Dear Valued Customers and Friends. Hope you all are doing well. In this opportunity we would like to share recent information from Directorate General of Resources and Equipment of Post and Information Technology (SDPPI) regarding the new requirements applied to telecommunication devices certification.
On July 26th 2023, SDPPI held an online sharing session with two main speakers Mr. Umar Wicaksono (Telecommunication Analyst) and Madame Cendrawasih Ardhi Putri (telecommunication equipment and infrastructure standards analyst) from SDPPI, with moderator Ms. Refa Indriani Chandra. This sharing session mainly talked about the obligation to fulfill SAR Parameters in telecommunications equipment certification.
The Importance of SAR Parameters Fulfillment
When telecommunication product is operating, this device emits radio frequency radiation. Small amount of this radiation can be absorbed to the body of its user, especially if the product is used close to the body parts. The bigger the radiation level is emitted, the bigger the possibility that it will be absorbed by user’s body and cause many serious health problems, such as:
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- Causing stimulation of the nerves
- Changing the permeability of cell membrane
- Increasing the temperature in certain body parts to the point that it exceeds the safe limits
Considering how serious health problems that is possibly caused by the radiation emitted by telecommunication products, we need a scale to measure the amount of this radiation emitted and set the minimum standard. This is when SAR is required.
SAR stands for Specific Absorption Rate. Basically, it is a measurement method which is used to measure the rate of electromagnetic energy absorbed by human body. This measurement is conducted to check the amount of electromagnetic energy absorbed when the body is exposed to electromagnetic fields of radio frequency. SAR is typically stated in the scale of watts per kilogram (W/kg).
In many other countries such as USA, Canada, Australia, EU, Japan, China, etc. fulfilling SAR Parameters requirment is already mandatory. While in Indonesia, SAR is still not applied yet, although the requirements are already stated in some new technical regulation. However, SDPPI as the authority responsible for telecommunication devices certification has issued some public consultation to get feedback from public regarding the application of SAR parameters fulfillment in Indonesia.
And today, through the sharing session SDPPI officially informed the obligation to fulfill SAR Parameters for some products. However, this application is not all at once. SAR fulfillment will be applied periodically started by the end of 2023. Based on information received, SDPPI will start to obligate SAR requirements for telecommunication product that is used as far as 20 cm from the body. These products includes:
| No | Devices | Body Part | Effective Date |
| 1 | Cellular Phone | Head | December 1st 2023 |
| Torso/Body and Limb | August 1st 2025 | ||
| 2 | Handheld Computer | Head | August 1st 2024 |
| Torso/Body and Limb | August 1st 2025 | ||
| 3 | Tablet Computer | Head | August 1st 2024 |
| Torso/Body and Limb | August 1st 2025 | ||
| 4 | Virtual Reality Devices | Head | August 1st 2024 |
| Torso/Body and Limb | August 1st 2025 | ||
| 5 | Laptop | Head | August 1st 2024 |
| Torso/Body and Limb | August 1st 2025 | ||
| 6 | Wearable Devices (if transmit power is more than 20 mW) | Head | August 1st 2024 |
| Torso/Body and Limb | August 1st 2025 |
The applied standard for SAR testing in Indonesia are ICNIRP (1998), ICNIRP (2000) for testing in 6 minutes or more, or ICNIRP (2000) for testing less than 6 minutes. While the testing methods, it is based on IEC/IEEE 62209-1528, Head: EN 50360 or other equal standards (IEC 62209-1), Limb and Torso: EN 50566 or other equal standards (IEC 62209-2).
For your reference, below is the explanation of each standard:
Exposure limit to electric and magnetic fields for frequency band 100 kHz to 300 GHz, for an average interval of ≥ 6 minutes according to ICNIRP guidelines (2000).
| Exposure Scenario | Radio Frequency Range | Local Head SAR (W kg‐1) | Local Torso SAR (W kg‐1) | Local Limb SAR (W kg‐1) |
| Occupational | 100 kHz to 6 GHz | 10 | 10 | 20 |
| >6 to 300 GHz | NA | NA | NA | |
| General Public | 100 kHz to 6 GHz | 2 | 2 | 4 |
| >6 to 300 GHz | NA | NA | NA |
Exposure limit to electric and magnetic fields for frequency band up to 10 GHz, according to ICNIRP guidelines (1998).
| Exposure Scenario | Radio Frequency Range | Localized SAR (Limb) (W kg‐1) | Localized SAR (Limb) (W kg‐1) | Localized SAR (Limb) (W kg‐1) |
| Occupational | 100 kHz – 10 MHz | 10 | 10 | 20 |
| 10 MHz – 10 GHz | 10 | 10 | 20 | |
| General Public | 100 kHz – 10 MHz | 2 | 2 | 4 |
| 10 MHz – 10 GHz | 2 | 2 | 4 |
Exposure limit to electric and magnetic fields for frequency band 100 kHz to 300 GHz, for an average interval of > 0 minutes to < 6 minutes according to ICNIRP guidelines (2000).
| Exposure Scenario | Radio Frequency Range | Local Head SAR (kJ kg‐1) | Local Torso SAR (kJ kg‐1) | Local Limb SAR (kJ kg‐1) |
| Occupational | 100 kHz to 400 MHz | NA | NA | NA |
| >400 MHz to 6 GHz | 3.6[0.05+0.95(t/360)0.5] | 3.6[0.05+0.95(t/360)0.5] | 7.2[0.025+0.975(t/360)0.5] | |
| >6 to 300 GHz | NA | NA | NA | |
| General Public | 100 kHz to 400 MHz | NA | NA | NA |
| >400 MHz to 6 GHz | 3.6[0.05+0.95(t/360)0.5] | 3.6[0.05+0.95(t/360)0.5] | 1.44[0.025+0.975(t/360)0.5] | |
| >6 to 300 GHz | NA | NA | NA |
From the explanation above, we can conclude that SDPPI will start to apply the obligation to fulfill SAR Parameters. However, it is not applied to all products, but only some products mentioned in table 1.1. This application will be applied periodically from December 1st 2023 to August 1st 2025. So, if your products fall into product classification in table 1.1, and will apply SDPPI certification from December 1st 2023, you may need to consider obtaining SAR test reports first, whether it is from International testing labs which are recognized by SDPPI, or by doing local test in Indonesia.
That’s all we need to inform. Should you have any questions, you can drop us an email to info@narmadi.com
Regards!
