Standards we set
To regulate products, we make technical standards under:
- section 376 of the Telecommunications Act 1997
- Part 9A of the Broadcasting Services Act 1992
and equipment rules under:
subsection 156(1) of the Radiocommunications Act 1992.
Our technical standards are the:
- telecommunications standards
- radiocommunications standards
- electromagnetic compatibility standard
- electromagnetic energy standard
- parental lock standard.
Our technical standards generally refer to industry standards such as:
- Australian standards from Standards Australia
- international standards from the International Electrotechnical Commission, European Telecommunications Standards Institute, European Committee for Electrotechnical Standardization
- standards from the Communications Alliance and the Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency
Changes to standards
When we change or introduce a standard, there is generally a transition period.
During the transition period, both the old (no longer in force) and new (in force) standard apply. If you supply a new product, you may choose to comply with either the old or new standard.
Products that comply with an old standard
You might have tested your product to a standard that is now old.
If the old standard was current when you signed a declaration of conformity, you:
- may still apply a label
- do not have to retest your product to the new standard.
This is called 'grandfathering'.
Grandfathering does not apply if:
- you or the manufacturer change your product
- supplying your product might threaten health and safety, or a network or facility
- your product must also comply with a class licence (such as the Radiocommunications (Low Interference Potential Devices) Class Licence 2015) that does not allow grandfathering (for example, for wireless microphones).
Telecommunications standards
We make technical standards for customer equipment and customer cabling.
Our technical standards reference or incorporate industry standards in full (unless otherwise specified).
You can get copies of the industry standards:
- Australian and New Zealand standards from a Standards Australia distributor listed on the Standards Australia website.
- Communications Alliance (CA) standards from the CA website.
Industry standards referenced in ACMA technical standards may also be viewed at ACMA offices in Melbourne, Sydney or Canberra by prior arrangement. To make arrangements, please contact trdsenquiries@acma.gov.au.
Find our standards in Schedules 1 and 4 of the Telecommunications (Labelling Notice for Customer Equipment and Customer Cabling) Instrument 2025 (TLN).
- Telecommunications (Analogue Interworking and Non-interference Requirements for Customer Equipment for Connection to a Switched Telephone Network – AS/CA S002) Technical Standard 2025
- Telecommunications (Requirements for Customer Access Equipment for Connection to a Telecommunications Network – AS/CA S003) Technical Standard 2025
- Telecommunications (Voice Performance Requirements for Customer Equipment – AS/CA S004) Technical Standard 2025
- Telecommunications (Requirements for Customer Cabling Products – AS/CA S008) Technical Standard 2025
- Telecommunications (Requirements for Customer Equipment with Hierarchical Digital Interfaces – AS/ACIF S016) Technical Standard 2025
- Telecommunications (Requirements for Customer Equipment for Use with the Standard Telephone Service – Features Designed for People with Disability – AS/ACIF S040) Standard 2025
- Telecommunications (Requirements for DSL Customer Equipment for Connection to a Switched Telephone Network – AS/CA S041) Technical Standard 2025
- Telecommunications (Requirements for Customer Equipment for Connection to a Metallic Local Loop Interface of a Telecommunications Network – AS/CA S043) Technical Standard 2025
- Telecommunications (Mobile Equipment Air Interface) Technical Standard 2022
- Telecommunications (Customer Equipment Safety) Technical Standard 2018
Radiocommunications standards
The ACMA mandates technical requirements for radiocommunications transmitters. These are known as 'general standards'.
You can find the general standards in Schedule 5 to the Radiocommunication Equipment (General) Rules 2021, also known as the General Equipment Rules.
Suppliers will need to ensure they comply with the relevant requirements for their equipment.
The general standards commonly refer to industry standards for technical performance (for example, limits and test methods). They may:
- refer to an industry standard in full
- vary the industry standard (for example, add rules that are not in the industry standard).
Access to industry standards
It is important you read our standards and the industry standards. This will help you identify all our rules for your product.
You can get copies of:
- Australian and New Zealand standards from a Standards Australia distributor listed on the Standards Australia website
- European Telecommunications Standards Institute (ETSI) standards from ETSI.
