May 2026 Regulatory Newsletter: Indonesia, China, Nigeria & 3 More Countries
This Month at a Glance:
- Spectrum planning and reallocation: Indonesia published an overhauled Radio Frequency Spectrum Allocation Table covering 5G, Wi-Fi 6E, and IoT bands, while Nigeria issued a five-year roadmap targeting mobile broadband, mmWave, and satellite Direct-to-Device spectrum.
- Device safety and lab standardization: Indonesia tightened SAR limits for phones and tablets, China unified how testing labs qualify for and retain accreditation, and Singapore proposed a new international standard for generative AI testing.
- Certification and operational updates: Brazil set new technical limits for mobile signal boosters, and regulators across the Middle East flagged possible processing delays tied to the Eid Al-Adha holiday.
Country Updates
Indonesia: Tightens SAR Limits for Phones and Tablets
May 29, 2026
Indonesia’s Decree 197 of 2026 gives manufacturers a choice between ICNIRP’s 1998 and 2020 SAR guidelines, but tightens what counts as in scope: any phone or tablet used within 20 centimeters of the body and radiating above 20 milliwatts now needs a full SAR test report. A grace period through July 2027 lets domestic labs issue certificates without a complete report in the interim, and any device that fails its first SAR test gets one retest using units purchased at random from the market.
Continue Reading: Indonesia: Updates SAR Limits for Mobile Devices & Tablets
Brazil: Sets New Technical Limits for Signal Boosters
May 28, 2026
Anatel’s Act No. 5885 splits signal boosters into selective and broadband categories, each with its own power and gain ceilings, and requires every certified unit to include automatic feedback cancellation, power control, and a shutdown trigger after five minutes without an active cellular connection. The rule supports Anatel’s broader push to use boosters for expanding coverage through its Regulatory Sandbox program, but manufacturers will need to re-verify gain calculations that now vary by frequency, connection type, and booster architecture.
Continue Reading: Brazil: Updates Mobile Network Signal Booster Certification Requirements
Middle East: Eid Al-Adha Expected to Slow Regulatory Processing
May 28, 2026
Regulatory bodies across several Middle Eastern markets are expected to scale back operations between June 5 and June 10, 2026 in observance of Eid Al-Adha. Type approval applications and technical queries submitted close to or during that window should expect extended turnaround, with a likely backlog as ministries resume full operations afterward.
Continue Reading: Middle East: Possible Regulatory Delays due to Holiday
Indonesia: Overhauls Radio Frequency Spectrum Allocation Table
May 18, 2026
Indonesia’s Regulation Number 8 of 2026 replaces its 2022 spectrum framework and realigns the country’s band plan with the ITU’s 2024 Radio Regulations, touching everything from sub-1-GHz IMT bands to 6 GHz Wi-Fi and 76-77 GHz automotive radar. The update folds in formal allocations for Wi-Fi 6E and mmWave 5G while repealing the older 350-438 MHz frequency plan, giving manufacturers a single updated reference for SDPPI certification across most wireless categories.
Continue Reading: Indonesia: Updates Radio Frequency Spectrum Allocation Table
Nigeria: Maps Out Spectrum Strategy Through 2030
May 6, 2026
The Nigerian Communications Commission’s new five-year roadmap sets a sequence for releasing the 600 MHz, L-band, upper 6 GHz, and 26 GHz mmWave bands, while flagging 700 MHz and 2.3 GHz for audit and possible reassignment. It also opens the door to satellite Direct-to-Device service in the 694-2700 MHz range, a signal that NTN-capable handsets and IoT devices could face new regulatory treatment as Nigeria works toward nearly quadrupling its terrestrial IMT spectrum supply by 2030.
Continue Reading: Nigeria: Publishes Spectrum Roadmap for 2026–2030
China: Unifies Testing Lab Accreditation Under One Database
May 6, 2026
SAMR’s new “One List, One Database” system, effective June 1, 2026, ties China’s CMA lab accreditation to a single national list of 11 statutory testing fields and a database of more than 45,000 standards. Existing accreditations for capabilities outside that database will not be renewed, so companies relying on Chinese lab reports for certification or procurement should confirm that both the lab and the specific test method remain within the newly defined accredited scope.
Continue Reading: China: Standardizes Testing Lab Accreditation
Singapore: Proposes International Standard for GenAI Testing
May 6, 2026
Singapore’s IMDA introduced a draft ISO/IEC 42119-8 standard at an April plenary session that drew over 250 AI experts from more than 35 countries, aiming to standardize benchmarking and red-teaming methods for generative AI systems. The proposal carries no immediate certification requirement, but it builds on Singapore’s existing AI Verify Toolkit and signals that AI testing transparency is moving closer to the conformity assessment frameworks that already govern connected devices.
Continue Reading: Singapore: Proposes Global GenAI Testing Standard
