Testing Lab of Power Supply/ IT / AV Products

Smart watches sold in Japan must comply with the Radio Act and obtain TELEC certification (also known as MIC certification). This guide covers the TELEC certification process for smart watches, including testing requirements for Bluetooth and Wi-Fi modules.

TELEC Certification Overview for Smart Watches

Under Japan's Radio Act, any device that uses radio frequencies must obtain certification from a Registered Certification Body (RCB) before being sold in Japan. Smart watches typically contain:

• Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE):2.4GHz ISM band — requires TELEC certification as a specified radio equipment

• Wi-Fi (if applicable):2.4GHz/5GHz band — additional certification requirements

• NFC (if applicable):13.56MHz — separate TELEC certification may be required

Smart watches are classified as specified radio equipment under the Radio Act, requiring mandatory third-party certification. The TELEC mark (also called the RCB mark) must be displayed on the product.

Testing Standards and Requirements

TELEC certification for smart watches follows the Japanese radio equipment technical standards:

ARIB STD-T66　Low power radio equipment (2.4GHz band) — for Bluetooth/BLE

ARIB STD-T71　2.4GHz wideband data transmission system — for Wi-Fi

Key testing items for BLE smart watches:

• Transmit power — must not exceed 10mW/MHz EIRP for BLE

• Spurious emissions — out-of-band and spurious domain limits per ARIB STD-T66

• Frequency tolerance — carrier frequency deviation within specified limits

• Occupied bandwidth — must remain within the 2.4GHz ISM band

• Antenna requirements — antenna gain and radiation pattern measurement

TELEC Certification Process

1. ①Engage an RCB:Select a Registered Certification Body accredited by MIC (Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications)

1. ②Submit application:Product specifications, RF module datasheets, circuit diagrams, antenna specifications, user manual (Japanese)

1. ③Sample testing:Send samples to the RCB's designated testing laboratory for RF measurements per ARIB standards

1. ④Certification decision:RCB reviews test results and issues the TELEC certificate

Typical timeline: 6-8 weeks from sample submission to certificate issuance. GTG Group can assist with TELOC certification preparation and documentation.

SAR Requirements for Wrist-Worn Devices

Smart watches worn on the wrist are subject to SAR (Specific Absorption Rate) evaluation under Japan's radio law:

• BLE-only watches with transmit power ≤1mW EIRP are typically exempt from SAR testing

• Watches with Wi-Fi or cellular connectivity require SAR evaluation per ARIB STD-T56

• Wrist SAR limits: 4W/kg (localized, 10g averaging) for limbs

Japan's SAR limits and measurement methods differ from FCC and EU requirements. Smart watch manufacturers targeting the Japanese market should plan for Japan-specific SAR compliance evaluation.

This article is AI-assisted and for reference only. It does not constitute any certification commitment or legal advice. Please refer to the latest official regulations.

Contact: 18826804895 | net01@gtggroup.com