On July 20, 2023, Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED) published RSS-199 Issue 4, Broadband Radio Service (BRS) Equipment Operating in the 2500–2690 MHz Band, which replaces RSS-199 Issue 3. The main changes are as follows:

• Paired and unpaired spectrum plans for the 2500-2690 MHz band have been added to Tables 1 and 2, respectively
• Table 3 adds the maximum transmit power requirements for fixed stations and base stations for non-AAS and AAS equipment;
• The total radiated power requirement for unwanted emissions is added in Section 5.6;
• Add definitions to clarify the terminology used;
• Adjust to the latest RSS standard structure;
• 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 Issue 3 or Issue 4 until January 20, 2024.

Click this link to view the original RSS-199 standard.

Law No. 2022-300 of March 2, 2022, which aims to strengthen the regulation of parental control functions on Internet access devices, gives the ANFR a new responsibility: it is responsible for supervising the setting up of free parental control functions on Internet access end devices. Under the law, device manufacturers must provide the option to activate this feature when they first enable the device and ensure that it has the minimum functional requirements.

In accordance with this law, Decree No. 2023-5881, published in the Official Journal of the French Republic (JORF) of July 13, 2023, further clarifies and regulates the specific requirements and characteristics of parental controls, as well as the responsibilities of the ANFR. The decree clearly states that its provisions will come into force 12 months after their publication, i.e. from July 13, 2024.

The implementation of this law imposes new requirements on manufacturers: they need to integrate parental controls for their end devices on the market, and provide options for activation and configuration when the device is first booted.

For second-hand devices placed on the market before July 13, 2024, the person selling such devices is required to inform users that they can install parental controls on their devices in order to restrict minors' access to certain services or content that may be harmful to them. For second-hand devices placed on the market after July 13, 2024, the same rules apply to new devices and must be equipped with parental controls.

The Ministry of Information and Communications (MIC) of Viet Nam has launched the following public consultation on the IMT mobile communication system:

• Draft Circular "Planning the 3560-4000 MHz Frequency Band for Vietnam's IMT Mobile Communication System". Click on this link to view the original public consultation, which is open until 30 August 2023;
• Draft Circular "Planned frequency bands 1920-1980 MHz, 2110-2170 MHz for IMT mobile communication systems in Vietnam. Click on this link to view the original public consultation, which is open until 4 September 2023;

Click on this link to see more information about the two public consultations above.

On June 15, 2023, the Moroccan National Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (ANRT) issued a decision on the approval of technical specifications for terminal equipment and radio equipment ANRT/DG/N°12-23. Highlights of the decision include the following updates:

• 5G technology is mentioned in the decision, but spectrum allocation has not yet been clarified. Mobile operators must first obtain a license for the intended band 3.4-3.8 GHz before they can provide service;
• 4G band allocation remains unchanged;
• Wi-Fi 5 and Wi-Fi 6E only allow the use of the 5150-5350 MHz frequency. The 5.470-5.725 GHz band is licensed for point-to-point applications.

Click on the link to view the original ANRT/DG/N°12-23 decision.

On May 31, 2023, the Ministry of Information and Communications (MIC) of Vietnam issued Circular No. 04/2023/TT-BTTTT, which will replace 02/2022/TT-BTTTT with the following main changes:

• The following new standards are enabled:
  • QCVN 130:2022/BTTTT – RF EMC standard for wireless audio equipment;
  • QCVN 131:2022/BTTTT – EUTRA NB-IoT RF standard;
  • QCVN 132:2022/BTTTT – Safety standard for tablets, desktops and laptops, DECT phones, set-top boxes and televisions (this standard will be mandatory from January 1, 2024);
  • QCVN 18:2022/BTTTT – RF EMC standard for 76-77 GHz radar  and 5G mmWave;
  • QCVN 65:2013/BTTTT will be invalid, QCVN 65:2021/BTTTT will be mandatory;
• NFC 13.56MHz, SRD 5.8GHz have been moved to Annex 2, so only DoC authentication is required;
• Mobile phones will be required to support LTE after June 30, 2023.
• 5G NR end devices must support both SA and NSA. Type approval certificates for 5G devices with 5G SA or 5G NSA only will remain valid until June 30, 2024;

According to the new circular, the type approval certificate must be updated to the new standard and a test report for the new safety or EMC standard must be obtained. While the expected effective date of this draft notice was 1 July 2023 when the MIC published this draft notice in February 2023, the final effective date is 15 July 2023.

