Circular No. 18/2018/TT-BTTTT dated December 20, 2018 of the Ministry of Information and Communication on amendments to the Circular No. 46/2016/TT-BTTTT dated December 26, 2016 by the Minister of Information and Communications on the List of license-exempt radio devices and accompanying technical and operational conditions

THE MINISTRY OF INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATIONS 

CircularNo. 18/2018/TT-BTTTT dated December 20, 2018 of the Ministry of Information and Communication on amendments to the Circular No. 46/2016/TT-BTTTT dated December 26, 2016 by the Minister of Information and Communications on the List of license-exempt radio devices and accompanying technical and operational conditions

Pursuant to the Law on Radio Frequency dated November 23, 2009;

Pursuant to the Government’s Decree No. 17/2017/ND-CP dated February 17, 2017 on defining the functions, tasks, powers and organizational structure of the Ministry of Information and Communications;

Pursuant to the Decision No. 71/2013/QD-TTg dated November 21, 2013 by the Prime Minister promulgating the Plan for national radio spectrum as amended by the Decision No. 02/2017/QD-TTg dated January 17, 2017 by the Prime Minister;

At the request of the Director of the Authority of Radio Frequency Management;

The Minister of Information and Communications promulgates Circular providing amendments to the Circular No. 46/2016/TT-BTTTT dated December 26, 2016 by the Minister of Information and Communications on the List of license-exempt radio devices and accompanying technical and operational conditions.

Article 1. To amend and supplement the Circular No. 46/2016/TT-BTTTT dated December 26, 2016 by the Minister of Information and Communications on the List of license-exempt radio devices and accompanying technical and operational conditions

1. To amend Clauses 1, 5, 7, 11 and 15 Article 2 as follows:

a) To amend Clause 1 as follows:

“1. Short Range Devicerefers to a radio transmitter or a radio transceiver which provides either unidirectional or bi-directional communication with low capability of causing harmful interference to other radio equipment. Types of short-range devices are listed in the ordinal number 1 of Appendix 1 enclosed herewith."

b) To amend Clause 5 as follows:

“5. Radio Frequency Identification (RFID)

RFID uses radio waves to automatically identify, manage and track goods, people and animals and have other applications.  RFID includes two separate components which are connected to each other through the radio interface as follows:

- The Radio Frequency Tag (RF tag) has an electronic chip, with or without a power source, and is attached to the object to be identified.  The electronic chip contains information about the object to be identified.

- The Radio Frequency Reader (RF reader) generates signal at a determined frequency to activate the RF tag and read its response. The RF reader shall transmit the information received from the RF tag to the data processing system.

RFID has many applications in the fields of distribution, transportation and retailing, healthcare services, traffic or is used in mobile applications (e.g. automatic display and search for advertising information). Short range RFIDs prescribed in this Circular exclude nonstop electronic toll collection systems that apply RFID using the 920-923 MHz frequency band with the radiated power above 500 mW ERP.”

c) To amend Clause 7 as follows:

“7. Wireless Audio Device

Wireless Audio Devices refer to devices that use radio waves to transmit sound in a short distance. There are typical types of Wireless Audio Devices such as wireless lavalier microphone, wireless handset microphone, wireless earphones, personal FM transmitter and hearing aids.

Short-range wireless audio devices prescribed in this Circular exclude wireless audio transmitters using the 470-694 MHz frequency band, with the radiated power above 30 mW ERP, used in radio and television sector."

d) To amend Clause 11 as follows:

“11. Wireless Video Transmitter/Transceiver

Wireless Video Transmitter/Transceiver is used to send image data (or image and sound data) to the processing system through the radio interface.

Typical types of wireless video transmitters/transceivers are wireless webcam, wireless camera and wireless video transmitters through computer USB port.”  

dd) To amend Clause 15 as follows:

“15. Automotive Radar, Radar sensor or Road Transport and Traffic Telematicsrefer to short-range radar that is used in traffic communication applications (road or railway) such as cruise control, detection, warning and avoidance of collisions between vehicles and surrounding objects.”

2. To amend and supplement Article 4 as follows:

"1. The use of radio devices in the List enclosed herewith is exempted from the radio frequency licensing provided such devices meet the general requirements in Article 5 hereof and corresponding technical and operational conditions mentioned in Appendix 2 - 19 enclosed herewith.

2. Short range radio devices that are on the List enclosed herewith but fail to meet frequency requirements and technical requirements laid down herein cannot be used in Vietnam.

