ITU-UNIDO Forum on
Sustainable Conformity Assessment
for Asia-Pacific Region
(Yangon City, Republic of Union of Myanmar
25-27 November 2013)
ITU Deliverables and
Guidelines on C&I
http://www.itu.int/en/ITU-D/Technology/Pages/ConformanceandInteroperability.aspx
Riccardo Passerini
Head Telecommunication Technologies and Network
Development, ITU-BDT
riccardo.passerini@itu.int
Guidelines on C&I
Conformity Assessment of ICT equipment
C&I Regimes:
- Regulatory Framework
- ICT Standards and test suites
- Type Approval, Certification and
Self-declaration processes
- Regulatory Authority; Accreditation
Bodies; Certification Bodies and
Laboratories
-
Institutions
Conformity Testing
Flowchart
Establishing Test Labs in Different
Regions
Feasibility
Study
MRA
Principles:
-Efficiency and
Effectiveness
-Partnership and
collaboration
Assessment
Study
-Mutual Benefit
-Regional
Development
Guidance on:
- Development
ITU
Assistance
- Implementation
- Management
2
C&I Guidelines
1.
Guidelines for developing countries on Establishing
Conformity assessment Test Labs in Different
Regions (2012)
2.
Feasibility Study for the establishment of a
Conformance Testing Centre (2013)
3.
Guidelines for the development, implementation
and management of mutual recognition
arrangements/agreements (MRAs) on conformity
assessment (2013)
4.
Assessment Study and Guidelines on establishing
C&I Regimes in Developing Countries (2013). *
Complete Guidelines in 2014
3
1. Guidelines for
developing countries on
Establishing Conformity
assessment Test Labs in
Different Regions
Guideline here
4
1. Guidelines for Establishing Test Labs in
different Regions
These guidelines presents the many elements necessary
for the establishment of robust verification system. They
address technical and regulatory aspects as well as the
need of capacity building related to the whole conformity
assessment process.
Process required for building testing labs
Best international practices
Status in the regions and needs
Funding and Training Sources
Criteria to establish Accreditation Bodies and Test
Labs (International Telecommunications
Testing Centres -ITTCs)
Economics and Cost Implications for ITTCs
Roadmap for ITTC rollout
5
Guidelines for Establishing Test Labs in
different Regions (cont.)
Needs in Developing Countries for Test Labs
Conformity Assessment Bodies activities contribute
to create an orderly telecom apparatus marketplace
Once standards and test suites are in place, test
labs can check equipment for compliance
Sharing test labs resources amongst countries and
regions and must have sufficient scope to address
regional priorities lowering overall costs
A robust framework (following international
procedures) is needed for trust and confidence in
test results and among test labs
6
Guidelines for Establishing Test Labs in
different Regions (cont.)
Recommendations
Members to:
advise the ITU of interoperability problems
establish market access requirements (regulators)
assess legislation and regulations
prioritize areas of concern related to telecommunication
products and systems
Establishment of Accreditation bodies and approach
to at least regional MRAs and MLAs
Establishment of Test Centres on a regional basis,
wide areas and possibly common infrastructures
7
Guidelines for Establishing Test Labs in
different Regions (cont.)
Funding and Training Sources
UNIDO, major Banks in each region, specialized
funding agencies for telecoms projects and others
Requirements to access funds vary from low interest
loans, to grants, seed funding and cost underwriting
Repository of international telecom training
organizations
Costs of training may vary from just travel to and
from location, to government and supplier subsidized
training, to private for-profit training.
8
2. Feasibility Study
for building a
Conformance Testing
Centre (under
publication)
Terms of Reference here
9
Feasibility Study for building a Conformance
Testing Centre
The feasibility study describes environments,
procedures and methodologies to establish,
manage and maintain a testing centre covering
different kinds of conformance and interoperability
testing areas
Different Type Approval Testing domains are
considered (e.g. electromagnetic compatibility,
safety, fixed and mobile networks, broadcast)
10
Feasibility Study for building a Conformance
Testing Centre (cont.)
