AGC-Tel Consultants Ltd.

European telecommunications approvals consultancy

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Approvals consultancy

The approval of Telecommunications equipment without previous experience is a costly and time consuming lesson. This can take up to two years in some countries. Clients require approval quickly to enable them to recoup their development costs, to increase their customer base and to expand their business.

The Consultancy can provide a lot faster approval and provide advice on how to design their products so they will be approvable in many countries with a minimum of modification.

It is illegal to sell or use telecommunications equipment without the above approvals. In the past each countries market was closed to outside firms. Due to the creation of the EU free market in telecommunications equipment, EU firms must sell in other countries or see their sales decline. The approval regulations are different in each country and very complex. Without assistance approval is very slow and costly in terms of the number of redesigns of the equipment submitted for approval. Small firms do not have the staff to dedicate to the task. Larger firms wish to get the approvals quickly in order to generate revenue and so cover high development and tooling costs.

Design and approval consultancy stages

Feasibility

1. Identify the specifications that have to be met. i.e. Telecommunications, Radio, Electro-Magnetic Compatibility, Safety etc.
2. Obtain latest copies of the relevant specifications.
3. Translate the specifications into English if necessary.
4. Examine the specifications for changes from the last copy obtained.
5. Request clarifications of any technical ambiguities.
6. Compare the present design to the specifications.
7. Negotiate concessions to the specifications if necessary.
8. Use previous test results to gain exemption from testing.
9. Identify the authorised test laboratories and determine approval test costs and timescales for Telecommunications, Radio, EMC and Safety testing.
10. Write a feasibility report if required and obtain clients agreement to proceed.
11. Book the test laboratories for Telecommunications, Radio, EMC and Safety testing if required.

    Design

12. Advice on the changes required to meet the specifications.
13. Compare the performance results of the modified design to the specifications.
14. Compile an information package which normally includes parts list, circuit diagrams, circuit descriptions, User manuals and Maintenance manuals.
15. Make the formal application for approval and complete the required forms and questionnaires and submit equipment for approval testing.

    Approval

16. Assist the equipment testing at the test laboratories if required.
17. Consider the approval test results.
18. If necessary produce design changes/ negotiate concessions.
19. Advice on the approval labelling and marking required for approval and sale.
20. Assist in the inspection of the Production facility Quality Procedures by the approval authority if required.
21. Obtain the approval certificates.
22. Advice on the procedure to be followed for major and minor changes to the design subsequent to approval and the re-approval procedure.

Customer Base

• Simple telephones
• Feature telephones
• Loudspeaking telephones
• Answering machines
• Cordless telephones
• Modems
• Fax machines
• Radio telephones
• Cellular telephones
• Key Systems
• Small Call Routing apparatus
• Private Automatic Branch Exchanges
• Voice Processing Systems
• Voice & Fax Mail Box systems
• Transmission equipment

Main countries - The EEC/EU and EFTA countries:-

     United Kingdom      France              Germany
     Italy               Ireland             Netherlands
     Belgium             Luxembourg          Finland
     Norway              Sweden              Denmark
     Spain               Portugal            Greece
     Iceland             Austria             Switzerland

Consultant's Background

Contact Telephone : +44 (0)141 956 2506 FAX : +44 (0)870 051 8619 Email : allan@agctel.co.uk PGP encryption public key available Allan G Carr B.Sc.(Elec.Eng.) MIEE AGC-Tel Consultants Ltd. 62 Crawford Road Milngavie Glasgow G62 7LF Scotland Registered in Scotland No. Sc137172 VAT No. 596 6338 85