THE MINISTRY OF INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATIONS | | THE SOCIALIST REPUBLIC OF VIETNAM
Independence - Freedom - Happiness |
No. 08/2021/TT-BTTTT | | Hanoi, October l4, 2021 |
CIRCULAR
Providing the list of radio frequency use license-exempt radio devices and accompanying technical and operational conditions[1]
Pursuant to the November 23, 2009 Law on Radio Frequencies;
Pursuant to the Government’s Decree No. 17/2017/ND-CP of February 17, 2017, defining the functions, tasks, powers and organizational structure of the Ministry of Information and Communications;
Pursuant to the Prime Minister’s Decision No. 71/2013/QD-TTg of November 21, 2013, promulgating the Master Plan on National Radio Frequency Spectrum, which was amended and supplemented under the Prime Minister’s Decision No. 02/2017/QD-TTg of January 17, 2017;
At the proposal of the Director General of the Authority of Radio Frequency Management,
The Minister of Information and Communications promulgates the Circular providing the list of radio frequency use license-exempt radio devices and accompanying technical and operational conditions.
Article 1. Scope of regulation and subjects of application
1. This Circular provides the list of radio frequency use-exempt radio devices and accompanying technical and operational conditions.
2. This Circular applies to organizations and individuals that manage, use, manufacture, import and trade in radio devices specified in Clause 1 of this Article in Vietnam.
3. This Circular does not apply to radio devices manufactured, imported or used by the armed forces for national defense and security purposes. The manufacture, import and use of such radio devices shall be prescribed by the Ministry of National Defense and the Ministry of Public Security to ensure compliance with relevant national technical regulations.
Article 2. Interpretation of terms
In this Circular, the terms below are construed as follows:
1. Short range device means a signal-transmitting or -receiving and -transmitting radio equipment which, when meeting certain technical and operational conditions, is unlikely to cause harmful interference to other radio equipment.
2. Non-specific short range device means a short range device that satisfies the law-specified technical and operational conditions, regardless of its application or use purpose.
3. Cordless phone means a telephone terminal device that is connected to a public telephone network via a two-line analog interface. This device consists of a central unit and a mobile unit interconnected by a radio interface:
The central unit (also known as the base station or mother unit) is fixed and connected to two fixed telephone lines of the public switched telephone network (PSTN), using a built-in antenna. A built-in antenna is an antenna that is permanently installed inside or outside a device and is part thereof.
The mobile unit (also known as the baby unit) is a handheld unit that uses a built-in antenna. The mobile unit carries the telephone subscriber number of the central unit.
4. Medical implant communications system (MICS) and Medical Implant Telemetry System (MITS) means systems consisting of medical implants in a human body and external radio communication devices used to exchange data with the implants within a distance of about 2 meters, then transmit data to the data processing center and to the doctor via the telecommunications network.
In the MICS, the implants and the radio communication devices have two-way data exchange. In the MITS, there is only one-way data transmission from the implants to the radio communication devices at pre-programmed times.
5. Radio frequency identification (RFID) devices
A radio frequency identification device uses radio waves to automatically identify, track and manage goods, human beings, animals and other applications.
A radio frequency identification device consists of a radio frequency tag and a radio frequency reader connected via a radio interface as follows:
- The radio frequency tag carries an electronic chip, with or without a power source, and mounted on the object to be identified. The electronic chip contains information about that object.
- The radio frequency reader emits a certain frequency to activate the radio frequency tag, and the radio frequency tag will emit the tag’s information. This information is captured by the reader and transmitted to the data processing system.
RFID devices are used in distribution, shipping and retail, healthcare, and transportation activities, or in mobile applications.
6. Radio detection and alarm devices
A radio detection and alarm device consists of a sensor and a control system interconnected via a radio interface.
Some typical types of radio detection and alarm devices include burglar alarm, motion detectors, and metal detectors.
7. Wireless audio devices
A wireless audio device means a device that uses radio waves to transmit sound over short distances. Some typical types of wireless audio devices include wireless lavalier microphones, wireless handheld microphones, wireless headsets, personal FM transmitters and hearing aids.
Short-range wireless audio devices referred to in this Circular do not include wireless audio transmitters using the frequency band of 470-694 MHz with a transmitting power of over 30 mW ERP serving operations in the field of radio and television broadcasting.
8. Remote control devices
Remote control devices includes devices using radio waves to control models and to be used for industrial and civil control systems.
Some typical types of remote control devices include devices for controlling aerial models such as model airplanes, devices for controlling models on the ground or water surface such as model cars and model ships, and devices used for industrial and civil control systems such as car and garage door openers/closers.
