Uruguay | CSIA

URSEC approval in Uruguay refers to the authorization or certification granted by URSEC (Unidad Reguladora de Servicios de Comunicación), which is the regulatory body for communication services in Uruguay. URSEC is responsible for overseeing telecommunications, broadcasting, and postal services in the country.

When we talk about URSEC approval, it usually refers to the certification or compliance that a company, product, or service must meet to be legally operational in Uruguay’s telecommunications and broadcasting sectors. This can include a variety of areas such as:

Radio and TV broadcasting licenses

Telecommunications services

Companies seeking to operate radio stations, television stations, or other broadcasting services must obtain URSEC approval

Any operator offering telecommunications services (mobile, internet, landline, etc.) in Uruguay needs URSEC’s approval, which could involve meeting technical standards, customer protection regulations, and more.

Equipment certification

Spectrum management

URSEC is also involved in certifying telecommunication equipment (such as mobile phones, routers, and other devices) to ensure they comply with national standards, especially with regard to frequency use and safety.

URSEC manages the radio spectrum in Uruguay, so any entity

wishing to use wireless spectrum (for cellular networks, radio frequencies, etc.) needs approval from URSEC.

ANTEL Approval

ANTEL approval refers to the authorization or regulatory approval granted by ANTEL (Administración Nacional de Telecomunicaciones), the national telecommunications company of Uruguay. ANTEL is responsible for overseeing and regulating telecommunication services in the country, including internet, phone, and television services, as well as the installation and operation of telecommunications infrastructure.

ANTEL approval could apply to various contexts, such as:

Telecommunications Equipment

Telecommunications Services

If a company or individual is looking to import, sell, or operate certain telecommunication devices or technologies (like phones, routers, or satellite equipment), they may need approval from ANTEL to ensure the equipment complies with national regulations and standards.

Businesses or entities looking to offer telecommunications services (e.g., mobile, internet, or broadband services) in Uruguay may need to obtain approval from ANTEL to ensure their services meet the regulatory requirements set by the government.

Infrastructure Projects

Licensing and Spectrum Allocation

If a company wants to build or install telecommunications infrastructure (like cell towers or fiber-optic networks), ANTEL approval may be necessary to ensure these projects comply with national standards for quality, safety, and coordination with existing networks.

ANTEL is also involved in managing the allocation of the radio spectrum for mobile telecommunications, so companies wishing to operate in specific frequency bands might require ANTEL's approval for licensing.

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For products that do not require approval in Uruguay, regulatory agencies will provide a No Homologation letter to avoid any issues with customs.

Type approval in Uruguay requires acceptable FCC reports or CE R&TTE test reports.
Lead time is approximately 2 weeks from the time all documents have been collected.
The URSEC certificate is valid for 15 years.
The ANTEL certificate is valid indefinitely.

Uruguay URSEC label requirements:

URSEC has no specific label/marking requirements. It is recommended maintaining FCC or CE standards.

ANTEL label requirements:

ANTEL has no specific label/marking requirements. It is recommended maintaining FCC or CE standards.

Frequencies Allowed in Uruguay

433MHz.
27 MHz
6.25 MHz
10.65 MHz
8.2 KHz
13.2 KHz
303 MHz
7Khz
10KHz

915 - 928 MHz - ERP

for wireless (domestic) phones Max 100mW
for RFID Max 1W
for transmission of information in general Max. 4W.

2.4 GHz in channels 1-13.
5.1 - 5,3 GHz

5.4 - 5,7 GHz

5.8 GHz

For a more detailed list of frequencies allowed contact CSIA.

Regulatory Updates For Uruguay

June 2023

The Ministerio de Industria, Energía y Minería (MIEM) has approved the terms and conditions on the assignment of frequencies in the 3.5 GHz band and the Unidad Reguladora de Servicios de Comunicaciones (URSEC) has published the call for interested stakeholders to participate in the auction.

April 2022

Unidad Reguladora de Servicios de Comunicaciones (URSEC) of Uruguay published Resolución No. 275/021, which enables local consumers to directly import certain devices operating in the 2.4 GHz and/or the 5725-5850 MHz frequency bands within the family of 802.11 (Wi-Fi) and 802.15 (Bluetooth) standards to enter Uruguay through courier services without prior intervention of URSEC. This Resolution was issued to facilitate purchases of Uruguayan consumers and to improve URSEC’s response time to homologation applications. National and foreign manufacturers are not impacted, and they must still complete the same homologation process that was in place prior to the Resolution.