The feasibility study addresses:
Resource management and organization
Vendor management
Test list cycle and management
Investment and cost estimation
Test campaign management
Test Plant and laboratory management
Instrumentation maintenance and management
Quality Aspects (ISO/IEC 17025)
Investment costs estimation
11
2. Feasibility Study
Steps to an ISO 17025 Compliant Test Lab
ISO 17025 establishes a set of management
requirements and systems
Lab requirements, test methods and procedures,
audits, equipment handling, technical competence
Document control, calibration records and staff
records
Handling of test reports and calibration certificates
Service to customers and handling of complaints
12
Feasibility Study for building a
Conformance Testing Centre (cont.)
Typical Organization Chart of a Testing Lab:
13
Feasibility Study for building a Conformance
Testing Centre (cont.)
Testing laboratory infrastructures:
Area of competence
Specific Absorption Rate lab
User experience lab
Broadband access lab
Mobile value added services lab
Electrical safety & protection lab
Electroacoustic lab
Electromagnetic compatibility lab
Radio & Signalling lab
Powering efficiency lab
Quality of material lab
Personal area network lab
Fixed Test plant
Mobile Test plant
14
Feasibility Study for building a Conformance
Testing Centre (cont.)
Overview 1
Broadband access laboratory (BBA):
The scope of the broadband access laboratory is to
evaluate all different equipment and functionalities
used in next generation access networks, ranging
from the physical layer to networking aspects
In particular xDSL transmission performances and
optical parameters are tested for copper and fiber
solution in relation to the different architectural
choices (FTTx)
15
Overview 2
EMC: Typical set-up for table top equipment for
radiated immunity tests
16
3. Guidelines for the
development, implementation
and management of Mutual
Recognition
Arrangements/Agreements
(MRAs) on conformity
assessment of
telecommunications equipment
Guidelines here
17
3. Guidelines for MRAs
These guidelines aim at promoting the
understanding, establishment and maintenance of
Mutual Recognition Agreements/Arrangements
(MRA), as efficient tools to promote regional
development
Through the share and efficient use of conformity
and Interoperability (C&I) infrastructures – as
laboratories, accreditation bodies and regulatory
practices – technical requirements can be
harmonized and the transit of ICT goods and
services can be facilitated, increasing trade and
regional development
18
Guidelines for MRAs (cont.)
Topics:
Benefits
Types of MRA
Attributes
Development
Implementation
Management
Consultation and Training
Stakeholders
Procedures for contesting the competence of
conformity assessment bodies
A typical MRA operation
Recommendation
19
Guidelines for MRAs (cont.)
Agreement x Arrangement
A Mutual Recognition Agreement is a formal legal
commitment between parties for recognition of conformity
assessment results for telecommunication equipment. It deals
with regulatory requirements and it is referred to in the text
as “regulatory MRA”. Often such agreements are made
bilaterally, regionally or multilaterally between two or more
governments.
A Mutual Recognition Arrangement is a voluntary
arrangement between parties for recognition of conformity
assessment results for telecommunication equipment. It deals
with nonregulatory requirements and it is referred to in the
text as “non-regulatory MRA”. An example of a mutual
recognition arrangement is amongst accreditation bodies to
mutually recognize the conformity assessment results from
accredited conformity assessment bodies.
20
3. Guidelines for (MRAs)
21
4. Assessment Studies and
Guidelines on establishing
C&I Regimes
Assessment Study here
Short version of the Guidelines here
22
Assessment Studies
The Assessment Studies looks for promoting the
establishment of Harmonized C&I Programmes, whenever is
possible.
It will collaborate to improve regional integration and
foster the availability of highly qualified institutions (as
Laboratories, Certification and Accreditation Bodies)
In an overall analysis, the Assessment Studies contributes
to:
-
Bridging the Standardization Gap,
-
reducing the Digital Divide, and
-
as is inherent to ICT technologies development,
strengthens business environment for global players.
23
Assessement Studies (cont.)
