The official Mexican standard (Norma Oficial Mexicana) for mobile and cellular equipment NOM-221-SCFI-2018 will be effective starting Monday, February 10.
NOM-221-SCFI-2018 will do the following:
- Establishes the technical specifications of mobile equipment that can use the radio spectrum in Mexico or be connected to its telecommunications networks.
- Affects cellular equipment operating in the 700 MHz, 800 MHz, 850 MHz, 1700 MHz, 1900 MHz, 2100 MHz and/or 2500 MHz bands.
- Will replace NOM-001-SCFI-1993.
New certifications to the standard will be possible once labs and certification bodies have completed their accreditation.
The structure of this Official Mexican Standard responds to the needs in compliance with the security requirements for electronic equipment sold within the territory of the United Mexican States.
NOM-221 serves to activate previously announced testing requirements called IFT-001 parts 1 and 2.
The Federal Telecommunications Institute (or IFT, for Instituto Federal de Telecomunicaciones) issued both the testing requirements and NOM-221. The IFT, sometimes referred to as IFETEL, regulates Mexico’s telecommunications and broadcasting services.
Usually testing requirements are issued after a new or updated NOM is announced, but in this case the order was reversed.
IFT-011 part 2 will also check to ensure that certain products (specifically those used close to the ear, such as cellphones, tablets, and laptops) can operate in band 28 of the radio spectrum (700 MHz).