ANATEL has provided new details on how the 6 GHz band reduction under Act No. 10.400 will apply to certificates going through renewal. The guidance sets out three scenarios that determine whether reducing the Wi-Fi band to 5925-6425 MHz is mandatory or optional, based on a certificate’s expiration date and when its renewal is submitted. ANATEL has also confirmed it is already working to free up the upper 6 GHz band for cellular services, which is driving the accelerated timeline. Manufacturers with certificates approaching renewal should determine which scenario applies to them now, since the answer affects both testing scope and product firmware.
Why ANATEL Is Moving Faster on the 6 GHz Band
Act No. 10.400 reduces Brazil’s usable Wi-Fi spectrum in the 6 GHz band from 5925-7125 MHz to 5925-6425 MHz, and ANATEL has confirmed it is already taking steps to reduce use of the upper portion of the band by non-cellular devices. The stated goal is to make that spectrum available for cellular services, which explains why ANATEL is tying the band reduction to certificate renewal timing rather than waiting for a single hard cutover date.
Certificate Renewal Scenarios Manufacturers Need to Track
ANATEL’s guidance ties the 6 GHz band requirement to two dates: when a Certificate of Conformity (CoC) expires and when its renewal is submitted. Three scenarios apply. First, any CoC expiring on or after March 1, 2027 must reduce the 6 GHz band as part of renewal, even if the renewal paperwork is filed before that date.
Second, a CoC expiring before March 1, 2027 with renewal submitted before that date can renew without reducing the band, but the product will need to comply at its next renewal if the reduction is skipped now. Third, a CoC expiring before March 1, 2027 with renewal submitted on or after that date must reduce the band as part of that renewal. Manufacturers with certificates already inside the six-month pre-expiration renewal window should map their products against these scenarios before filing.
Testing Requirements Proposed for the Band Reduction
Designated Certification Bodies (OCDs) have submitted their recommended testing requirements to ANATEL, and while ANATEL has not yet formally confirmed them, the recommendation is expected to be accepted largely as proposed. For manufacturers implementing the 6 GHz reduction to 5925-6425 MHz through a firmware or software update, with no change to power settings, testing is expected to cover frequency range verification and spurious emissions.
If spurious emissions results require a power reduction to pass, maximum output power and Power Spectral Density (PSD) testing will also need to be repeated after the adjustment. Testing must cover every technology and bandwidth a product operates in the 6 GHz band, and OCDs will require one RF conducted sample submitted with test mode enabled. Expected lead time for this testing is approximately two to four weeks.
What Manufacturers Should Prepare Now
Beyond testing, OCDs will require a manufacturer’s declaration identifying the firmware version or number both before and after the update, so this documentation should be prepared alongside the firmware change itself. Manufacturers should confirm which of the three renewal scenarios applies to each certificate, plan for the two-to-four-week testing lead time, and be ready to provide conducted test mode samples when requested. Because ANATEL’s formal confirmation of the testing requirements is still pending, manufacturers should also watch for updates that could adjust the scope described here.
For this article’s source information and any product certification guidance, please contact Global Validity.
Quick Country Facts
Brazil
Certification Body: Agencia Nacional de Telecomunicaciones (ANATEL)
Certification Type: Mandatory
License Validity: 24/36 Months
Application Language: Portuguese
Legal License Holder: Local Representative
In-Country Testing Requirement: In-Country Testing
The regulatory information above is based on radio type approval certification. Access additional certification requirements in over 200 countries and territories with Global Validity’s free proprietary product certification management software, Access Manager. Learn more about the platform here or fill our quick contact form!
Global Validity is your partner for global certification success
Want to learn more about regulatory compliance and how we can help? Simply fill out the form below and we’ll be in touch!