Ecuador | CSIA

Certification helps ensure the devices are of acceptable quality and reliability for users, contributing to the overall standardization of telecommunications services.

Telecommunications Equipment

In many cases, manufacturers or importers who wish to sell telecommunications equipment in Ecuador must obtain CONATEL certification. This ensures the products are authorized for use in the country and are compliant with local regulations.

Technical Compliance

The devices must comply with safety, electromagnetic compatibility

(EMC), radio frequency (RF) standards, and other technical norms established by CONATEL.

The certification process is most commonly required for devices such as mobile phones, routers, wireless equipment, and other telecommunication-related technologies that will be used in Ecuador.

Importation and Sales

Spectrum Management

CONATEL is also involved in managing the use of radio frequencies, so any device that emits radio waves (like mobile phones, wireless routers, etc.) must be certified to ensure they do not cause interference.

Type Approval in Ecuador

CONATEL certification in Ecuador refers to the approval or certification process conducted by CONATEL (Comisión Nacional de Telecomunicaciones, or the National Telecommunications Commission), which is the regulatory body responsible for overseeing telecommunications and broadcasting services in the country.

This certification typically pertains to various telecommunications equipment, devices, and technologies used within Ecuador, ensuring they meet certain technical standards and regulatory requirements. The goal is to guarantee that the devices or services are compatible with the national network infrastructure and do not interfere with other communications services.

Key points of CONATEL Certification:

For manufacturers or businesses involved in the telecommunications sector in Ecuador, understanding and navigating the CONATEL certification process is crucial to ensuring their products comply with local regulations and can be legally sold and used in the country.

CONATEL type approval in Ecuador requires acceptable FCC reports.
Requires 1 sample for in country testing, including all cables, adapters, software, etc. to put the equipment into test modes.
User Guide in Spanish required.
Products that operate at under 50mW do not require certification but a letter of no certification required is available.
Lead time approximately 5-7 weeks from the time all documents and samples have been collected.
The CONATEL certificate is valid indefinitely.

Ecuador CONATEL label requirements:

CONATEL does not have any label requirements however the FCC logo is recommended.

Frequencies allowed in Ecuador

ARCOTEL has released an updated Plan Nacional de Frecuencias (National Frequency Plan). One major change is that ARCOTEL has reallocated the 902-928MHz band to “Uso Determinado en Bandas Libres (UDBL),” and the 915-928MHz portion of this band is once again unlicensed.

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For a complete list of frequencies allowed by CONATEL in Ecuador contact CSIA.

Regulatory Updates For Ecuador

September 2021

The Agencia de Regulacion y Control de las Telecomunicaciones (ARCOTEL), has updated the list of International Bodies accepted for Type Approval in Ecuador. The ARCOTEL update leaves 9 accepted organizations and now includes the China CMIT, India BIS and Taiwan NCC.

The following bodies are now accepted:

• Agencia Nacional de Telecomunicaciones de Brasil (ANATEL)
• Bureau Of Indian Standards (BIS)
• China’s Ministry Of Industry and Information Technology (CMIIT)
• Comunidad Europea (CE) / Declaraciones de Conformidad (DoC)
• European Telecommunications Standard Institute (ETSI)
• Federal Communications Commission de los Estados Unidos de América (FCC)
• Korean Agency for Technology and Standards (KATS)
• National Communications Commission de Taiwan (NCC)
• The Certification and Engineering Bureau of industry of Canada (CEBIC)

Please note that ARCOTEL Type Approval is still required, the list above represents test reports that are accepted as part of the approval process.

For more information on these changes contact CSIA.

October 2018

Ecuador's ARCOTEL (La Agencia de Regulación y Control de las Telecomunicaciones) published Resolución ARCOTEL-2018-0661 with three significant changes:

Annex 1: Devices that do not require homologation except for specific terminal equipment;
Annex 2: Devices that do require certification;
Frequencies that are restricted from use.

May 2018

The out power is now no longer a condition for certification according the new regulations.

In the past only products that transmitted at more than 50 mW needed certification.

Two main things to be considered in order to require certification from now on :
a) The device has to be able or capable to be interconnected with the public network; and

b) To be part of a list that the Agency had published.

Some factories or manufactures still desire a letter of no approval required as a backup for their exports and imports.

CSIA can also provide that letter upon request.

January 2018