Togo: ARCEP Is Preparing Enhanced Technical Inspections of Telecommunications Equipment

In Togo, the Regulatory Authority for Electronic Communications and Postal Services (ARCEP) aims to improve oversight of electronic equipment sold on the market and of emissions from telecommunications facilities. To this end, it plans to expand its laboratory for certifying RF (radio frequency) and SAR (specific absorption rate) equipment, against a backdrop of growing digital usage and the development of communication networks in the country.

A call for proposals to select a contractor responsible for supplying, installing, and commissioning the equipment needed for this expansion was recently issued. The project is intended to enable the Authority to strengthen its technical capabilities to verify device compliance and better monitor their emission levels.

This initiative comes as the wireless equipment market expands, driven by the proliferation of cell phones, Wi-Fi routers, and connected devices. It also supports the deployment of telecommunications infrastructure, including cell towers. For the regulator, the challenge is to better regulate these two segments by ensuring that devices sold and installations in operation comply with current technical requirements.

Certification verifies that equipment meets applicable standards before it is sold or used on networks. A poorly designed or substandard device may pose electrical hazards, cause electromagnetic interference, or affect the operation of other equipment and communication networks, officials note.

The specific absorption rate (SAR) test, meanwhile, measures the amount of radiofrequency energy absorbed by the human body when exposed to emissions from a device. This is an important parameter for verifying compliance with regulatory limits applicable to radio terminals.

Emissions to Monitor

In addition to devices, ARCEP also intends to monitor emissions produced by telecommunications infrastructure. Radio frequencies are used to transmit mobile communications, Wi-Fi signals, radio, and other wireless services. The goal is to ensure that the levels of electromagnetic fields to which the public is exposed remain within established limits.

These checks are intended not only to verify compliance with these thresholds around antennas and other radio installations but also to address residents’ concerns regarding the proximity of this equipment to homes, schools, or healthcare facilities.

As early as 2024, ARCEP reported that it had collected and analyzed 1,342,250 measurements from fixed stations. The recorded levels remained below the reference value of 28 V/m mentioned in its report. The measurement points included several sites in Lomé, including Gnassingbé Eyadéma International Airport, Sylvanus-Olympio University Hospital, the Autonomous Port of Lomé, and the Authority’s headquarters.

A Market in Need of Better Regulation

The expansion of the laboratory should thus help strengthen the regulator’s monitoring capabilities, both for equipment sold on the market and for emissions from installations. For importers and distributors, compliance with certification requirements is a key condition for market access. For telecommunications operators, monitoring emissions helps ensure the proper management of their infrastructure.

Beyond protecting consumers and the general public, this initiative addresses an economic challenge: cleaning up the equipment market, limiting the circulation of non-compliant products, and supporting network development within a more tightly regulated framework.

Source: www.togofirst.com