Global Regulatory Intelligence

South Africa SABS EMC draft standards are open for public comment until 10 November 2026. Notice 4147 of 2026, published in Government Gazette No. 55353 on 11 September, lists new editions of SANS 214-1 and 214-2 for household appliances and electric tools, the generic SANS 61000-6 standards and SANS 211 for ISM equipment. It also covers two radio spectrum standards, SANS 62311 on EMF exposure and an amendment to SANS 60335-1.

The South Africa high demand spectrum policy has changed. Notice 4163 of 2026, published on 25 September 2026, withdraws the spectrum reserved since 2019 for a wireless open access network (WOAN), including frequencies in the 700 MHz, 800 MHz, 2600 MHz and 3500 MHz bands. ICASA can now license that spectrum. ICASA's type approval rules don't change, but more mobile capacity in these bands is on the way.

Togo ARCEP type approval now runs under a new framework. Decision No. 152/ARCEP/DG/26, signed on 23 September 2026 and in force from that day, replaces the 2001 rules for telecom terminal and radio equipment and adds a separate approval for installers. Applications are filed online with one sample, test reports and a set of declarations. ARCEP has 42 days to decide, certificates last five years, and approved products must carry a permanent label.

Nigeria NCC type approval compliance now reaches every link of the supply chain. In a notice issued on 19 October 2026, the Nigerian Communications Commission told OEMs, ODMs, importers, distributors, dealers and retailers that every SIM-enabled device model needs NCC Type Approval and that each device's IMEI must be verified before sale. Existing stock is included, and non-compliant devices may be kept off Nigerian networks.

Zambia ZICTA type approval guidelines are being rewritten. On 21 October 2026, ZICTA published draft revised ICT (Type Approval) Guidelines that would replace the 2022 version. The draft sorts equipment into high-risk and low-risk classes, allows conditional customs release, caps quarantine at 60 days at the importer's cost and expands label and product information rules. Comments are open until 20 November 2026.

The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has launched an automated framework to enforce Type Approval for all SIM-enabled devices through its Device Management System (DMS). Backed by a Central Equipment Identity Register (CEIR), the system records device IMEI numbers, and unregistered devices will not be permitted on Nigerian networks. Phase one covers onboarding existing stock and registering new imports. Here is what manufacturers and importers need to know and do.

Kenya type approval may be moving toward a more flexible sample policy. Following the September 2026 validation forum on the draft Type Approval Regulations, 2026, indications are that the Communications Authority of Kenya (CA) may waive physical samples for lower-risk equipment backed by a complete Technical Construction File and accredited test reports. Waivers remain discretionary and case by case. Here is what is changing and what manufacturers should do now.

Morocco's telecom regulator, ANRT, has started requesting physical samples of 5G-capable equipment submitted for type approval. Each sample undergoes a compatibility test to confirm it works on Morocco's 5G network. No official notice has been published yet, but manufacturers should plan now for samples, longer lead times and added logistics. This article explains the scope, the certification impact and the actions to take.

Senegal has a new ARTP Director General. By Decree No. 2026-1605 of 10 September 2026, President Bassirou Diomaye Faye appointed telecom engineer Cheikh Tidiane Sarr to lead the Autorité de Régulation des Télécommunications et des Postes, succeeding Dahirou Thiam after a competitive selection process. Type approval rules and existing certificates are unchanged, but manufacturers should expect a new signatory and watch for shifting regulatory priorities.

The Communications Authority of Kenya (CA) has published draft Technical Specifications for Network Equipment, 2026 (CA.TS.520:2026), the proposed technical basis for type approval of switches, routers, firewalls, gateways, servers, NICs and session border controllers. The draft introduces IPv6/IPv6+, cybersecurity, platinum-level PSU efficiency, RoHS, a Digital Product Passport and AI safeguards. Comments close September 30, 2026; the effective date is still TBD.

