On December 5, 2023, the Argentine National Communications Agency (ENACOM) issued Resolution 2097/2023 that devices supporting 5G NR can now be approved in Argentina. This regulation will take effect from the date of publication of the official announcement on December 7, 2023.

In addition, the resolution also publishes the new technical standard ENACOM-Q2-61.03 V23.1 version. Main changes:

• Allows approval of devices using 5G NR n the n78 band: 3300 – 3700 MHz, and
• Updates local technical standards to add Chapter 5 of 5G NR.

The new standard will provide a 90-day transition period (until March 6, 2024) during which ENACOM-Q2-61.03 V17.1 will still be available. In addition, foreign test reports (FCC, RED, ANATEL, etc.) can be recognized, and the self-declaration of conformity (DoC) of the country of origin can be recognized until two local laboratories are authorized to carry out 5G NR Chapter V tests.

Click on this link to view the original resolution.

On 1 December 2023, the European Commission published Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2023/2669 amending the implementing decision (EU) 2022/2191 on harmonised standards for wireless communication devices used at or near the human body.

The harmonized standards EN 50360:2017/A1:2023 and EN 50566:2017/A1:2023 are used to cover the essential requirements set out in Article 3 of the Directive. The original EN 50360:2017 and EN 50566:2017 can be used until 1 June 2025.

Click on this link to view the original implementation decision.

On December 1, 2023, Mexico's Federal Telecommunications Institute (IFT) launched the following public consultations:

• Preliminary draft of technical provisions IFT-016-2023 "Low-power radiocommunication equipment: equipment using the radio spectrum frequency bands in the range of 30 MHz to 3 GHz – Specifications, limits and test methods";
• Preliminary Draft Technical Regulations IFT-017-2023: Radiocommunication Systems Using Wireless Access – Wireless Local Area Networks – Radiocommunication equipment using digital modulation techniques and operating in the frequency bands 5150 MHz-5250 MHz, 5250 MHz-5350 MHz, 5470 MHz -5600 MHz, 5650 MHz-5725 MHz, 5725 MHz-5850 MHz and 5925 MHz-6425 MHz.

The two public consultations, which were originally scheduled to close on 29 January 2024, have been extended to 29 March 2024. Click this link to access the draft IFT-016-2023, click this link to accesses draft IFT-017-2023.

On November 29, 2023, Paraguay's National Telecommunications Commission (CONATEL) issued Decree No. 3171/2023 specifying the requirements for assessing the compliance of cellular mobile devices. The decree specifies that cellular mobile devices adopt 3GPP and ETSI related standards, including 3GPP TS 51.010-1, ETSI TS 134 121-1, ETSI TS 136 521-1, ETSI TS 138 521-1, ETSI TS 138 521-2, ETSI TS 138 521-3, etc.

Click this link to view the original resolution.

This regulation applies to the following types of short-range radio equipment (SRDs):

a) Universal short-range radio equipment operating in the frequency range of 9 kHz to 25 MHz;

b) Magnetic field devices operating in the frequency range from 9 kHz to 30 MHz, including: radio frequency identification devices (RFID), devices using Near Field Communication (NFC) technology, and electronic security system (EAS) devices operating in the LF and HF bands in the operating environment.

This regulation applies to products and goods with short-range radio equipment with HS codes as specified in Annex J of the standard.

All short-range radio equipment specified in this regulation must comply with Vietnam's regulations on frequency planning and channel allocation.

The above types of radio equipment operate in the 9 kHz to 30 MHz band under the following conditions:

• There is a radio output connection with a stand-alone antenna or an integrated antenna,
• all types of modulation are used,
• and fixed, mobile, and handheld devices are used.

Click this link to view the original text of Notice No. 17/2023/TT-BTTTT and the original text of QCVN 55:2023/BTTTT standard.

• New and updated standards:
  • QCVN 117:2023/BTTTT, which replaces QCVN 117:2020/BTTTT for WWAN devices
  • QCVN 55:2023/BTTTT, which replaces QCVN 55:2011/BTTTT for SRD
  • QCVN 132:2022/BTTTT on the security of tablets, laptops, desktop computers, TVs, set-top boxes, DECT phones;
  • QCVN 110:2023/BTTTT, which replaces QCVN 110:2017/BTTTT for E-UTRA base stations
  • QCVN 111:2023/BTTTT, which replaces QCVN 110:2017/BTTTT for E-UTRA repeaters
• Reinstatement of extreme test condition requirements for some of the QCVN standards that were suspended in accordance with Notice No. 10/2023/TT-BTTTT;
• QCVN 124:2021/BTTTT will not apply to automotive radars, and QCVN 18:2022/BTTTT will apply to automotive radars;
• Wireless chargers with HS codes 8504.40.19 and 8504.40.90 will no longer need to meet QCVN 55 and will instead be based on QCVN 96:2015/BTTTT;
• QCVN 47:2015/BTTTT will replace a large number of QCVN standards for maritime products that cannot be tested locally
• TVs using the same chassis can share test reports for the SDoC process for QCVN 63:2020/BTTTT;
• QCVN 128:2021/BTTTT for 5G NR base stations does not require testing under performance requirements and extreme conditions.

The draft circular is expected to take effect on 1 April 2024. Click link to view the original announcement.

On November 21, 2023, the Brazilian National Telecommunications Agency (ANATEL)  published the official letter 429/2023/ORCN/ SOR-ANATEL. The letter formalizes ANATEL's requirement that all test reports, whether done in Brazil or abroad, must follow and meet the requirements of Act 4083, including traceability information.

Under Act No. 7280, ANATEL accepts reports from foreign laboratories for certain products, such as non-RF network switches, optical line terminals (OLTs), digital multiplexers, coaxial cables, certain types of fiber optic cables, satellite transceivers, etc., for business/industrial use. Section 6.3.1.5 of Act 4083 stipulates that before starting testing, the manufacturer or applicant must formally communicate the following information to the Designated Certification Body (OCD):

• the manufacturing unit that produced the sample, and
• the traceability of the sample submitted for testing.

According to the requirements of the letter, from now on foreign laboratories must be approved by the OCD before they can begin testing.

Click on this link to view the original official letter.

The Saudi Organisation for Standards, Metrology and Quality (SASO) published the EMC Technical Regulations on November 17, 2023. The Technical Regulations will enter into force on May 15, 2024. The regulation covers a range of product/product family standards, including standards such as SASO CISPR 32.

Click on the link to view the original document.

Recently, the United Kingdom has made new moves on network information security requirements. On 31 October 2023, the UK government announced that the PSTI Regulation, known as the Product Security and Telecommunications Infrastructure (Security Requirements for Related Connectable Products) Regulations 2023, will be enacted on 14 September 2023 and that this PSTI security regime will come into force on 29 April 2024 and will apply to England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.

Based on the Product Security and Telecommunications Infrastructure Act 2022, the regulation stipulates minimum security requirements for products provided to UK consumers, based on ETSI EN 303 645 V2.1.1 and ISO/IEC 29147:2018 Information Technology – Security Technologies – Vulnerability Disclosure Standard (2nd Edition, 2018).

At the same time, the regulation clarifies the following requirements:

• How it is deemed to meet the security requirements
• Information to be included in the Declaration of Conformity 
• Product List that is excluded from the regulatory regime

Click on the link to view the original text of the regulation.

This regulation shall enter into force on the date of publication. Click on this link to view the original article (EU) 2023/2444.