3. Organizations and individuals may only use, manufacture or import short-range devices which can operate at different radiated powers or different frequency bands or a wide operating frequency range, including the cases inconsistently with regulations herein, for use in Vietnam when parameters, including operating frequency and radiated power, of these devices are set up in accordance with regulations herein.  Relevant organizations and individuals shall assume responsibility for the installation of operating frequency and radiated power inconsistently with regulations herein."

3. To add Clause 1a to Article 6 on transition provisions:

“1a. Organizations and individuals that use, manufacture or import RFIDs operating within the 866-868 MHz frequency band for use in Vietnam before the effective date of this Circular may continue using such devices but must stop using such devices if they cause harmful interference to radio devices granted the radio frequency license.”

Article 2. To amend and supplement Appendixes enclosed with the Circular No. 46/2016/TT-BTTTT by the Appendix A enclosed herewith.

Article 3. Implementation provisions

1. This Circular takes effect on February 12, 2019.

2. The Chief of the Ministry s Office, the Director of the Authority of Radio Frequency Management, heads of affiliates of the Ministry of Information and Communications, and relevant organizations and individuals shall implement this Circular.

3. Difficulties that arise during the implementation of this Circular should be reported to the Ministry of Information and Communications (via the Authority of Radio Frequency Management) for consideration./.

The Minister

Nguyen Manh Hung 

APPENDIX A

AMENDMENTS TO APPENDIXES ENCLOSED WITH THE CIRCULAR NO. 46/2016/TT-BTTTT
(Enclosed with the Circular No. 18/2018/TT-BTTTT dated December 20, 2018 by the Minister of Information and Communications)

1. To amend Point 1.13 of Appendix 1 and add Point 1.15 to Appendix 1 as follows:

2. To add ordinal numbers 3a, 6a, 8a, 10a, 20a, 41a, 51a and amend ordinal numbers 39, 54 and 55 of Appendix 2:

a) To add ordinal numbers 3a, 6a, 8a, 10a, 20a, 41a, 51a:

b) To amend ordinal numbers 39, 54 and 55 as follows:

3. To add Point 2.1a and 2.11 to Section 2 of Appendix 2 as follows:

a) To add Point 2.1a to Appendix 2 as follows:

“2.1a. Spurious emission limit 1a:

b) To add Point 2.11 to Appendix 2 as follows:

“2.11. Spurious emission limit 11:

4. To abrogate the 866 ÷ 868 MHz frequency band and corresponding conditions specified in Appendix 2 and Appendix 6.

5. To abrogate notes in Appendix 2.

6. To abrogate notes (*) in Appendix 6.

7. To add the 1795 ÷ 1800 MHz frequency band and conditions for use thereof to Appendix 8 as follows:

8. To amend the heading of Appendix 15 and add the 24 ÷ 24.25 GHz frequency band and conditions for use thereof to Appendix 15 as follows:

a) To amend the heading of Appendix 15 as follows: "TECHNICAL AND OPERATIONAL CONDITIONS APPLIED TO LICENSE-EXEMPT AUTOMOTIVE RADAR, RADAR SENSOR OR ROAD TRANSPORT AND TRAFFIC TELEMATICS”

b) To add the 24 ÷ 24.25 GHz frequency band and conditions for use thereof as follows:

9. To add the following frequency bands 148.5 ÷ 190 kHz and 10.200 ÷ 11.000 kHz, and conditions for use thereof to the Appendix 16 as follows:

10. To add the Appendix 16A as follows:

“Appendix 16A

TECHNICAL AND OPERATIONAL CONDITIONS APPLIED TO SHORT RANGE DEVICES PROVING LINKS BETWEEN THE TRACKS AND THE TRAINS
(Enclosed with the Circular No. 46/2016/TT-BTTTT dated December 26, 2016 by the Minister of Information and Communications)

11. To amend Appendix 19 as follows:

“Appendix 19

TECHNICAL AND OPERATIONAL CONDITIONS APPLIED TO RADIO DEVICES USED FOR MARITIME SAFETY AND RESCUE PURPOSES   
(Enclosed with the Circular No. 46/2016/TT-BTTTT dated December 26, 2016 by the Minister of Information and Communications)

^(*): International default operating frequency bands:  AIS1 (161.9625 ÷ 161.9875 MHz), AIS2 (162.0125 ÷ 162.0375 MHz).

^(**): If organizations and individuals wish to apply for the license to use radio frequencies for EPIRB, AIS, SART, AIS-SART, procedures for the radio frequency licensing must be carried out in accordance with applicable laws.”