ITU has planned activities to allow C&I
infrastructure in regions/sub-regions/countries
being assessed
Analysis of the status in the regions are being
conducted
Looking for promoting regional agreements about
possible locations for resources (Labs),
agreements and testing capabilities
Close collaboration with regional experts in
addressing capacity building activities,
accreditation and type approval testing.
Moving forward to establishing regional test
centres
24
Assessment Studies (cont.)
Methodology
Preparation of a C&I assessment questionnaire
Usage of international references relating to C&I,
specially ITU guidelines and ISO/IEC publications.
Establishment of high level contacts with Member
administrations through the ITU Regional offices
Missions to administrations that will allow to deep
the research and collaboration
Elaboration of Roadmaps, possible scenarios and
possible ways to move forward for establishing
common conformity and interoperability regimes,
through promotion of mutual recognition
agreements and/or building testing laboratories
Final Workshop to present the results and
recommendations containing possible scenarios
25
Assessment Studies (cont.)
Roadmap
Conformity Assessment Bodies will contribute
with an orderly telecom apparatus market place
Once standards and test suites are in place, test
labs can check equipment for compliance
Sharing test labs resources amongst countries
and regions lowers overall costs while continues
addressing regional priorities
Setup of a robust framework (base on
international procedures – ITU, ISO, IAF, ILAC,
etc.) needed for trust and confidence in test
results and among test labs
26
Assessment Studies (cont.)
General C&I Regime Scenarios
Scenario
Single
Country
Regulatory
All structure
must be
selected and
adopted by the
country
Bilateral
Harmonization
Unified
Regime
Steering
Committee to
harmonize
standards
Accreditation
Yes
Yes, at least in
one country
Any country
Laboratories
According with
country
possibilities /
policy
Certification
Bodies
Certification
activities can be
performed by
the Regulatory
Authority,
delegated,
accepted, etc.
Yes, at least in Yes, at least in
one country
one country
(17065)
(17025)
Any country
Any country
27
4.1 Assessment Studies for SADC Region
Calendar and follow-up
The results of the first assessment will be presented
during the Subregional Workshop for SADC (Southern
African Development Community). A common
approach for using/building labs as well as for
establishing MRAs will be proposed/discussed
Same Studies for AMS, ARB and ASP are planned for
2014
28
4.2 Procedures for Establishing Conformity
Assessment Regimes
Typical procedures:
Query for new products to be homologated (accepted)
Import procedures for testing proposals
Reference Standards for conformity testing
Issuing and validating the Type Approval Certificate
Homologation (acceptance)
Suspension and Withdrawal of the Homologation
Certificate
Performing the Tests and Test Reports acceptance
Conformity Assessment Management System
Monitoring, Enforcement, Counterfeit, Sanctions and PostMarket Surveillance
29
Procedures for Establishing Conformity
Assessment Regimes (cont.)
Flowchart: possible procedures and interrelationships occurring
in a conformity assessment process for ICT equipment:
Applicant
2
1
query
Test Report
Certification
Body
Documentation +
Certificate of
Conformity
samples
Laboratory
3
Regulatory
Authority
4
Homologation
Market
30
Procedures for Establishing Conformity
Assessment Regimes (cont.)
Provides Technical
Information about
the product
Contracts
Certification
Body
Certification
Body
- Reviews Specs
- Indicates
Applicable Test
Requirements
Regulatory
Authority
Rules on
technical
requirements
Society
(end user)
Laboratory
Manufacturer/
Representative
Example: Regulatory Authority
ICT Infrastructure
Needs and consumer
protection
Reviews Test
Results
Provides a
Sample to a
Laboratory
Submits
Additional
Documentation
Runs the Test
according to
Regulations
Issues the Test
Report
Authorized
to market
the product
Issues
Certificate of
Conformity
Reviews
Documentation
Homologation
User
Client
31
Thank you!!
C&I Portal
Riccardo Passerini
Head Telecommunication Technologies and Network Development
ITU-BDT
riccardo.passerini@itu.int