Anatel, published Act No. 14430, of October 7, 2024
Which updates the requirements for certification of Access Terminal Stations – ETA (Act No. 3151/2020) and Cellular Mobile Telephones (Act No. 3151/2020).
The changes introduced by Act No. 14430/2024 establish that, as of April 6, 2025, only cell phones and access terminal stations that have at least 4G technology or higher can be certified. The new requirements allow the certification of equipment with 2G and 3G technology, as long as it also has 4G technology or higher.
The main aim of the new requirements is to ensure that equipment approved by the Agency is compatible with the most modern networks (4G and 5G), preventing it from ceasing to function when providers effectively decommission the 2G and 3G networks, thus avoiding damage to users of telecommunications services and products.
The proposal does not affect equipment already certified and used in Brazil, but aims to ensure that new equipment entering the Brazilian market is also capable of operating on 4G or higher technology.
The update of the requirements is the result of an analysis of the comments received in the context of Subsidy Call No. 23/2023, which received contributions regarding possible actions to be taken by the Agency and the different players in the telecommunications sector to speed up the transition from 2G and 3G technologies to 4G and 5G, and the contributions gathered during Public Consultation No. 36/2024.
Impact on Type Approval and Market Access Requirements? – Yes
Impact on Imports, Customs, Trade, or Market Surveillance? – No
Impact on Spectrum Management? – Yes
Impact on Technical Standards? – No