As the most economically developed country in Africa, South Africa started the reform and legislation of the telecommunications industry early, the industry is developed rapidly and has a relatively complete system. Currently, South Africa is the largest consumer market for information technology products and services in Africa and the 20th largest in the world. At the end of 2013, South Africa had about 29 million mobile phone users and 5.3 million Internet users. From the perspective of management, the telecommunication management in South Africa now presents a situation in which the Ministry of Communications is the policy maker, the telecommunication company is the operator, and the regulatory authority is the policy implementers, and three are independent and play their own duties for joint development.
Independent Communications Authority in South Africa (ICASA) is the national regulator for radio communications and postal services, and all wireless products must be certified by ICASA before entering the South African market.

I. Relevant Laws of Telecommunication in South Africa

Independent Communications Regulatory Act of South Africa, ICASA Act

Electronic Communications Act

Postal Act

Broadcasting Act

Independent Broadcasting Authority Act

Telecommunications Act

South Africa Telecoms Regulator Act

II. Scope of ICASA Certified Products

ICASA certification defines the requirements for the technology and function of products as well as the safety and electromagnetic compatibility of the equipment. It is mainly applicable to the following products:

Large telecommunications systems;

Telecommunications network equipment;

Wireless paging equipment;

Digital enhanced wireless telecommunications (DECT) equipment;

Telecommunications systems (GSM and DCS);

Terrestrial sound broadcasting service signal transmitters;

Commercial amateur wireless equipment;

Cellular mobile phones and portable wireless devices;

ADSL transceivers;

ISDN;

Maritime wireless equipment and services;

Point-to-point digital fixed wireless systems;

Cordless telephone equipment.

III. Technical Standards for ICASA Certification

On January 22, 2010, ICASA issued the Code of Technical Standards for Electronic Communications Equipment. On April 16, 2013, ICASA issued a further notice on the implementation of the Code. The Code and the notice stipulate the ICASA list of compliance standards for technical equipment and electronic communications equipment, and these standards mainly include electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) standards, safety standards and performance standards for equipment. Among them, EMC standards also include basic EMC standards, universal EMC standards and EMC standards of products/ product family. The technical standards for ICASA certification of equipment are listed in Table 1.

IV. ICASA Certification Mark and Requirements

Devices certified by ICASA should be identified with ICASA certification mark (see Figure 1). The mark shall contain the ICASA logo and the ICASA certificate number. The minimum sizes of the ICASA logo shall be 3 mm in height and 3 mm in width, and the certification number shall be 1 mm in height.

V. ICASA Certification Procedure

Prepare the documents to be submitted, including application form, declaration of conformity, Letter of Authority (LOA)

Contact the local office in South Africa;

Submit the license application form to ICASA;

Pay certification fees;

Obtain the type approval certificate.

ANRT, Agence Nationale DE Reglementation des Telecommunications, mainly controls circulation and usage of relevant products in the Moroccan market:
Telecommunication devices (such as mobile phones and tablets);
RF device refers to the device with radio transmission function (e.g., Bluetooth and Wi-Fi louderspeakers, earphones, etc.).

ANRT certification requirements:

Provide the CE report

Provide technical documents

POA's Authorization Letter

Provide the local importer information

Product specification

No factory audit requirements

eclaration of conformity certification (COC) is Morocco mandatory certification of electronic and electrical products and the customs clearance at the destination port in Morocco requires that all products under the control of the country of origin shall provide the product declaration of conformity certification (COC) and have CMIM mark (CP mark) for customs clearance; since January 1, 2020, Morocco imports without CMIM mark can not be sold on the market.

I. Main Product Scope of CMIM certification:

A: LVD products: all electrical and electronic products of 50-1000V;

B: All equipment with electromagnetic compatibility EMC;

C: Toys.

II. Files submitted for CMIM certification

1. The qualified test report of the product, preferably refers to the Moroccan standard, if not, the CE report or IEC report refers to European standard are also available.

2. User Manual, including product pictures, operation guide, specifications, parameters, circuit diagram, etc.

III. Minimum height of Morocco CMIM mark: 6mm

For more information, please contact BALUN.

Following the publication of the General Rules for Postal and Electronic Communications issued by the Government of the Republic of Algeria on 13 May 2018, the responsibilities of the postal and telecommunications regulatory bodies have been expanded to supervise products of post offices, telecommunications and all products related to electronic communications. Accordingly, the President of Algeria decided to rename “Regulatory Authority of the Post and Telecommunication (ARPT)” by “Regulatory Authority of the Post and Electronic Communications (ARPCE)”.

Mandatory: yes

Controlled products: security/wireless/communications products

Factory inspection: none

Validity of certificate: 3 years

Local test: no

Local representative: yes

Data requirements:
1. The applicant must be a local Algerian company, and the business scope of the business license shall include the import business of the applied products;
2. Three sets of samples should be provided. Sample label includes: product name, manufacturer, country of origin, serial number. Before the samples are posted, the local SAMPLE CLEARANCE LETTER shall be sent;
3. Original of CE DOC.

Type-approved equipment should have “homologué par l’ARPCE” label (i.e., ARPCE certification) with the certification number.

For more information, please contact BALUN.