ITU Consultation on Conformance
Assessment and Interoperability Testing
(Geneva, 20-21 July 2009)
Overview of MRA and
Framework for Interoperability Testing
Standard Division
Global ICT Strategy Bureau
Ministry of Internal Affairs and
Communications, Japan
Geneva, 20-21 July 2009
International
Telecommunication
Union
1. Overview of Mutual Recognition Agreement
2. Framework and procedure for
interoperability testing: Case Study for NGN
equipment and terminals
Geneva, 20-21 July 2009
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Telecommunication
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1. Overview of Mutual Recognition
Agreement (MRA)
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Telecommunication
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Mutual Recognition Agreement
Country shall accept mutually the results of conformity assessment
procedures for Telecommunications equipment.
Japan has conclude, Japan- EC MRA(Enacted Jan, 2002), Japan-Singapore
MRA (Enacted Nov, 2002) and Japan-US MRA(Enacted Jan,2008)
Before Implementation of the MRA
[Foreign Country]
[Japan]
Apply directly to foreign
conformity assessment
bodies
1. Application
CAB
2. Conformity Assessment
Supplier
s
Market in Foreign
Countries
3. Export
Geneva, 20-21 July 2009
After Implementation of the MRA
[Foreign Country]
[Japan]
CAB
It can obtain
certification for foreign
country in Japan
1. Application 2. Conformity Assessment
Assessment in Japan
(shorter period and lower cost)
Supplier
s
3. Export
CAB: Conformity Assessment body
Market in Foreign
Countries
International
Telecommunication
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“Tested once, accepted everywhere”
[Before Implementation of MRA]
Need for assessment in
each country
Assessment in
Certification of
the EC
the EC
Japan
Japan
the US
the US
Addition of states increases
cost and time.


[After Implementation of MRA]
Certifications of each
country obtained in Japan
Assessment in
Certification of
the EC
Japan
Japan
the US
Assessment only once in
Japan allows the equipment
to be used abroad.
Promote the international trade of Telecommunications Equipment
Facilitate the use of telecommunications equipment such as mobile
International
phone abroad
Telecommunication
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Japanese stance on MRA
Considering positively to implement MRA with countries which
will benefit Japanese industry and consumers judging from the
cost-benefit analysis.
MRA relating to telecommunications equipment

Japanese CABs can accept test data from foreign countries
without MRA.

MRA is under implementation or consideration with countries
that can implement mutual recognition of certification results.

MRA with the EC, Singapore and US are under implementation
(See supplementary slides).
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Telecommunication
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2. Framework and procedure for
interoperability testing: Case Study
for NGN equipment and terminals
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Telecommunication
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If bilateral recognition framework such as
MRA be applied to interoperability testing,
while the number of countries increases,
•interoperability testing is to be implemented
between countries for all combinations with
different testing criteria;
•then the workloads and the cost for the
achievement of interoperability increase.
Once recommendations, common
references and guideline ※ for
interoperability testing are defined, the
workloads and the cost can be reduced by
examining the tests according to them.
※It is necessary to comply with technical standard
based on the certification system of each country
apart from the interoperability testing.
Geneva, 20-21 July 2009
Country
[A]
Country
[a]
Interoperability
Testing
[N]
[n]
Europe
America
Africa
Asia
Recommendations,
common references and
guideline for
interoperabilityInternational
testing
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Procedure for NGN Interoperability Testing
•Step 1: Define service & application scenarios on NGN
•Step 2: Define test specifications for the defined scenario in step 1
•Step 3: Build up test bed and examine tests
Step 1
Service & application
on NGN
- Session Control: SIP
- Application: ?
Step 2
SIP Layer
-SDP
-Selection
options
▪▪▪
Selection & Prioritization
of Application
IPTV, FMC ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪
Geneva, 20-21 July 2009
Build test bed
Test Environment
-Temporary or permanent
installation
- w/wo remote connection
▪▪▪
Link
Application
Layer
VoIP, IP Video Phone,
Step 3
-Define specifications
-Define profile
Examine tests
-Execute tests
-Examine results
-Feedback to
test specifications
▪▪▪
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Service scenario and its protocol
Bearer (Transport) Layer: RTP, RTSP, MPLS ▪▪▪
Session Layer: SIP, HTTP ▪▪▪
Application Layer (Service Scenario, Use case): IP Phone
(VoIP), IP Video Phone, IPTV, FMC ▪▪▪
Test Specification
Physical Architecture
Physical Architecture is defined depending on service scenario.
Implementation Agreement
Implementation agreement is defined for each interface such
as UNI, NNI, and I/F between equipments.
Test Profile
Recommendation related to service scenario and
implementation agreement and necessary options are
selected.
▪▪▪ ▪▪▪
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Telecommunication
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Supplementary Slides
Geneva, 20-21 July 2009
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Telecommunication
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Japan – EC MRA
Overview
Signed in April 2001, Entered into force in January 2002
Parties to the agreement: Member states of the EU
(at first: 15 states → now: 27 states)
Scope: 1.Telecommunications Equipment 2. Electrical appliance
3.Chemicals GLP 4. Pharmaceuticals GMP
Related Regulations in the EU (in the telecommunications equipment field):
R&TTE Directive, Low-Voltage Directive
Status of Implementation

EC CABs: 6
TELEFICATION B.V. (Netherlands)
CETECOM ICT Services GmbH
(Germany)
BABT (UK)
Phoenix TESTLAB GmbH (Germany)
KTL (UK)
EMCCert Dr. Rasek GmbH (Germany)

Geneva, 20-21 July 2009
Japanese CABs: 2



UL Japan, Inc.
Telecom Engineering Center (TELEC)
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Telecommunication
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Japan – Singapore MRA
Signed in January 2002, Entered into force in November 2002
(Part of Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) between Japan and Singapore)
Overview
Scope: 1.Telecommunications Equipment 2. Electrical appliance
Related Regulations in Singapore (in the telecommunications field):
IDA Act, Telecommunications Act, MRA REC Scheme
Status of Implementation

Under preparation for fully implementation
Japan – US MRA
Overview
Signed in February 2007, Entered into force in January 2008
Scope:
- Telecommunications Equipment
Related Regulations in US (in the telecommunications field):
- FCC Rules
Status of Implementation

MRA with US is under implementation
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Telecommunication
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