CTA network access certification refers to telecommunications equipment licensing for relevant terminals, radio communications equipment and interconnection equipment connected to public telecommunications networks. Applications require company information, technical documentation and test materials according to equipment type, followed by the relevant review.
I. Certification Overview
Telecommunications terminals and other equipment intended for connection to public telecommunications networks require a network access license. In the industry, this application process is commonly called CTA. Under China's current laws and regulations, network access licensing applies to telecommunications terminals, radio communications equipment and interconnection equipment used on public networks operated by China Mobile, China Unicom and China Telecom. Covered equipment must obtain a license issued by the Ministry of Information Industry; without one, it may not be connected to public networks or sold domestically.
SRRC is a mandatory requirement of the State Radio Regulatory Commission, commonly known as type approval. CTA is the mandatory requirement for communications products administered by MIIT's telecommunications equipment authority. An SRRC certificate is required before CTA licensing, so the two parallel approval routes ultimately intersect.
China applies a network access licensing system to telecommunications terminals, radio communications equipment and interconnection equipment connected to public telecommunications networks. Covered equipment must obtain a license from the Ministry of Information Industry before public-network use or domestic sale. The license lists its number, applicant, manufacturer, equipment name and model, place of manufacture, remarks, issue date and expiry date. It is generally valid for 3 years.
II. Required Documents for CTA Certification
(1) Telecommunications Equipment Network Access License Application Form, using the Ministry of Information Industry's template. The applicant's legal representative or authorized agent must sign and affix the company seal. If the applicant and manufacturer are separate legal entities, provide a contract manufacturing agreement signed by both legal representatives or their authorized agents and bearing their company seals. Overseas applicants must authorize an agency in China to submit the application as the applicant and provide a power of attorney.
(2) Corporate business license. Domestic applicants must provide their business license. An agency applying on behalf of an overseas applicant must provide its valid license and the overseas applicant's registration documents. If the applicant and manufacturer are separate legal entities, also provide the manufacturer's corresponding documents.
(3) Applicant profile, including company overview, production conditions, instrumentation, quality assurance system and after-sales service arrangements. For products subject to mandatory repair, replacement and return obligations, provide documents demonstrating how these obligations will be fulfilled. If the applicant and manufacturer are separate legal entities, also provide the manufacturer's corresponding documents.
(4) Quality system certificate or audit report. Certified applicants must provide their certificate; applicants without certification must provide a quality system audit report issued by an audit body meeting the relevant requirements.
(5) Telecommunications equipment description, including functions, performance parameters, principle block diagrams, internal and external photographs, and instructions for use.
(6) Test report or product certificate issued by a telecommunications equipment testing or certification body recognized by the State Council's product quality supervision authority.
(7) Radio transmitting equipment applying for network access licensing must provide the Ministry of Information Industry's “Radio Transmission Equipment Type Approval Certificate".
(8) Radio communications equipment, interconnection equipment and new telecommunications equipment applying for network access licensing must undergo at least 3 months of network trials on a telecommunications network in China or a simulated test network designated by the Ministry of Information Industry. Provide the overall technical plan and a trial report issued by the trial organization.
(9) For matters subject to special national provisions, submit the corresponding required documents.
III. CTA Certification Application Process