Ghana's National Communications Authority (NCA) has completed the qualification stage of its 5G spectrum licence process for the 700 MHz, 2.3 GHz, and 3 GHz bands. Three of four applicants — MTN Ghana, Telecel Ghana, and Goal Telecommunications — qualified to advance to Stage 3, where sealed Best Price Offers will be opened and ranked. This marks Ghana's first competitive, multi-operator 5G spectrum auction and a key milestone for the country's digital connectivity expansion.

Kenya's Communications Authority (CA) is enforcing a new Communications Equipment Distributor (CED) Licence requirement for any business importing or wholesale-distributing communications equipment, including routers, modems, and other CPE. Following the Revised Telecommunications Market Structure gazetted in March 2026, importers and distributors — including existing TEC and Vendor licence holders — must secure the CED Licence before equipment can be type-approved and cleare

Egypt's NTRA has completed Africa's first mobile trial in the upper 6GHz (U6GHz) band, reaching 1.7 Gbps per user in partnership with Telecom Egypt and Huawei. The test is a technical milestone, not yet a commercial allocation, but it signals where Egypt's 2030–2035 national spectrum plan is heading. Manufacturers of network infrastructure and future U6GHz-capable devices should start tracking Egypt's spectrum roadmap now, ahead of any formal allocation or type approval requi

Mozambique has overhauled its telecommunications licensing framework with Decree No. 36/2026, replacing the 2017 regime. The new regulation introduces a unified, class-based licensing system, faster approval timelines, updated spectrum leasing and sharing rules, and dedicated provisions for satellite and broadcasting services. This article breaks down the key changes, what they mean for manufacturers and operators, certification impacts, and the compliance timeline businesses

Madagascar's telecom regulator ARTEC is now strictly enforcing mandatory sample submission for type approval, under the long-standing Decree No. 2014-1650. This ARTEC Madagascar type approval update means manufacturers can no longer rely on technical compliance files alone — a physical product sample is required for testing. Here's what changed, what it means for manufacturers, and the timeline and steps to stay compliant.

Côte d'Ivoire's telecom regulator ARTCI has opened a public consultation on establishing a regulatory framework for VoLTE and VoWi-Fi services. Running from August 10 to September 11, 2026, the consultation invites operators, equipment vendors, and stakeholders to submit feedback that will shape the country's rules for these next-generation voice technologies, with direct implications for device certification, network compliance, and market entry timelines.

The DRC has become the first African market to commercially launch DRC Direct-to-Cell satellite-to-mobile service, run by Airtel Congo with SpaceX's Starlink and supervised by regulator ARPTC. Compatible LTE Android smartphones connect straight to Starlink satellites where terrestrial coverage ends, with no dish or extra terminal. For device makers, the story is handset eligibility and existing ARPTC homologation duties rather than a new certification regime.

Niger's ARCEP has opened a public consultation (20 July-31 August 2026) on the Niger ARCEP PNAF transition plan, the draft roadmap for implementing the 2025 National Frequency Allocation Plan across 2027-2029. Proposals include reallocating 600 MHz from digital TV to IMT/mobile, continuing 700 MHz refarming, reorganising the 3.4-3.8 GHz band for 5G, and moving fixed-wireless use from 2.4/5 GHz toward the lower 6 GHz band. The plan is at draft stage and does not yet change typ

The Government of Rwanda has approved a phased roadmap to retire its legacy mobile networks. The Rwanda 3G network shutdown is scheduled nationwide for 30 June 2027, while 2G retirement is currently targeted for December 2028, subject to a readiness assessment led by MINICT and RURA. This GMA Labs briefing explains what the transition means for device manufacturers, importers and labs, and sets out the certification impact, timeline and required actions to keep products marke

The Egypt NTRA mobile phone activation measure blocks new handsets that fail approved international standards—notably GSMA IMEI rules—from being switched on across Egyptian networks. Effective 1 February 2025 under Telecom Law No. 10 of 2003, it enforces existing type-approval duties at the network layer. For manufacturers and importers, valid IMEI/TAC allocation, NTRA type approval, and Digital Service Platform registration now decide whether a device activates, not just cle