SGS Wireless Lab Newsletter – 202504

Japan

MIC Permits TPMS and RKE Uses in 433 MHz Band

On February 27, the MIC officially permitted the use of tire pressure monitoring systems (TPMS) and remote keyless entry (RKE) systems in the 433 MHz band, in accordance with Japan Radio Law Article 2-1-8, with the following technical requirements:

• Permitted frequency range: 433.795-434.045 MHz
• Communication method: one-way, simplex, or broadcast
• Maximum EIRP: 1mW
• Maximum occupied bandwidth: 250 kHz
• Frequency tolerance: 4 x 10-6
• Spurious emission limits
  • 250 nW/100 kHz, ≤ 1 GHz
  • 1 μW/1 MHz, > 1GHz

MIC Establishes Regulatory Framework for Absorbed Power Density Above 6 GHz

MIC published an update to RF exposure testing to accept the Absorbed Power Density (APD) measurement method for portable wireless devices operating in the frequency range of 6-10 GHz, e.g., 6 GHz WLAN, effective February 28, in addition to the previously allowed Incident Power Density (IPD) test method. (This means that either the IPD or APD test method can be used to demonstrate compliance for 6-10 GHz).

Note:

• The exposure limit for the 6-10 GHz frequency range is still 2 mW/cm2 (= 20 W/m2).
• No impact for equipment certified before February 28, 2025.

 

Taiwan

NCC Requiring All Cellular Phones to Have 2G Network Selection Disabled by Default

On February 6, the NCC issued a decree mandating that all cellular phones sold in this region must have the 2G network selection disabled by default while maintaining the capability to manually enable the 2G network. The following implementation schedule has been established:

• This decree will be in effect for all new phones receiving type approval on or after May 1, 2025.
• For all phones that have received type approval between the period of September 1, 2021, and April 30, 2025, an OTA software update shall be implemented by September 30, 2025, at the latest, in order to comply with this requirement.

 

United Kingdom

UK Updates Guidance on Radio Equipment Regulations 2017

On March 24, the guidance for businesses on the Radio Equipment Regulations 2017 was updated to include actions the manufacturer needs to take if the Approved Body, which issued certificates for its product, resigns.

For detailed information, please search: Guidance on actions to take if the Approved Body employed resigns

 

United States of America

FCC Expands VLP Device Operation to Entire 6 GHz Band

On March 6, the FCC published in the Federal Register final rules for unlicensed very low power (VLP) devices to operate across the entire 6 GHz band (5,925-7,125 MHz) with all other technical requirements remaining unchanged. This final rule is effective May 5, 2025.

For detailed information, please search: Unlicensed Use of the 6 GHz Band

FCC Updates Data Referencing Rules for Test Reductions

On March 21, the FCC released KDB 484596 Referencing Test Data v03, which replaces the previous version v02r03 with the following major changes:

• Data referencing is now limited to component removal.
• Section 3.2.2 has been added to describe the spot check process for RF exposure, which is now required in linear units to simplify the analysis and improve consistency.
• An ECR KDB Inquiry is no longer required, and the validity of the data referencing proposal will be entirely vetted by the TCB that processes the certification.

A transition period is in effect until April 30, 2025, during which the v02r03 procedures are still permitted for certification purposes. During this transition period, either v03 or v02r03 must be used entirely without mixing old and new procedures.

For detailed information, please search: KDB 484596 Referencing Test Data