List of applicable industry standards
| Equipment | General Standard in Schedule 5 to the General Equipment Rules | Applicable industry standard as of 20 April 2023 | Modifications to the industry standard in Schedule 5 to the General Equipment Rules |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Analogue speech equipment
|
Part 3 – Analogue Speech (Angle Modulated) Equipment Standard |
AS/NZS 4295:2015 Amd 1:2015 ETSI EN 300 086 V2.1.2 (2016-08) |
Clause 10 modifies ETSI EN 300 086 |
| Handphone equipment and HF CB radio equipment | Part 4 – HF CB and Handphone Equipment Standard |
AS/NZS 4355:2006 ETSI EN 300 433 V2.1.1 (2016-05) |
Clause 14 modifies ETSI EN 300 433 |
| MF and HF landphone mobile equipment | Part 5 – MF and HF Equipment – Land Mobile Service Standard | AS/NZS 4770:2000 AMDT 1 | N/A |
| Paging service equipment | Part 6 – Paging Service Equipment Standard | ETSI EN 300 224 V2.1.1 (2017-06) |
Clause 19 modifies ETSI EN 300 244. Note: subclause 19(3) modifies ETSI EN 300 224 to include clause 8.3.3 and Table ZZ1 of AS/NZS 4769.1:2000 ‘Radiocommunications equipment used in the paging service Angle modulated equipment’, published by Standards Australia and Standards New Zealand, as existing on 5 May 2018. |
| UHF CB equipment | Part 7 – UHF CB Equipment Standard | AS/NZS 4365:2011 | Clause 22 modifies AS/NZS 4365 |
| Aeronautical AM equipment | Part 8 – 118 MHz to 137 MHz Amplitude Modulated Equipment – Aeronautical Radio Service Standard |
AS/NZS 4583:2016 ETSI EN 300 676-1 V1.5.2 (2011-03) |
Clause 26 modifies AS/NZS 4583 and ETSI EN 300 676-1 |
| 406 MHz satellite distress beacon equipment | Part 9 – 406 MHz Satellite Distress Beacons Standard |
AS/NZS 4280.1:2022 AS/NZS 4280.2:2017 |
Clause 30 modifies AS/NZS 4280.1 Clause 31 modifies AS/NZS 4280.2 |
| Inshore boating radio equipment | Part 10 – Equipment Used in the Inshore Boating Radio Services Band Standard | AS 4367:2007 | Clause 34 modifies AS 4367 |
| MF and HF equipment used in the international maritime mobile service | Part 11 – MF and HF Equipment – International Maritime Mobile Service Standard | ETSI EN 303 402 V2.1.2 (2017-09) | Clause 37 modifies ETSI EN 303 402 |
| Fixed VHF equipment | Part 12 – VHF Equipment – Maritime Mobile Service Standard (Part 1) |
AS/NZS ETSI EN 301 025:2018 ETSI EN 301 025 V2.3.1 (2021-12) |
Clause 45 modifies AS/NZS ETSI EN 301 025 and ETSI EN 301 025 |
| Portable VHF equipment (non-GMDSS) |
Part 12 – VHF Equipment – Maritime Mobile Service Standard (Part 2) |
AS/NZS ETSI EN 301 178:2018 ETSI EN 301 178 V2.2.2 (2017-04) |
Clause 46 modifies AS/NZS ETSI EN 301 178 and ETSI EN 301 178 |
| Portable VHF equipment (Digital Selective Calling) |
Part 12 – VHF Equipment – Maritime Mobile Service Standard (Part 3) |
AS/NZS ETSI EN 302 885:2018 ETSI EN 302 885 V2.2.3 (2017-04) |
Clause 47 modifies AS/NZS ETSI EN 302 885 and ETSI EN 302 885 |
| Digital enhanced cordless telecommunications equipment | Part 13 – Digital Enhanced Cordless Telecommunications Equipment Standard | ETSI EN 301 406 V3.1.1 (2022-10) | Clause 50 modifies ETSI EN 301 406 |
| ITS equipment | Part 14 – Intelligent Transport Systems Standard | ETSI EN 302 571 V2.1.1 (2017-02) | N/A |
Changes to industry standards
If an industry standard for one of the general standards (excluding the Short Range Equipment Standard) is amended or replaced by another document, the changes are automatically adopted.
There is a transition period of 12 months. This starts on the publication date of the amending document or replacement document. During this time, the supplier may rely on compliance with either the old or new standard.
The 12-month period allows the supplier time to transition to the new requirements.
Short Range Equipment Standard
The general standard for short-range equipment is set out in Part 15 – Short Range Equipment Standard in Schedule 5 to the General Equipment Rules.
Short range equipment includes:
- low-interference potential equipment
- radio-controlled model equipment.
