, Metrology and Quality Organization (SASO) and the Saudi Commission on Communications, Space and Technology (CST) recently announced the unification of the mandatory requirements for charging ports for mobile phones and electronic devices in Saudi Arabia, deciding that USB Type-C will be the only standardized connector from January 1, 2025.

The decision will be made in two phases:

1) The first phase will start from January 1, 2025, and mobile phones, tablets, digital cameras, e-readers, portable video game devices, headphones, amplifiers, keyboards, mice, portable navigation systems, portable speakers, and wireless routers must use the USB Type-C charging port.

2) The second phase will begin on April 1, 2026, and will be available for all devices, including laptops, to use USB-C as an interface.

Click on the link to view the news report on the new rules in the Saudi Gazette on August 6, 2023.

On August 4, 2023, GCF released GCF-CC 3.89.0 with the following changes in terms of frequency bands:

• Removed bands: None;
• New bands: SUL_n41-n83, DC_3A_n28A-n78A, CA_DL_n2A-n48A-n66A-n77A, CA_DL_n2A-n5A-n48A-n66A, CA_DL_n2A-n5A-n48A-n77A, CA_DL_n2A-n5A-n66A-n77A, CA_DL_ n5A-n48A-n66A-n77A、CA_UL_n8A-n78A。

GCF-CC 3.90.0 will have an effective date of August 4, 2023, and a mandatory date of November 14, 2023 (GCF 3.89.0 will expire on November 13, 2023).

On August 3, 2023, Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED) published RSS-247 Issue 3, Digital Transmission Systems (DTS), Frequency Hopping Systems (FHS) and License-Free Local Area Network (LE-LAN) Devices, which replaces RSS-247 Issue 2. The main changes are as follows:

• Section 2.1 has been added to include information about the entry into force of the standard;
• Section 6.2 has been modified to clarify that different measurement methods can be applied depending on the operating frequency range of the device;
• Added section 6.2.5 on the requirements for devices operating at 5850-5895 MHz and channels with frequency ranges spanning 5850 MHz
• Section 6.2.5.1 has been added to provide general information and definitions;
• Section 6.2.5.2 has been added to determine the power limits of devices operating in the 5850-5895 MHz band;
• Section 6.2.5.3 has been added to determine the unwanted emission limits for devices operating in the 5850-5895 MHz band;
• Other editorial changes and revisions made to improve clarity.

With this standard update, ISED still provides a six-month transition period, and manufacturers can choose to test in either Issue 2 or Issue 3 until February 3, 2024.

Click this link to view the original RSS-247 Issue 3 standard.

On 1 August, the UK Department for Business and Trade (DBT) announced an indefinite extension of the use of CE marking by businesses, while retaining the UKCA marking recognition method.

The UK Department of Commerce and Trade intends to extend the CE marking of most goods on the UK market indefinitely beyond December 2024, and this update applies to 18 regulations under the jurisdiction of the Department of Commerce and Trade (DBT), covering the following areas:

• Toys
• pyrotechnics
• recreational boats and personal boats
• improvised pressure vessels
• electromagnetic compatibility
• non-automatic weighing instruments
• measuring instruments
• measuring containers, bottles
• elevators
• equipment for potentially explosive atmospheres (ATEX),
• radio equipment
• Pressure Equipment
• Personal Protective Equipment
• Gas Appliances
• Machinery
• Outdoor Use Equipment
• Aerosols,
• Low Voltage Electrical Equipment