Radio Frequency Testing

On August 26, 2025, the Egyptian National Telecommunications Authority (NTRA) sent an email notification to its authorized laboratories, announcing that from today on, the laboratories will not be able to issue VOC certificates for cellular devices that support up to 3G technology. NTRA subsequently announced to manufacturers and importers on September 1, 2025 that relevant products will no longer receive model approval or import from October 1, 2025, but cellular devices that only support 2G can still receive model approval or import.
 

Main points

·This regulation only applies to devices that only support 3G technology.

·Devices that only support 2G or multi generation combinations (such as 2G/3G/4G, 2G/3G/4G/5G, or 3G/4G/5G) are still eligible for approval and import.

·This measure helps Egypt's digital transformation strategy by gradually phasing out outdated 3G technology while maintaining support for critical 2G networks and modern multi generation connections.

·This change drives market modernization and prepares the Egyptian telecommunications ecosystem for advanced 4G and 5G deployment.

The impact on enterprises

For export enterprises, starting from October 1, 2025, all devices that only support 3G will not be able to pass through Egyptian customs, even if they have obtained NTRA certification. After October 1, 2025, devices that only support 3G will be prohibited from being imported into Egypt. Companies need to ensure that their products support 4G and clear their inventory of 3G devices as soon as possible.

Therefore, it is recommended that relevant companies immediately verify the technical specifications of their products to ensure that export models support at least 4G standards. If there are still 3G devices in stock, it is necessary to complete customs clearance procedures before September 30th. Common identifiers such as LTE, 4G, and 5G are all support marks for the new generation network; If only WCDMA, UMTS, and HSPA are labeled on the device, then such a device is likely to be a pure 3G device.

The impact on consumers

For ordinary users, as long as their device supports 4G or 5G (even if they only use 3G normally), they will not be affected in Egypt. Consumers who do not support 4G/5G devices will not be able to activate SIM cards or connect to the internet in Egypt.

However, if your device does not support 4G/5G at all, it may not be possible to activate SIM cards or connect to the internet in Egypt in the future.