Regulatory Compliance News

Hong Kong’s OFCA Regulates Wireless Devices under Technical Specification HKCA 10396

The Office of the Communications Authority (OFCA) of Hong Kong maintains technical specification HKCA 1039, establishing minimum performance standards for radiocommunications apparatus operating in the 2.4 GHz (2400–2483.5 MHz) and 5 GHz (5150–5350 MHz, 5470–5725 MHz, and 5725–5850 MHz) frequency bands. Applying to short-range wireless devices utilizing digital modulation or frequency hopping spread spectrum (FHSS) technologies—such as Wi-Fi routers, Bluetooth peripherals, and wireless local area network (WLAN) equipment—the specification sets operational thresholds for maximum equivalent isotropically radiated power (E.I.R.P.), power spectral density, frequency stability, and unwanted spurious emissions to prevent harmful mutual interference across shared unlicensed spectrum.

Devices meeting the technical parameters defined in HKCA 1039 are granted license-exempt status under Hong Kong's Telecommunications Ordinance (Cap. 106), allowing commercial importation, sale, and operation without individual user radio licenses. To align with international regulatory frameworks, HKCA 1039 incorporates references to established global standards, recognizing test reports demonstrating compliance with European Telecommunications Standards Institute (ETSI) standards—specifically ETSI EN 300 328 for 2.4 GHz systems and ETSI EN 301 893 for 5 GHz systems—as well as Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Part 15 subpart C and E parameters.

This technical framework remains central to emerging technology initiatives in Hong Kong, such as supporting communications links for Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) and Low-Altitude Economy (LAE) applications operating across licensed and license-exempt bands. Although equipment certification under HKCA 1039 is voluntary under OFCA's Hong Kong Telecommunications Equipment Certified (HKTEC) scheme, obtaining formal certification and affixing the official OFCA label remains a key market advantage for original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) and importers seeking to demonstrate full compliance and streamline local distribution across Hong Kong.