Global Regulatory Intelligence

The Argentina ENACOM certification guide sets out how recognised certification agencies will assess telecom and radio equipment under the new RAMATEL Regulation. Published by ENACOM on 22 October 2026, it defines the minimum technical file, sample and test-mode requirements, which test reports are accepted, how non-conformities and certificate changes are handled, and market surveillance every two years for Class A products. The scheme applies from 1 December 2026.

Ecuador ARCOTEL 6 GHz Wi-Fi rules are out for consultation. On 21 October 2026 the regulator proposed adding the full 5925–7125 MHz band to its technical standard for licence-exempt spectrum, with indoor-only limits for access points and a lower-power tier for portable devices in 5925–6425 MHz. The draft also adds four bands for wireless power transfer. Written comments close on 5 November 2026, followed by a public hearing on 11 November.

Chile's SUBTEL has amended the technical standard for limited telecommunications services through Exempt Resolution No. 1,369, extending the 2300 MHz band up to 2360 MHz. Four new 5 MHz channels (2340–2360 MHz) are reserved for private networks using 5G technology based on 3GPP Release 17 or later, while 4G networks remain capped at 40 MHz. Service zones must be delimited, and SUBTE

The Paraguay CONATEL telecommunications plan 2026-2030 is open for comment. CONATEL has published its draft Plan Nacional de Telecomunicaciones 2026–2030 for public consultation and has extended the consultation period. The draft commits CONATEL to define registration and homologation requirements for IoT devices, update spectrum rules for NB-IoT, LTE-M and LoRaWAN, and set security conditions for sensor networks. Manufacturers should follow the consultation.

Colombia's Communications Regulation Commission (CRC) has opened a public consultation on its proposed regulatory innovation framework, "Towards a New Regulatory Innovation Framework." Published on September 30, 2026, the proposal moves beyond a single sandbox model and introduces three proportional routes: regulatory sandboxes, experimentation mechanisms, and guidance or coordination pathways. Stakeholders can submit comments until October 16, 2026.

Uruguay has completed its analog switch-off. Under Decree No. 217/026, analog television broadcasts in the VHF band ended nationwide at 23:59 on September 25, 2026, with the sole exception of Bella Unión, where analog service may continue until commercial digital coverage is confirmed, no later than July 31, 2029. The milestone ends a transition first planned for 2015 and consolidates ISDB-T as the country's only free-to-air TV standard, with direct implications for broadcast

Brazil's ANATEL has closed the transition period for restricted radiation radiocommunication equipment. From October 6, 2026, the exemption in item 10.3.4.4 of Ato nº 14.448 is revoked, so systems using direct sequence or other digital modulation must show a 6 dB bandwidth of at least 500 kHz in new certifications. Products homologated before that date keep their original basis during certification maintenance. Here is what manufacturers need to do.

Argentina's Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Industrial (INTI) has resumed local RF testing with limited staff under a court-ordered injunction, after earlier discontinuing the service amid the dispute over INTI Resolution 42/2026. RF testing remains mandatory for ENACOM homologation, and the injunction is temporary. Manufacturers should confirm laboratory capacity, keep alternative accredited labs in view, and plan filings around the 1 December 2026 RAMATEL transition.

On September 25, 2026, ANATEL opened Public Consultations No. 41/2026 and 42/2026 to enable Brazil 6 GHz Wi-Fi Standard Power operation outdoors in the 5,925–6,425 MHz band. The drafts introduce Automated Frequency Coordination (AFC), a 36 dBm EIRP limit, geolocation and cybersecurity requirements, and Wi-Fi Alliance-based test procedures for certification. Contributions are open for 70 days. Here is what manufacturers need to know and how to prepare.

ANATEL's shift to CERTIFICA introduces two new requirements for telecom certification in Brazil: a standardized Product Warranty Declaration signed by the local applicant's legal representative, and mandatory ICP-Brasil digital signatures on certification filings. These standardize documentation across Designated Certification Bodies without changing RF, EMC or safety testing. Manufacturers should review warranty terms, local support details and signing capabilities before th

ANATEL confirmed that certificates covered by Ato No. 10.400 and expiring on or after March 1, 2027, must be updated to the reduced 5925–6425 MHz Wi-Fi range as part of renewal, even if renewal paperwork is filed early. Brazil is freeing up the upper 6 GHz band for cellular services, and OCDs have already proposed the testing requirements ANATEL is expected to adopt. Manufacturers of Wi-Fi 6E and Wi-Fi 7 products should review certificate expiration dates now.