Click this link to view the original MIC notice.

This decision applies to state organs, enterprises, organizations and individuals engaged in the import, production and trade of specific goods. The decision does not apply to products that are only temporarily sold in Vietnam, such as those intended for re-export.

The decision stipulates that the following categories of products specified in Appendix I will not be allowed to be imported, produced and traded if they do not meet the minimum energy efficiency levels set out in the applicable national standards (TCVNs). These items include, but are not limited to, designated products in the following categories:

• fluorescent lamps, electromagnetic ballasts for fluorescent lamps, straight tube fluorescent lamps, electric fans, refrigerators, freezers, air conditioners without air ducts, washing machines, rice cookers, water heaters, commercial refrigerators, electric motors, transformers and boilers, etc.);
• Office and commercial products (including monitors, copiers, printers, desktops, laptops, etc.);
• Industrial products (LED street and street lighting, boilers for industrial plants, transformers).

The list and specific restrictions on the coal-fired and gas-fired power generation components of inefficient thermal power plants that are not allowed to be built are set out in Annex II of the decision.

This decision entered into force on 15 July 2023 and replaces Decision 24/2018/QD-TTg. The mandatory date for the new standards for desktops and laptops is April 1, 2025.

Click this link to view the original text of decision 14/2023/QD-TTg.

On May 7, 2023, GCF released CC 3.89.0, with the following major changes:

• New frequency bands: DC_2A-66A_n5A, DC_1A_n28A-n78A, and CA_DL_n48A-n66A;

On April 21, 2023, Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED) issued a notice extending the mandatory date for hearing aid compatibility and volume control requirements for mobile devices from January 1, 2024 to January 1, 2026. At the same time, the RSS-HAC standard also states the above mandatory dates in the form of amendments.

Click this link to view ISED-related announcements. Click this link to view the updated RSS-HAC standard.

On 17 April, the European Union published a new version of Regulation (EU) 2023/826 on standby power consumption in the ErP series of directives, which will be mandatory on 9 May 2025 and replace the old Regulation (EC) 1275/2008 and (EC) 107/2009. The new regulations cover most small household appliances, IT equipment (excluding desktop computers and laptops), consumer entertainment electronics, electric furniture and home decoration equipment. Regulations require devices to have power management capabilities to meet energy consumption requirements for shutdown mode, standby mode, and network standby mode.

Click this link to view the original text.

In accordance with the relevant requirements of the "Opinions of the General Office of the State Council on Deepening the Reform of the Management System of the Electronic and Electrical Industry" (Guo Ban Fa [2022] No. 31), the State Administration for Market Regulation has decided to implement compulsory product certification (CCC certification) management for lithium-ion batteries and battery packs, mobile power supplies and power adapters/chargers for telecommunications terminal products used in electronic and electrical products (hereinafter referred to as newly included products), and the relevant requirements are hereby announced as follows:

1. From August 1, 2023, the designated certification body will begin to accept the CCC certification entrustment of the newly included products, and carry out the certification work in accordance with the applicable standards listed in the "Compulsory Product Certification Implementation Rules Information Technology Equipment" and the annex; The new inclusion in the list of designated certification bodies and laboratories for products will be announced separately.

2. The scope of CCC certification for newly included products is detailed in the annex. Among them, for lithium-ion batteries and battery packs used in electronic and electrical products, CCC certification is carried out for lithium-ion batteries and battery packs for portable electronic products at this stage, and CCC certification is carried out in a timely manner for lithium-ion batteries and battery packs used in other electronic and electrical products.

3. In view of the GB31241-2022 "Safety Technical Specifications for Lithium-ion Batteries and Battery Packs for Portable Electronic Products" will be mandatory on January 1, 2024, in order to reduce the cost of obtaining certification for enterprises, the designated certification body will carry out CCC certification of relevant products in accordance with this standard.

4. Under the premise of controllable certification risks and ensuring the quality of certification, designated certification bodies and laboratories should actively adopt the existing conformity assessment results to reduce the burden on enterprises and facilitate enterprises to obtain certifications.

Attachment: Scope definition of CCC certification for newly included products