Ecuador

News for Ecuador

• 2020-01-28New regulation survey - cell broadcast (CB)

  ARCOTEL will issue a new regulation within this year regarding the certification of devices connected to cellular networks. 

  Once the regulation is in force the manufacturer must guarantee that the device can support Cell Broadcast in order to receive emergency alert messages.

  ARCOTEL invites the manufacturer to participate in the survey until 31-01-2020. Please contact IBL if you need any support. 

  The questionnaire in Spanish can be downloaded here

  
  

• 2019-10-15Curfews after violent protests

  Ecuador’s government declared on 3rd of  October 2019 a state of emergency, which was limited to 30 days to restore public order and prevent protests with the military.
  In certain areas and in the city of Quito curfews are arranged, which are not only at night, but also partially during the day. All over the city there are currently blockades and demonstrations.

  Since public life has partially come to a standstill, we also expect delays in the approval procedures.

  Source internal research

  
  

• 2018-08-30ARCOTEL Released New Regulations

  Ecuador's ARCOTEL (La Agencia de Regulación y Control de las Telecomunicaciones) has published Resolución ARCOTEL-2018-0661: Among General Dispositions (p.8), there are three noteworthy parts:

  1. Annex 1: Devices that do not require homologation except for specific terminal equipment (p.9);
  2. Annex 2: Devices that do require certification (p.23);
  3. Frequencies that are restricted from use (p.21)

  Source: http://www.arcotel.gob.ec/wp-content/uploads/downloads/2018/08/ARCOTEL-2018-0661-2018-08-01-RADIOCOMUNICACIONES-MDBA-MATRIZ.pdf

  
  

• 2017-07-02New Type Approval Process

  ARCOTEL, the Ecuadorian Regulator has informed that the Letter of No Action (LoNA) for products not subject to homologation is now voluntary:

  • Devices with an output power less than 50mW and not considered part of a restricted category are still exempt from Type Approval
  • WLAN client services (printers, laptops, computers, etc.) no longer require homologation but WLAN master/infrastructure devices still do. 

  
  

• 2016-03-0957-64 GHz band open

  Following Resolution 03-02-ARCOTEL-2016 from 2016-02-24, changes have been performed to the National Frequency Allocation plan. The frequency band 57-64 GHz for WLAN 802.11ad devices has been allocated and devices using this technology can now be homologated. 

  
  

• 2015-12-07New Requirement for 2G/3G/4G devices

  Since November 2015, the Ecuadorian Regulator ARCOTEL release only homologation certificates if devices with 2G/3G function operate at least in 850 MHz and 1900 MHz and devices with 4G in at least LTE bands 2 and 4.

  
  

• 2015-03-06SUPERTEL changed name to ARCOTEL

  ARCOTEL (Agencia de Regulación y Control de las Telecommunicaciones) is now replacing SUPERTEL (Supertendencia de Telecomunicaciones) as the Ecuadorian Regulatory Authority.

  The Type Approval remains unaffected and still no specific label is required. During the transition period, current applications might be delayed by approximately 1-2 weeks.