SRRC Standard Upgrade 2025: Mandatory Requirements for 2.4GHz/5GHz Wireless Devices

In accordance with the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) Notice on Strengthening and Regulating Radio Management in the 2400MHz, 5100MHz, and 5800MHz Frequency Bands (MIIT Radio [2021] No. 129), all old-version SRRC certificates must complete standard upgrades by December 31, 2025. This primarily impacts radio equipment operating in the 2.4GHz, 5.1GHz, and 5.8GHz frequency bands (e.g., Wi-Fi and Bluetooth devices).

Critical Timelines to Note

• October 15, 2023 onwards: New device applications are required to adopt new standard testing mandatorily.
• Before December 31, 2025: All old-version SRRC certificates must finish standard upgrades. Certificates not upgraded by this deadline will be invalidated.

Key Changes Under the New SRRC Regulations

Compared to the old standards, the new regulations impose stricter technical requirements, aiming to reduce wireless interference between devices. The main changes include:

1. Stricter Spurious Emission Limits

For example, in the 2483.5–2500MHz frequency band, the limit has been tightened from -30dBm/1MHz (old standard) to -40dBm/1MHz (new standard). This places higher demands on device design and filtering performance, requiring manufacturers to optimize circuit layouts or upgrade filtering components to meet the new limits.

2. New Interference Avoidance Requirements

The new regulations mandate that devices must be equipped with a mechanism similar to "listen-before-transmit". When a device detects that a channel is occupied, it must automatically switch to an idle channel to avoid interference. For Bluetooth devices, this is a newly added test item that was not required under the old standards, requiring adjustments to device firmware or communication protocols.

3. New Calculation for Synthetic Antenna Gain

For devices supporting multi-antenna technology (e.g., MIMO), the equivalent radiated power (ERP) calculation must now account for the gain from beamforming. This change may affect the judgment of whether a device’s power meets standards, as traditional power calculation methods (without considering beamforming gain) may no longer be applicable.

4. Difference in Certificate Validity

• Old-version certificates: Valid for a maximum of until the end of 2025 (regardless of their original issuance date).
• New-version certificates: Valid for 5 years from the date of issuance, providing longer-term market access certainty for compliant devices.

What is SRRC Certification?

SRRC (State Radio Regulation Committee) certification, also known as Type Approval, is a mandatory certification system for radio transmitting equipment in China. Administered by the national radio management authority (now under the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, MIIT), it ensures that equipment complies with national technical standards and regulatory requirements.

As a mandatory requirement, all radio component products sold or used within China must obtain SRRC Type Approval certification. Without a valid SRRC certificate, products cannot be legally marketed, imported, or used in business activities.

Action Recommendations for Enterprises

This SRRC standard upgrade is a mandatory regulatory update. For enterprises affected, the most secure approach is to:

1. Inventory Existing Certificates Immediately: Sort through all old-version SRRC certificates for devices operating in the 2.4GHz, 5.1GHz, and 5.8GHz bands, and confirm their expiration status.
2. Initiate Upgrade Procedures Early: Avoid last-minute rushes (e.g., 2025 year-end peak periods) by starting the certificate upgrade process as soon as possible. This includes product retesting (per new standards) and application submission.
3. Optimize Product Design Proactively: For devices failing to meet new requirements (e.g., spurious emission limits or interference avoidance mechanisms), adjust designs (e.g., upgrade filters, modify firmware) in advance to ensure smooth retesting.

If you have SRRC certification needs (e.g., old certificate upgrades, new product applications), please consult GTG Testing Group. Our professional team is familiar with the latest SRRC regulatory requirements and testing standards, and can provide end-to-end services—from technical pre-evaluation and product retesting to certificate application—to help your products maintain legal market access in China.