Mexico WWAN Local Test was Introduced into Mobile Terminal Equipment

The Mexican Regulator Instituto Federal de Telecomunicaciones (IFT) has since issued technical disposition IFT-011-2017 part 2 on 3rd January 2018. This states that WWAN local testing requirements will be implemented in Mexico within 90 days, meaning that this is expected to be in force from 3rd April 2018.

This new requirement will only affect new Type Approval applications for terminal devices with cellular technology. Please note that:

(1) Devices which already have a permanent or provisional Approval in place are not affected (any provisional certificates can be renewed under the original standard they were Approved to).

(2) IFT-011-2017 part 2 is only applicable to host devices, and not applicable to modules.

As part of the technical specifications on this standard, IFT-011-2017 part 2 states, that cellular devices that are used particularly close to the ear (e.g. cell phones) and that support 4G technology must support and have LTE band 28 (700 MHz) enabled.

Once IFT-011-2017 enters into force, already Approved WWAN devices that do not support LTE band 28 (700 MHz) must bear a clear, visible and legible label on the product, packaging, user documentation, in electronic format (e.g. Software), or on customs paperwork with details on which cellular frequency bands the device supports. IFT-011-2017 does not specify a format for this, so manufacturers are at free to choose the format that they wish to include this information.