What is Type Approval?
The International Telecommunications Union (ITU) defines ‘Type Approval’ as the technical evaluation of equipment against prescribed specifications with the objective of determining its conformance to these specifications.
Who requires Type Approval certification?
The Type Approval Regulations are applicable to all persons who use, sell, offer for sale or connect telecommunications equipment to an electronic communications network within the Republic of Namibia.
What is “telecommunications equipment”?
Telecommunications refers to communications or networking equipment with an interface to public network or wide area network services and includes, but not limited to:
- Radio Transmitter Equipment;
- Call Monitoring Equipment;
- Data Equipment (modems, routers, multiplexers, etc.);
- Facsimile Equipment;
- Network Equipment;
- Paging Equipment;
- Payphone Terminal Equipment;
- Private Exchange Equipment;
- Radio Communications Equipment;
- Satellite Earth Terminal;
- Short Range Devices/ Low power terminals;
- Digital Set-Top Box;
- Voice Over Internet Protocol (VOIP) Network Equipment; and
- WiMAX terminal.
How do I apply for type approval certification?
Type Approval certificates must be obtained prior to importation of equipment. The application for Type Approval must be made on the relevant form set out in the Regulations in Respect of Type Approval and Technical Standards for Telecommunications Equipment.
All applications for Type Approval are to be submitted by hand or electronically. Hand delivered applications can be submitted at the head office of the Authority:
Communications House, No. 56, Robert Mugabe Avenue, Windhoek; By Post: Private Bag 13309, Windhoek 9000; Email: TA@cran.na; Faxed applications may be forwarded to +264 61 222790; or fax to e-mail to: 0886550852.
What if my telecommunications equipment is only in transit through Namibia, do I still require type approval certification?
Telecommunications equipment which is temporarily imported into Namibia for re-export does not require a type approval certificate.
How long does it take to have my equipment type approved?
The duration depends on the equipment involved and the completeness of the documentation submitted. However, it typically takes about 4 weeks to complete. Kindly note that it is 4 weeks per application not batch submission. The application process may however take longer if an application is incomplete and necessary documents are outstanding.
How long is a type approval certificate valid?
One calendar year and it should be renewal annually.
What are the consequences if equipment is not type approved?
It is the responsibility of vendors or equipment suppliers to acquire the necessary type approval documentation. Consumers and resellers must ensure that the telecommunications equipment they purchase is type approved in Namibia.
CRAN will prosecute noncompliance of regulations as regulatory offences and enforce the provisions of these regulations in terms of sections 114 and 127 of the Communications Act, (No. 8 of 2009).
What are the fees payable for type approval certification?
Different fees are applicable to different equipment types, which such fees as subject to change. Please enquire by emailing to: TA@cran.na
Is there a database of type approved equipment?
The database of type approved equipment is available on the CRAN website and is updated as and when equipment is approved.
What is the purpose of the database of type approved equipment?
The database’s purpose is to demonstrate that a particular telecommunication equipment has been type approved and that it conforms to industry quality standards, technical and safety regulation, both in Namibia and international.
If equipment is on the type approval database, am I still required to apply for type approval certification?
Yes, the database shows the certificate holder, making it easy for applicants to contact them to utilise their certificate. Unfortunately, most certificate holders do not want to share their approved certificate with other suppliers/vendors. If the holder of the certificate is not willing to share his/her certificate, then the applicant must apply for their Type Approval certificate separately.
What does the type approval process entail?
The Authority is of the view that the manufacturers of equipment should apply for type approval and carry the costs in respect thereof, not the reseller. The Type Approval certificate is obtained from the vendor and forms part of the shipping documentation. SMEs are thus encouraged to follow this process.
SMEs are further encouraged to familiarise themselves with the regulatory framework of the industry within which they operate to ensure, which framework also aims to protect their businesses from grey products and products that pose a risk to public health and safety. CRAN is for ever prepared to assist SME’s through the process to ensure compliance.
The approval process depends on the submission of complete applications and timely payment of type approval application fees. The Authority does not process incomplete applications or if the application fees have not been paid. These two factors represent the two main delaying factors within the process.
Why should telecommunications products be type approved?
The type approval regulations are in line with international practices followed by the International Telecommunications Union (ITU) region one regulators and standardization processes as prescribed by the ITU. Namibia is not the only country implementing Type Approval, South Africa and Botswana are also doing the same thing and most of the vendors and suppliers are operating in the same market without complaints.
What type of equipment and devices should be type approved?
The Communications Act (No. 8 of 2009), Section 80, is clear on what equipment should be type approved.
The Act defines telecommunications services and electronic communications services as follows-
“Electronic communications “ means any emissions, transmission or reception of sound, pictures, text or any other information by wire, radio, optical media, electromagnetic systems or any other means of like nature”
“Telecommunications services” means services whose provision consists wholly or partly in the transmission or routing of information on telecommunications networks by means of telecommunications processes but does not include broadcast services.”
An example is the Wi-Fi and Bluetooth technologies embedded in your laptop and other devices, which allow the consumer to connect to the internet via a Wi-Fi router instead of a physical cable. CRAN’s mandate allows it to type approve the Wi-Fi and Bluetooth modules within the laptop to ensure that such equipment is manufactured within acceptable standards that have been tested at recognised laboratories operating in accordance with ISO17000 standards in order to protect the consumer.
What expertise does CRAN have to manage this?
Namibia does not have ISO17000 certified laboratories to conduct these tests at present. The regulations therefore allows for conformity acceptance of tests carried out by laboratories with the required standard certification provided that the required supporting documentation is submitted to CRAN. These laboratories are not limited to South Africa.
Furthermore, the regulations make provision for the acceptance of testing documents from testing laboratories outside Namibia provided that it meets all requirements set forth in the regulations.
