Singapore Updates Technical Standards for Short-Range Radio Devices

As of 2 August  2021, the Info-communications Media Development Authority of Singapore (IMDA) published a new mandatory technical standard for short-range radio communication devices (SRDs) manufactured and imported in Singapore. Moving forward, all short-range radio products must be declared compliant to this standard, on and after this date.

The specification, which is based on CE Radio Equipment Directive (RED) standards, defines the minimum technical requirements for SRDs to operate on one of the authorized frequency bands or frequencies, and transmit within the corresponding output power levels under restricted conditions.

It was put into place with the hope that doing so will allow SRDs to share the use of the spectrum in a non-exclusive manner, based primarily on technical usage conditions, as well as situations requiring spectrum access mechanisms such as limited duty cycle, frequency hopping, detect and avoid, adaptive power control, and listen before talk.

The document clarifies that SRDs may be fixed, mobile, or portable stations that come with a radio frequency output connector and antenna. Applications include alarms, radio-detection products, identification systems, vehicle radar systems, wireless local area networks, remote controls, telecom, telemetry, and on-site paging systems, all of which may employ different types of modulation and include speech applications.

Within this new technical standard, both the electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) and safety requirements have been clarified, requiring the manufacturer to meet the requirements of CISPR 35 and IEC 62368 in their Declaration of Conformity documentation. Manufacturers must also review the new frequency tables to ensure their equipment does not violate any new or existing restrictions.

The new changes introduced in this updated technical specification are in direct relation with new radio technologies that were introduced into the market in recent years. The changes to the EMC of safety standards imply that the product must be declared in accordance with the latest standard, otherwise the manufacturer risks their product being withdrawn from the market.

How can Nemko help?

The consequences for not complying with these new directives could be substantial, which is why many international manufacturers have turned to a third-party certification body like Nemko to ensure their products are complying with all regulatory requirements. Nemko can provide updated information on radio spectrum usage and compliance with the latest EMC and safety standards, as well as advise on other upcoming regulatory requirements. Send us an email at info@nemko.com for more information.