9. Wireless local area network (WLAN) or radio local area network (RLAN) devices
WLAN devices are used to establish wireless intranets or to connect directly to each other instead of using cables.
Some typical types of WLAN/RLAN devices include access points, wifi routers, wifi cards, devices with built-in radio transceiver modules according to IEEE 802.11 and IEEE 802.15.4 standards (excluding wireless bridges used to connect WLANs/RLANs); and WLAN/RLAN devices using long-term evolution (LTE) technology.
10. Telemetry devices
A telemetry device means a device that uses radio waves to automatically display or record telemetry parameters and control functions of other devices via a radio interface. Telemetry devices referred to in this Circular also include short-range radio transceiver radar devices that have the function of measuring the amount of matter (usually liquid or glue or sticky paste) in a closed tank or on site to serve production and industrial activities.
11. Wireless video transmitters
A wireless video transmitter is used to transmit video data (or video and audio data) to a data processing system via a radio interface.
Some typical types of wireless video transmitters include wireless webcam, wireless camera, and wireless devices transmitting videos via universal serial bus (USB) interface.
12. Radio devices installed on fishing vessels
Radio devices installed on fishing vessels are devices used for communication between fishing vessels operating in the maritime zones of Vietnam.
13. Radio receiver-only means a radio device that has the only function of receiving radio wave signals.
14. Traffic radar device (automotive radar, radar sensor or road transport and traffic telematics) means a short range radar device used for applications in (road or rail) traffic communication such as cruise control, detection, alarming, and avoidance of collision between vehicles and between vehicles and surrounding objects.
15. Low-power radio communication device means a mobile terminal radio device that has the function of receiving and transmitting voice signals between devices within a limited range (for example, buildings, restaurants and hotels).
16. Ultra-wide band (UWB) device means a short range device used to transmit radio frequency information and energy with emissions over a very broad frequency band (-10 dB bandwidth of main emission, or B-10, of at least 500 MHz, or -10 dB segment bandwidth of main emission, or U-10, of at least 0.2). Bandwidths of B-10 and U-10 shall be determined as follows:
B-10 = fH - fL (fH, fL are high and low frequency margins, respectively. At these frequencies, the power spectral density of the UWB emission is 10 dB lower than the fM frequency of the largest emission);
U-10 = B-10/fc (fc is the center frequency of the -10 dB bandwidth and equals (fH + fL)/2).
17. Inductive loop means a short range device operating on the principle of electromagnetic field (near-field emission) and using low frequencies.
18. Automatic identification system (AIS) means a radio device used in the maritime safety system installed and used on board ships, boats and other vehicles with or without engine to improve the effectiveness of maneuvering to avoid collisions and manage surface or underwater vehicles.
19. Emergency position indicating radio beacon (EPIRB) means a radio device that indicates an emergency position using the frequency range of 406-406.1 MHz, installed and used on board surface or underwater vehicles including ships, boats and other motorized or non-motorized vehicles.
20. Search and rescue radar transponder (SART) means a radio device used for marine rescue purposes, operating in the 9 GHz frequency range.
21. Automatic identification system for search and rescue radar transponder (AIS-SART) means a radio device belonging to the group of marine support equipment for search and rescue teams to locate life-saving appliances or ships in distress during search and rescue operations.
22. Emergency locator transmitter (ELT) means a device that transmits emergency location signals using radio waves on the frequency of 406 MHz exclusively used on aircraft.
23. Personal locator beacon (PLB) means a device that transmits location signals using radio waves on the frequency of 406 MHz exclusively used for ground-based vehicles and people.
24. Low-power wide area network (LPWAN) radio devices include sensors and transceivers of data from sensors linked together via a radio interface, using a frequency spectrum shared with other short range devices. LPWAN devices referred to in this Circular do not include LPWAN devices using frequency bands licensed to use radio frequencies under the radio frequency master plan (for example, LPWAN devices using technology NB-IoT, LTE-M, etc.).
25. Wireless power transfer (WPT) means a radio device that transmits electrical energy and signals from a power source to a device to be charged according to the electromagnetic induction principle.
26. ERP stands for effective radiated power.
27. EIRP stands for equivalent isotropically radiated power.
28. ERPEP stands for effective radiated peak envelope power.
Article 3. List of radio frequency use license-exempt radio devices and accompanying technical and operational conditions
1. The List of radio frequency use license-exempt radio devices (below referred to as the List) is provided in Appendix 1 to this Circular.
2. Technical and operational conditions for radio devices to be exempt from radio frequency use licenses are specified in Appendices 2 thru 20 to this Circular.
