Local Certification Bodies Accredited to Provide Equipment
Testing and Certification Services

For more information, please contact:
Melissa Ng / David Hsieh at 212-752-3320
Daniel McAtee at 202-238-6360
Wing Yan Tong at 415-835-9315

September 24, 2009 - The Office of the Telecommunications Authority (OFTA) announced today that it has accredited four local certification bodies (LCBs) to provide a full range of equipment testing and certification services.

A spokesman for OFTA said the worldwide trend is to rely on the private sector to conduct communications equipment testing/certification services. “To follow international best practice, starting from October 1, 2009, we will transfer testing and certification services, which have been provided by OFTA up to now, to local competent LCBs,” the spokesman said. “This is also in line with the Government’s policy of promoting and developing the testing and certification industry, which is one of the six economic areas recommended by the Task Force on Economic Challenges chaired by the Chief Executive. The provision of communications equipment testing/certification services by accredited LCBs will help promote the development of the local industry, and provide a wider choice of LCBs to the telecommunications industry.”

After the transfer of the testing and certification services to the private sector, OFTA will continue to monitor the certification process and the performance of the LCBs. To ensure that the service quality and the performance of the LCBs will meet the necessary standards, OFTA will check and review the work of LCBs on a regular basis.

Under the arrangement, the accredited LCBs undertake to provide on a non-exclusive basis a full range of testing and certification services with a scope not less than that currently operated by OFTA. In addition, the LCBs undertake that the certification fee that they will levy during the first year of operation will stay at the same level currently charged by OFTA.

The first group of four LCBs accredited to provide testing and certification services are Hong Kong Standards and Testing Centre Limited, Intertek Testing Services Hong Kong Limited, SGS Hong Kong Limited and TUV Rheinland Hong Kong Limited. Information about them is available on the OFTA website [www.ofta.gov.hk/en/newtec/lcb.html]. The four LCBs will commence service on October 1, 2009.

Background:
In Hong Kong, the technical specifications for telecommunications equipment are prescribed by the Telecommunications Authority (TA). Equipment which has been evaluated to be in compliance with the relevant technical specifications may be granted a certificate under the Telecommunications Ordinance. Currently, such certificates are issued by the TA.

To help promote the local testing and certification industry, the TA decided to delegate the certification service, including the associated testing service, to competent LCBs. In January 2009, the TA invited submissions of “Expression of Interest” and proposals from local testing agencies for accreditation as LCBs, which will be authorized to provide testing and certification services. After evaluation of the proposals received, the TA has accredited four LCBs.

The certification fee that the LCBs will levy during the first year of operation will stay at the same level currently charged by OFTA. The fee may be adjusted in the second year, subject to a maximum increase of 15%. A review will be conducted in early 2011 to determine the fee revision control mechanism that will apply after September 2011.