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China Telecom and Wireless Telecom equipment network access permit workflow

Decide whether equipment needs a China network access permit, then prepare the applicant, test, application, mark, renewal and change evidence.

Apply the current catalogue and the reforms effective 1 March 2023 before arranging tests. The general management measures, later reform notice and new-mark notice must be read together.

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Author
Sorena AI
Published
Jul 5, 2026
Updated
Jul 24, 2026
Sections
3

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Primary sources
4

Cited legal and guidance references.

Publication metadata
Sorena AI
Published Jul 5, 2026
Updated Jul 24, 2026
Overview

Connectivity alone does not trigger a China network access permit. The finished model must be telecom terminal, radio communication or interconnection equipment covered by the current system and intended to connect to a public telecom network. MIIT decides the permission through its authorized receiving body. Check the exact catalogue name, the current management measures and the reforms effective 1 March 2023 before arranging tests or assuming a legacy product still needs a new permit.

Section 1

Scope and applicant

The permit system covers listed telecom terminal equipment, radio communication equipment and interconnection equipment that connect to public telecom networks. Telecom terminal equipment sits at the public-network endpoint and sends or receives user information; radio communication equipment connects to the public network by radio; interconnection equipment connects networks of different operators or different telecom services. The finished model must also match a current catalogue entry. Since 1 March 2023, MIIT no longer accepts new applications for 11 named legacy types, including fixed and cordless telephone terminals, fax machines, modems, wireless pagers and several switching products; satellite internet and functional-virtualization equipment were added.

  • A covered device needs a network access permit or, for qualifying new equipment without national or industry standards, a trial approval. The 2023 reform made trial approvals valid for two years.
  • An overseas applicant must appoint a China-based agent to submit the application.
  • Applicant and manufacturer identity, manufacturing capability, quality system and after-sales capability form part of the eligibility review.
  • For one of the 11 removed equipment types, do not file a new permit application. The manufacturer remains responsible for applicable product quality and telecom standards and must report newly marketed products from the preceding quarter through MIIT's platform in the first month of each quarter.
  • There is no numerical quota and MIIT charges no application fee under the service guide, but laboratory, certification, translation and trial work can still create project cost.
Sources for this answer
MIIT telecom equipment network access licensing service guide
Supports permit scope, applicant conditions, Chinese-language materials, review timing, permit duration, renewal, product-change and marking duties.
Current MIIT telecom equipment network access management measures
Defines telecom terminal, radio communication and interconnection equipment and ties the permit duty to public-network connection and the published directory.
MIIT notice on reforms to the telecom equipment network access licensing system
Lists the 11 equipment types removed from new applications, adds satellite internet and functional-virtualization equipment, and makes trial approvals valid for two years from 1 March 2023.
Section 2

Application and review

Materials must be in Chinese; foreign-language certificates or licences need Chinese translations. The exact list varies by equipment type. The authorized receiving body checks completeness, and MIIT makes the decision.

  • Application form, corporate registration and any manufacturing or overseas-agent authorization.
  • Quality-system certificate, product description, photographs, user information and conformity or test materials required for the equipment.
  • For radio transmitting equipment, include the MIIT radio transmitting equipment model-approval certificate unless an applicable radio rule provides an exemption.
  • For radio communication, interconnection or new equipment, include a technical plan and report from at least a three-month China network or MIIT-designated simulated-network trial where required.
  • Online submission through the MIIT government-service platform; MIIT may convene expert review.
  • If materials are incomplete or formally deficient, MIIT must identify all required corrections at once, either immediately or within five working days. Treat formal acceptance, not initial upload, as the start of the published review clock.
Sources for this answer
MIIT telecom equipment network access licensing service guide
Supports permit scope, applicant conditions, Chinese-language materials, review timing, permit duration, renewal, product-change and marking duties.
Current MIIT telecom equipment network access management measures
Binding current text for application materials, the radio model-approval certificate, Chinese-language materials and the three-month trial requirement.
Section 3

Decision, marking and lifecycle

The management measures and service guide provide a 60-day review period for complete materials, with expert-review time excluded where applicable. MIIT separately committed in 2023 to decide applications within 15 working days after acceptance unless a statutory reason prevents it. Treat 15 working days as an administrative commitment, not a replacement for the legal maximum. MIIT sends the decision within 10 days after it is made.

  • Keep the approved device consistent before and after permission.
  • For a new permit, include the proposed design and use of the new network access permit mark. It may be displayed electronically, printed on the product, nameplate or packaging, or attached as a label under the approved plan.
  • Adding or changing a contract manufacturer, or making technical or exterior changes that do not affect the main function or core components, may be handled by online filing without new testing or a new permit. Changes to licence particulars follow the prescribed information-change procedure.
  • A permit is valid for three years. Apply three months before expiry when production and sale will continue, submit a sample-test or product-quality supervision report issued within the preceding year, and return the original certificate.
  • From 1 January 2024, MIIT no longer issues the old paper mark, although an already issued paper mark remains usable during the permit's validity. Since the 2023 new-mark notice, the permit number no longer needs to be stated separately on packaging, built-in information or advertising.
Sources for this answer
MIIT telecom equipment network access licensing service guide
Supports permit scope, applicant conditions, Chinese-language materials, review timing, permit duration, renewal, product-change and marking duties.
MIIT notice on reforms to the telecom equipment network access licensing system
Sets the 15-working-day commitment and online-filing treatment for specified contract-manufacturer, technical and exterior changes.
MIIT notice on the new network access permit mark
Sets the current mark application and display routes, full rollout from 1 January 2024, continued validity of existing paper marks and the end of separate permit-number display.
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Primary sources

References and citations

MIIT notice on the new network access permit mark
miit.gov.cn
Referenced sections
  • Sets the current mark application and display routes, full rollout from 1 January 2024, continued validity of existing paper marks and the end of separate permit-number display.
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