China Network Access License (NAL) Certification Service

General Information:

NAL Certification does not require a certification mark, but a valid test report is required for equipment accessing a public network to be sold in China.

NAL certification is issued by MIIT for telecom devices that aim to access the public telecom network, such as cell phones, modems, telecom communication terminals, ethernet switches, and more. If the device includes RF function, the manufacturer is required to obtain SRRC certification, as well as the NAL license.

The NAL certification process is similar to SRRC certification. The applicant must submit an application to the MIIT certification center and send samples to an accredited test lab in China. After successful review of the report, MIIT will issue the NAL certificate. After receiving the NAL certificate, the manufacturer must apply for an NAL sticker, as illustrated below, and attach it to the certified product.

Process

All the documents submitted must be in Chinese. English documents must be translated into Chinese and stamped.

For normal telecom products, the testing items include two parts: information security and interconnection and interworking. The detailed tests (i.e. security protocol, emergency call, communication function between card and terminal, data transferring function, RF function, EMC, ESD) will be tested according to the specific configurations and functions.

The NAL testing process includes conductive emission testing, so the manufacturer should be prepared with conductive samples. It is recommended that the manufacturer or his representative be present at the test lab to configure the product for testing. A test board can be used if an RF module cannot be configured in the normal working condition.

Challenges Obtaining and Maintaining NAL Certification

Obtaining NAL certification can be tricky, and delays can occur from not going in with the right test plan, to not having the right support equipment for testing. The following are preventable issues that can cause delays:

Initial test plan not designed to leverage base model or wireless module to the full extent
China frequency allocations are not known for wireless product’s application
Products are not sent with the correct test software
Certification laboratories make little effort to resolve product operating deficiencies during testing.
Test samples are delayed in shipping, or get stuck in China customs
Product operating details are not well translated to Chinese test lab
Certificate expirations cause unexpected lapse in coverage

How Can We Help?

G&M Compliance’s Beijing office was established in 2005. We utilize the following practices to achieve a fast and efficient certification experience:

Develop a test plan that maximizes certification coverage of current and future products based on product type, and wireless module type.
Determine proper frequency range(s) and power limitations for China market depending on product’s application. Verify restricted frequencies are disabled, and available power is limited before product is shipped for testing.
Communicate testing requirements in advance, and work with module manufacturer if applicable to ensure a valid test protocol can be simulated at the China test lab.
We ack as the brand owner’s representative and troubleshoot sample issues at the test lab if necessary, to keep the process moving forward.
Assist in shipping samples, and maintain good relationships with customs clearance agencies to expedite the clearance process
Rely on China team’s experience to communicate directly with customers and minimize communication gaps.
Track and alert customers of upcoming annual renewals of NAL certificates, with Certificate Alert and Tracking System (CATS)

G&M Compliance has operations in the U.S. and China to ensure your Network Access product utilizes the right application, the right testing process, and moves through certification efficiently. Our compliance experts understand the technical requirements necessary to minimize the risk of failure, and stay updated on ever-changing regulations.

For more information, additional questions, or to request a quote – Please submit an online RFQ, Contact Us, or call.

Other Certifications Required

For electrical products, depending on the type of equipment, additional certifications other than NAL may be required for China. Among these are CCC for many types of electrical products, CEL for products that have energy requirements, CCIS for products requiring information security certification, and SRRC for equipment with wireless functions. More detailed information can be found by clicking on the links to these specific services. For more information about what certifications are required for your product please contact us.

Certification Details

Mark – No Certification mark required, but certification stickers must be applied to the product.

In-Country Representation – Required

In-Country Testing – Required

Expiration Details – NAL Certificates are valid for 3 years after which time they need to be renewed. Renewal is generally a paperwork transaction with no need to send samples. For more information on tracking certifications please see our CATS page.

Continuing Surveillance – Factory inspections are not required.

Outsource Homologation Management

We have found that often times certification bottlenecks can occur within a manufacturer’s organization. As a result, we offer a service to provide internal help managing regulatory certification tasks. Because G&M is not a certification body, we are in a unique position to offer valuable regulatory expertise without any conflict of interest issues. In such cases we place G&M certification experts into our customers’ organizations to manage the certification process for them. Once on the inside, our managers can leverage G&Ms collective experience to guide certification processes in an efficient and cost-effective manner. To learn more about this service see our Homologation Management Service Page.

Certificate Alert and Tracking System (CATS)

Untimely expirations of certificates can cause delays in product deliveries. Re-certification of products will generally be treated as new submittals instead of certificate renewals. This can be time-consuming and costly. G&M provides a web-based certification tracking system that alerts users when expirations are coming, provides on-line storage of important certification documentation, and is searchable by certification specific criteria. For more information on this system see our CATS page.