Article 4. Conditions for exemption from radio frequency use license
Radio devices shall be exempt from radio frequency use license when fully satisfying the following conditions:
a/ Being on the List provided in Appendix 1 to this Circular;
b/ Complying with the general provisions on use conditions specified in Article 6 of this Circular;
c/ Satisfying the corresponding technical and operational conditions specified in Appendices 2 thru 20 to this Circular.
Article 5. Provisions on management and use of devices on the List but failing to satisfy the accompanying technical and operational conditions
Radio devices on the List specified in Appendix 1 to this Circular but failing to satisfy the corresponding technical and operational conditions specified in Appendices 2 thru 20 to this Circular may not be used in Vietnam, except the following cases in which they have a radio frequency and device use license:
1. RFID devices operating in the 920-923 MHz frequency band for electronic toll collection with a transmitting power of over 500 mW ERP to 2,000 mW ERP.
2. LPWAN devices operating in the 433.05-434.79 MHz frequency band with a transmitting power of over 25 mW ERP to 100 mW ERP and operating in the 920-923 MHz frequency band with a transmitting power of over 25 mW ERP to 306 mW ERP.
3. Radio devices installed on fishing vessels operating in frequency bands other than the 26.96-27.41 MHz frequency band as prescribed in the radio frequency master plan.
4. Radio terminal devices used for safety and rescue purposes using frequencies as designated by international organizations of which Vietnam is a member or in accordance with the master plan and regulations on use of frequencies but not yet specified in this Circular.
Article 6. General provisions on use conditions
1. Radio frequency use license-exempt radio devices used for emergency, safety, search and rescue purposes shall be protected from harmful interference in accordance with law when used in the frequency channels and bands specified in Appendix 20 to this Circular. In other cases, the use of radio frequency use license-exempt radio devices must accept harmful interference from the licensed radio devices and radio devices operating under permission by management agencies.
2. In case radio frequency use license-exempt radio devices cause harmful interference to licensed radio devices or radio devices operating under permission by management agencies, their users shall immediately stop their use and may only resume their operation after the harmful interference has been overcome.
3. Radio frequency use license-exempt radio devices must accept interference caused by equipment applying radio frequency energy in industrial, scientific and medical (ISM) fields when sharing the following frequency bands reserved for ISM fields:
a/ Frequency band of 13.553-13.567 MHz;
b/ Frequency band of 26.957-27.283 MHz;
c/ Frequency band of 40.66-40.70 MHz;
d/ Frequency band of 2400-2483.5 MHz;
dd/ Frequency band of 5725-5875 MHz;
e/ Frequency band of 24000-24250 MHz.
4. When using, manufacturing or importing for use in Vietnam short range devices that can operate at different levels of transmitting powers or in different frequency bands or with a wide operating frequency range, organizations and individuals shall permanently set their frequency and power level parameters in accordance with this Circular.
5. When using radio frequency use license-exempt radio devices integrated with radio remote control functions in aircraft models, organizations or individuals shall comply with the regulations on licensing of flight operations.
6. When using radio frequency use license-exempt radio receivers-only, organizations and individuals shall comply with the laws on telecommunications and radio frequencies and other relevant laws.
Article 7. Transitional provisions
The currently used radio devices which comply with the Minister of Information and Communications’ Circular No. 46/2016/TT-BTTTT of December 26, 2016, providing the list of radio frequency use license-exempt radio devices and accompanying technical and operational conditions, which was amended and supplemented under the Minister of Information and Communications’ Circular No. 18/2018/TT-BTTTT of December 20, 2018, but fail to comply with this Circular, may continue to be used until they are identified by the specialized management agency in charge of radio frequency as having caused harmful interference to any licensed radio devices or radio devices operating under permission by management agencies.
Article 8. Implementation provisions
1. This Circular takes effect on November 28, 2021, and replaces:
a/ The Minister of Information and Communications’ Circular No. 46/2016/TT-BTTTT of December 26, 2016, providing the list of radio frequency use license-exempt radio devices and accompanying technical and operational conditions; and,
b/ The Minister of Information and Communications’ Circular No. 18/2018/TT-BTTTT of December 20, 2018, amending and supplementing a number of articles of the Minister of Information and Communications’ Circular No. 46/2016/TT-BTTTT of December 26, 2016, providing the list of radio frequency use license-exempt radio devices and accompanying technical and operational conditions.
2. The Chief of the Office, the Director General of the Authority of Radio Frequency Management, and heads of agencies and units under the Ministry of Information and Communications, and related organizations and individuals shall implement this Circular.-
Minister of Information and Communications
NGUYEN MANH HUNG
* The appendices to this Circular are not translated.
[1] Công Báo Nos 863-864 (23/10/2021)
Vietnamese
Circular 08/2021/TT-BTTTT DOC (Word)
Circular 08/2021/TT-BTTTT PDF (Original)