Low-interference potential equipment
Low-interference potential equipment may include:
- wi-fi and Bluetooth devices
- auditory assistance including wireless microphones
- access control, including garage door openers
- local area networks
- medical implants
- radiofrequency identification (RFID)
- telecommand for drones
- radar, including automotive
- home detention monitoring equipment
- personal alarms
- ultra-wideband (UWB) transmitters
- infrared equipment
- video sender transmitters
- barcode readers
- personal alarms / alarm transmitters.
We mandate technical performance requirements for these devices, which:
- are set out in subclauses 53(2), (5) and (6) of Schedule 5 to the General Equipment Rules
- reference the Radiocommunications (Low Interference Potential Devices) Class Licence 2015 (LIPD class licence).
The LIPD class licence may require a device to comply with an industry standard.
It is important you read Part 15 of Schedule 5 to the General Equipment Rules, the LIPD class licence and the industry standards.
You can find out more about the LIPD class licence on the ACMA website.
Radio-controlled model equipment
Radio-controlled model equipment includes control model cars, trains, boats and planes.
We mandate technical performance requirements for radio-controlled model equipment, which:
- are set out in subclause 53(3) of Part 15 in Schedule 5 to the General Equipment Rules
- reference the Radiocommunications (Radio-controlled Models) Class Licence 2015 (RCM class licence).
It is important you read Part 15 of Schedule 5 to the General Equipment Rules and the RCM class licence.
You can find out about the RCM class licence on the ACMA website.
Testing methods
Subclause 53(4) of Part 15 of Schedule 5 to the General Equipment Rules sets out the testing methods that you must use to see if your device meets the requirements of the Short Range Equipment Standard.
You must use the testing methods identified for the device (if any) in one of the following industry standards.
| Test methods in | Applicable industry standard as at 20 April 2023 |
|---|---|
| AS/NZS 4268 | AS/NZS 4268:2017 Amd 1: 2021 |
| ETSI EN 300 220-1 | ETSI EN 300 220-1 V3.1.1 (2017-2) |
| ETSI EN 300 330 | ETSI EN 300 330 V2.1.1 (2017-02) |
| ETSI EN 300 440 | ETSI EN 300 440 V2.2.1 (2018-07) |
| ETSI EN 305 550-1 | ETSI EN 305 550-1 V1.2.1 (2014-10) |
| Federal Communications Commission Rules Title 47 (Telecommunications) Part 15 – Radio Frequency Devices | Federal Communications Commission Rules Title 47 (Telecommunications) Part 15 – Radio Frequency Devices |
Electromagnetic compatibility standards
We make technical standards for electrical and electronic products.
Our Radiocommunications (Electromagnetic Compatibility) Standard 2017 refers to our list of electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) standards.
Our standards are in 2 parts:
Part 1 has general standards for emissions.
G1 standards are for products that customers likely use in a residential, commercial or light industrial (for example, a small brewery) place.
G2 standards are for products that customers likely use in an industrial place.
Part 2 groups products and lists the standards for them.
Your product might match more than one standard. Choose the standard that best matches the main purpose of your product.
If your product does not fit into any of the groups, choose one of the general standards in Part 1.
Electromagnetic energy standard
The electromagnetic energy standard is in Schedule 4 to the Radiocommunications Equipment (General) Rules 2021 (the General Equipment Rules). The General Equipment Rules outline requirements for certain equipment (e.g., mobile stations with an integral antenna) to comply with exposure limits for electromagnetic energy.
The exposure limits are those applying to the general public as set out in the standard published by the Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency (ARPANSA), the Radiation Protection Standard for Limiting Exposure to Radiofrequency fields – 100 kHz to 300 GHz (2021).
Check the General Equipment Rules to see if the requirements apply to your product.
Generally, you can assume your product must comply with the rules if it is a:
- mobile telephone
- baby monitor
- cordless telephone
- smart meter.
Parental lock standards
Our Broadcasting Services (Parental Lock) Technical Standard 2020 (parental lock standard) is the only standard in Australia that sets the rules for parental lock.
Parental lock is a feature of digital TV receivers. It allows you to control access to programs based on their classification (for example, G, PG, M or MA).
Parents and guardians use parental lock to protect their children from inappropriate or harmful TV content.
Generally, you can assume your product must comply with our standard if it is:
- an integrated digital TV
- a digital TV set-top box
- a personal video recorder
- a distribution device (used for connected TVs in apartment buildings, hospitals, nursing homes).
Check sections 8, 9 and 10 of our standard to see if it applies to your product.
The parental lock standard has no labelling or record-keeping rules, unlike for our other standards.
Penalties
If you supply a product that does not comply with the parental lock standard, you might be committing an offence.
Penalties for breaching the Act can reach up to $165,000.