China Telecom and Wireless FAQ

For network access, ask whether the finished product connects to a public telecom network, falls within telecom terminal, radio communication or interconnection equipment, and appears in MIIT's current equipment directory. MIIT's reforms effective 1 March 2023 removed 11 named legacy equipment types from new permit approval and added satellite internet and functional-virtualization equipment.

For radio management, inventory every transmitter, band, output power, antenna and intended use. Model approval generally applies to radio transmitting equipment unless a specific exception is met. A micro-power exception requires an exact match to MIIT Announcement 2019 No. 52 and compliance with its technical and use conditions; it does not waive unrelated network-access or product duties.

For deployment, check a station licence separately from model approval. Under the 2400/5800 MHz notice, a provincial licence is triggered for specified access-point, central-station or point-to-point deployments only when the station is outdoors and its EIRP exceeds the stated band threshold.

For preinstalled apps, first decide whether the product is a mobile smart terminal: it connects to a public mobile communications network, has an operating system, and lets users install and uninstall apps. The terminal manufacturer controls the preinstalled build and sales channel; an app-distribution platform has review and traceability duties; a billing provider keeps confirmation and source billing data.

Use one route matrix to show the status of each decision, but keep the supporting evidence separate. The matrix should identify the product and configuration, source version, conclusion, responsible owner, open questions, approval identifier, expiry or review date, and change triggers.

For a covered network-access application, the current MIIT guide requires Chinese application and corporate records, quality and after-sales evidence, a product description, and an accepted test report or product certificate. Wireless communication, interconnection and new telecom equipment also require a technical plan and at least three months of network-trial evidence. Foreign manufacturers apply through a Chinese agent. A permit is generally valid for three years; the 2023 reform gives a trial approval a two-year validity period, and continued production and sale require a renewal application three months before permit expiry.

For mobile smart terminals, keep the app inventory and disclosure, consent, uninstall and upgrade tests tied to the approved software build. The manufacturer must keep preinstalled software consistent before and after network approval and report a newly added preinstalled app or major functional change to MIIT in a timely manner.