On October 25, 2024, the Ministry of Information and Communications (MIC) of Vietnam issued Circular No. 13/2024/TT-BTTTT, along with the National Technical Regulation on Electromagnetic Compatibility of Terrestrial Mobile Radio Equipment and Terrestrial Radio Trunks QVCN 100:2014/BTTTT. The effective date of the regulation is January 1, 2025, from January 1, 2025 to June 30, 2025, applicants can choose between QVCN 100:2015/BTTTT or QVCN 100:2014/BTTTT, and the latest standard must be used after June 30, 2025.

Click on this link to view the original text of the Circular and QVCN 100:2014/BTTTT regulation.

On October 25, 2024, the Ministry of Information and Communications of Vietnam issued the Draft Circular on the Allocation Plan for Radio Frequency Channels in the Fixed Service in the 71-76 GHz and 81-86 GHz Bands.

Click this link to view the original draft and the comment period is until December 25, 2024.

On 25 October 2024, the Malawi Communications Regulatory Authority (MACRA) released a draft of the Conditions for Type Approval Licence for public consultation. The draft specifies that all approved devices must bear a certification label with the MACRA certification mark, device model, and approval identifier. Labels need to follow specified color and design specifications to ensure visibility and security. An example of a certification label in the case of black is as follows:

Click this link to view the original draft, and the comment period is until 15 November. The expected implementation date of the regulation is set for December 1, 2024.

On 24 October 2024, the Eswatini Communications Commission (ESCCOM) published new guidelines for the use of license-exempt frequency bands. The document provides detailed technical specifications and requirements for a variety of products and applications, including short-range equipment (SRD), automotive equipment, data networking equipment, telecommunications/terminal equipment, and multimedia equipment.

Manufacturers and importers must ensure that their products receive type approval from the Commission and comply with the permissible frequency bands, power limits, and other technical parameters outlined in the guidelines. These guides cover a variety of technologies and applications, including LoRaWAN, Sigfox, WAS/RLAN for BFWA, non-specific short-range devices, track and trace, rail applications, transportation and traffic telematics, radiodetermination, alarming, model control, sensing applications, wireless microphone applications, active medical implants, RFID, and medical data acquisition, among others.

The guidelines also emphasize compliance with international standards, such as ERC Recommendation 70-03 and the ICNIRP Guidelines. Notably, the document encourages the migration of IoT services from IPv4 to IPv6. Failure to comply with these guidelines may result in operational closure and other enforcement actions.

Click this link to view the original text of the new guide.

On October 24, 2024, India's National Communications Security Centre (NCCS) published amendments to the Wi-Fi CPE ITSAR. Wi-Fi CPE ITSAR has been revised to accommodate the technical changes that split the Wi-Fi CPE into legacy configurations and Wi-Fi CPE components hosted in the cloud.

Click on this link to view the original NCCS revision announcement.

On October 23, 2024, GCF released GCF-CC 3.95.0 with the following changes:

• The new frequency bands CA_UL_n1A-n28A, CA_DL_n28A-n41A-n79A, and CA_DL_n41C-n79A were introduced. There are no deleted frequency bands;
• GCF-CC 9.2.3.3 adds a chapter on RedCap field test requirements.
• F2 Declaration Summary: LTE supports 4RX and requires a separate antenna; 5G removes NE-DC related information;
• H.3.1.5 For use cases related to the AGPS RF ENDC band, it is necessary to select the frequency band supported by the terminal in the fixed table for testing;
For
• use cases related to the H.3.2.5 AGPS RF SA band, the frequency bands supported by the terminal need to be selected in the fixed table for testing.

GCF-CC 3.95.0 will have an effective date of October 23, 2024, and a mandatory date of February 4, 2025 (GCF 3.94.0 will be valid until February 3, 2025).

On October 21, 2024, the Ministry of Information and Communications (MIC) of Vietnam issued a public consultation on the proposed revision of Circular No. 08/2021/TT-BTTTTT. The Circular updates the specification for license-exempt radio equipment, and the proposed amendments will add the 5925 – 6425 MHz band to wireless local area networks (WLAN/RLAN).

The proposed revisions also outline power and spurious emission limits for Wi-Fi indoor and outdoor use in the band 5925 – 6425 MHz to prevent interference with existing licensed systems. The power limit for indoor use is 200 mW EIRP, while the power limit for outdoor use is 25 mW EIRP. These restrictions are often used in other countries to protect existing systems.

Click on this link to view the original public consultation, and the comment period is until 21 December 2024. The circular is expected to enter into force by the end of February 2025.

On September 10, 2024, the United States Federal Communications Commission (FCC) launched the application process for certification bodies for the IoT CyberTrust Mark Program, with a deadline of October 1, 2024. The FCC then posted an update on the Federal Register website on October 21, 2024. This update includes:

• The Cybersecurity Label Administator (CLA) shall share the relevant costs incurred by the leading CLA in performing the relevant duties; Lead the certification body to develop a cost expenditure plan and report to the FCC;
• The CLA shall develop a cybersecurity risk management plan.

Click this link to view the FCC's announcement numbered FR ID 250049 posted on the Federal Release website.

On October 18, 2024, the FCC issued a report and order numbered FCC 24-112, following the release of FCC 23-106 by the FCC on January 26, 2024, regarding the 100% compliance of handsets with HAC requirements. The regulation requires all mobile phones to be compatible with hearing aids, requiring 100% of mobile phones to support acoustic coupling; 100% of mobile phones are required to support inductive coupling or Bluetooth coupling, of which the inductive coupling ratio is not less than 85%, and the Bluetooth coupling ratio is not less than 15%. The regulations put forward specific requirements for manufacturers/service providers to maintain mobile phone HAC certification information (including FCC ID, corresponding ANSI standards, etc.) on their websites. The regulations also update the content of the FORM855.

The regulation is not currently available on the Federal Register website and will normally go into effect 30 days after publication on Federal Register.

Click this link to view document FCC 24-112.

1) On 17 October 2024, the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) launched a public consultation on the "Revised Scheme for Re-establishing the LCD (Licensing Conditions Determination) Specification for Fixed Band Licences and the Arrangement for the Use of the 3.4–4 GHz Frequency Band" until 15 November 2024. Click on the link to view the original consultation.

2) On October 21, 2024, the ACMA launched a public consultation on the "Proposal for the Redevelopment of TLN and Eight Telecommunication Standards" until December 20, 2024. The public consultation includes key criteria such as AS/CA S004 audio performance requirements. Click on the link to view the original public consultation.