Bolivia has begun its Digital Terrestrial Television transition under the ATT's national DTT implementation plan. As of May 30, 2026, La Paz, Cochabamba, and Santa Cruz entered a 90-day technical transition period before the analog switch-off. All DTT receiving devices sold in Bolivia must comply with the ISDB-T standard and hold ATT certification. Here's what manufacturers, importers, and distributors need to know, including the certification timeline and required actions.

Argentina's ENACOM has postponed the RAMATEL implementation timeline. Resolution 843/2026, published in the Boletin Oficial on 28 August 2026, moves the new telecommunications equipment homologation regime from 1 September to 1 December 2026. Until then, registrations continue under the legacy Resolution 729/80 framework, and the derogation of the prior regime is likewise deferred. The regulator cited unmet conditions for correct execution, amid COPITEC scrutiny of the new sy

Colombia 450 MHz spectrum is back under regulatory review. On 11 August 2026, the Agencia Nacional del Espectro (ANE) opened a public consultation on its problem-formulation document for a planning study of the 440-470 MHz band. The study diagnoses congestion and reuse limits affecting land mobile radio users and weighs whether IMT could share the band. It creates no new type-approval duty but signals a future reorganisation. ANE extended the comment deadline to 1 September 2

Paraguay CONATEL homologation rules are under review: the regulator opened, then closed, a public consultation diagnosing the weaknesses of its 2009 framework (Resolution 588/2009). Run as an ITU-supported Regulatory Impact Analysis pilot, the review flags a fragmented rulebook with no categories for IoT, wearables or 5G NR devices, no cybersecurity requirements, per-model fees and weak customs coordination. No draft rule exists yet, but manufacturers should prepare for a mod

ANATEL 6 GHz Wi-Fi operation in Brazil is being narrowed. Ato No. 10.400/2026 amends the restricted-radiation conformity requirements of Ato No. 14.448, cutting the band available to broadband RLAN devices from 5925-7125 MHz to 5925-6425 MHz and reserving the upper 700 MHz for IMT/mobile. The rule is published but becomes mandatory on 1 March 2027, with a transition for certified products at periodic maintenance. Here is the certification impact for Wi-Fi 6E and Wi-Fi 7 manuf

Chile's Subsecretaria de Telecomunicaciones (SUBTEL) has modified the Fixed Satellite Service (FSS) technical standard, incorporating the Chile FSS W band with a V band addition to follow. The change moves the framework beyond the Ku and Ka bands that historically dominated satellite operations, opening higher-frequency spectrum for operators like Starlink and HughesNet. This article covers the regulatory basis, technical scope, equipment-conformity impact, and the timeline t

ENACOM Resolution 57/2026 replaces Argentina's 1980-era homologation regime with a third-party conformity assessment scheme, with the new RAMATEL regulation scheduled to take effect on 1 September 2026. Industry sources expect ENACOM to postpone enforcement into 2027 while it completes its internal transition, with an official statement anticipated before 1 September. No postponement has been published in the Boletin Oficial to date, so the September date remains legally oper

Brazil's telecom regulator ANATEL has opened Public Consultation No. 26, open until 26 August 2026, on a draft procedure that would overhaul ANATEL certification identification for cell phones, lithium batteries and chargers. It proposes a hybrid physical-digital model - a tamper-resistant seal plus a unique per-unit digital identifier tied to ANATEL's database - and extends physical homologation marking to phones. Detailed technical rules would follow in a later complementar

On 27 May 2026, Chile's SUBTEL published Resolución 966 Exenta, amending the Resolución 1.985 short range device (SRD) technical standard. This Chile SUBTEL SRD regulation update adds a category for extremely low-power active implantable medical devices (9–315 kHz), relaxes the QR labelling rules introduced under Resolución 737, and opens new channels for confidential test reports. Here is what it means for manufacturers placing wireless devices on the Chilean market.