On January 24, 2024, the UK Department for Business and Trade (DBT) announced that new legislation would be introduced to allow electronic labels. Some of the regulations affected by this announcement include:

• Electromagnetic Compatibility Regulation 2016/1091
• Electrical Equipment (Safety) Regulations 2016/1101
• Pressure Equipment (Safety) Regulations 2016/1105
• Radio Equipment Regulations 2017/1206
• Simple Pressure Vessels (Safety) Regulations 2016/1092
• Toys (Safety) Regulations 2011/1881
• Restriction of the Use of Certain Hazardous Substances in Electrical and Electronic Equipment Regulations 2012 ("RoHS Regulations").

Click this link to view the original DBT press release and the full list of affected regulations.

On 22 January 2024, the United Kingdom's Communications Authority (Ofcom) published a guide with advice on how Internet of Things (IoT) and third-party equipment vendors can respond to network change. Vodafone, Three, and EE are expected to shut down their 3G networks by the end of 2024, and VMO2 is expected to shut down in 2025. There are no specific plans for mobile network operators in the UK to announce a shutdown of the 2G network after the 3G shutdown, but this will be done by 2033 at the latest, and possibly as early as 2028. All 2G and 3G devices will need to be upgraded to at least 4G at that time.

Click this link is the original Ofcom guide.

On January 17, 2024, the Ministry of Communications (MIC) of Vietnam issued Announcement No. 13/TB-BTTTT to organize the auction of radio frequency usage rights in the 2500-2600 MHz frequency band and 3700-3900 MHz frequency band. The auction of these two frequency bands will contribute to the promotion of 5G commercialization in Vietnam.

Within 30 days from the date of the MIC's public announcement of the auction organization plan, the organization that intends to participate in the auction of the right to use radio frequencies in the 2500-2600 MHz frequency band and the 3700-3900 MHz frequency band must apply to the Telecommunications Division of the MIC by post or online platform to confirm that it meets the conditions for participating in the auction. Applications submitted outside of the above deadlines will not be accepted and processed.

Click this link to view the original bulletin No. 13/TB-BTTTT.

On January 17, 2024, Japan's Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications (MIC) opened a public consultation on the technical specifications of the fifth-generation mobile communication system in the 4.9 GHz band.

Click on the this link to view the original public consultation and is open for comments until 16 February 2024.

As per the latest notification dated 9 January 2024, the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) has changed the concurrent testing from a pilot project of BIS-CRS to a permanent scheme based on consultation with stakeholders and the agreement of the Ministry of Electronics and Information of India (MEITY).

It's important to note that parallel testing is voluntary in nature, and manufacturers can apply for BIS certification through the existing process. If any application related to parallel testing is rejected/not processed at a subsequent stage, the manufacturer will bear the entire risk (including costs) in the process. Manufacturers should update the Critical Component List (CCL) as soon as the product is registered. In the case of CRS coverage, the manufacturer should subsequently use the component with the corresponding number (R-no.).

Click this link to view the original official notice.

Following the announcement by the U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC) on October 19, 2023 that the 6 GHz band will be opened for use by very-low power (VLP) devices, on January 8, 2024, the FCC published a rule on the Federal Register website regarding "Unlicensed Applications of the 6 GHz Band and Expanding the Flexible Use of the 3.7 to 24 GHz Band" to promote the update of the requirements in FCC Part 15. The new rules will allow VLP devices to be used in the U–NII–5 (5925–6425 MHz) and U–NII–7 (6525–6875 MHz) frequency bands. The new regulations will come into effect on March 8, 2024. In addition. The FCC is also considering opening up the entire 6GHz band to VLP equipment.

Click this link to view the original text of the relevant regulatory update.

On January 8, 2024, the Telecommunication Engineering Centre of India (TEC) issued a circular No. 5-5/2021-TC/TEC announcing the submission of a general exemption for test reports on test parameters and interfaces of some ERs under MTCTE. This waiver has been extended until June 30, 2024, or until further notice. The exemption applies to the following equipment-related parameters: Media Gateways, Mobile Wireless Trunking Systems, Cellular Network Repeaters, Precision Timing Protocol Master Clock Devices, VHF UHF Radio System Equipment, Radio Broadcast Receivers, PON Series Broadband Devices, ADSLx, VDSLx, Routers.

Click this link to view the original TEC announcement.

Following the consultation on the draft QCVN 117:2023/BTTTT on January 10, 2023, on December 29, 2023, the Ministry of Communications and Media (MIC) of Vietnam issued an announcement numbered 20/2023/TT-BTTTT to officially release the technical standard QCVN 117:2023/BTTTT for GSM/WCDMA/LTE terminal equipment and give certification requirements.

Some brief information about QCVN 117:2023/BTTTT is as follows:

• QCVN 117:2023/BTTTT is effective as of February 15, 2024;
• Between 15 February 2024 and 30 June 2024, importers/manufacturers have the option to apply for a Type Approval Certificate in accordance with QCVN 117:2020/BTTTT or QCVN 117:2023/BTTTT;
• As of July 1, 2024, importers/manufacturers must comply with QCVN 117:2023/BTTTT;
• The symbol/phrase/letter "VoLTE" must be marked on the mobile phone to comply with 43/2017/ND-CP and 18/2022/TT-BKHCN;
• All valid type approval certificates issued in accordance with QCVN 117:2020 can still be used during the validity period.

Click this link to view the announcement of 20/2023/TT-BTTTT, which contains the original QCVN 117:2023/BTTTT standard.

On December 29, 2023, the National Radio Research Agency (RRA) of South Korea issued a circular numbered 2023-24 updating the conformity assessment rules for broadcasting and communication equipment. The regulatory amendments, which include exemptions from the conformity assessment procedure for equipment imported for re-export. The new regulation is now in force.

Click link to view the original Circular 2023-24 article.

As part of the modifications to the previous Official Circulars 5-2/2021-TC/TEC/131 and 5-2/2021-TC/TEC/172, the Indian Telecommunication Engineering Centre (TEC) issued Circular No. 5-2/2021-TC/TEC/185 on 27 December 2023 to amend the testing and certification requirements for telecommunication and network equipment in Phases 3 and 4 of the MTCTE regime as follows:

• Extend the mandatory certification date for 12 of the 44 products covered by MTCTE Phase III and IV by three months, i.e. from 1 January 2024 to 1 April 2024. The list of 12 products is shown in Annex 1 of the Circular;
• The mandatory certification date of the remaining 32 products remains unchanged, i.e. January 1, 2024. The list is set out in Annex II of the Circular
• For the 8 products mentioned in Annex III, the last acceptance date for test reports issued by laboratories accredited by ILAC signatories in non-border sharing countries will be extended by 3 months to 31 March 2024.

Click this link to view the original TEC announcement.