Overview of CTIA’s Certification Program

PURPOSE

The CTIA Certification Program provides the wireless industry with an unbiased, independent and centralized product evaluation service. Since 1991, the Certification Program has tested consumer wireless products for conformance to established industry standards. Products passing CTIA's rigorous analysis are granted the right to display the CTIA Certification Seal.

BENEFITS

The CTIA Certification Program provides benefits to wireless operators and manufacturers of wireless products. These benefits include:

  • Providing assurance to wireless operators that products meet defined industry performancerequirements
  • Speeding time-to-market for new products by providing a common industry-wide baseline testing process allowing operators to focustheir testing resources onoperator-specific features and functionality

SCOPE

CTIA certifies wireless products operating on the major wireless technology platforms in North America, including:

  • CDMA (Code Division Multiple Access)
  • GSM (Global System for Mobile)
  • TDMA (Time Division Multiple Access)
  • Analog

EVALUATION CRITERIA

CTIA Certified products must pass a rigorous 3-part technical evaluation:

Part 1 of this evaluation tests the product’s conformance to the wireless industry’s technology platform standards. These tests, which are conducted by a CTIA Authorized Testing Laboratory (CATL), are defined in the following test plans:

  • CDMA Products: CTIA Certification Program CDMA Test Plan
  • GSM Products: 3GPP TS 51.010 Test Plan
  • TDMA Products: CTIA Certification Program TDMA Test Plan
  • Analog Products: CTIA Certification Program Analog Test Plan

Part 2 of this evaluation, which is also conducted by a CATL, tests the product’s over-the-air performance and is defined in the following test plan:

  • CTIA Certification Program Method of Measurement for Radiated RF Power and Receiver Performance

Part 3 of this evaluation is the FCC Type Acceptance Testing. This testing is conducted by an FCC authorized testing laboratory.

CTIA AUTHORIZED TESTING LABORATORIES

Multiple testing laboratories are authorized to conduct CTIA Certification Testing. Laboratories must pass a rigorous review and evaluation, conducted by CTIA, in order to be granted the authority to conduct testing for the CTIA Certification Program. Laboratories are authorized according to their specific testing capability. For a listing of CTIA Authorized Testing Laboratories, please visit

IDENTIFICATION OF CERTIFIED PRODUCTS

When a phone passes certification, the manufacturer earns the right to exhibit the CTIA Certification Seal on the phone and its packaging, and to use the Seal in its advertising. The Certification Seal, in turn, signifies to operators and consumers that the phone meets or exceeds the industry's performance and consumer information standards.

For a listing of CTIA Certified products, please visit

PARTICIPATION

The CTIA Certification Program is a voluntary program, developed and maintained by the wireless industry. It has received tremendous support from both product manufacturers and wireless operators. Product manufacturers seek CTIA Certification as a way to demonstrate to wireless operators that their products meet industry requirements. Likewise, many wireless operators require their products to be CTIA Certified in order to ensure they meet industry requirements.

FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Please Visit:

Or, Contact:

CTIA Certification Program

1400 16th Street, NW, Suite 600

Washington, DC 20036

e-mail:

Telephone: 1.202.785.0081

OVERVIEW OF CTIA

CTIA is the international organization that represents all sectors of wireless communications-cellular, personal communication services and enhanced specialized mobile radio. We serve the interests of service providers, manufacturers, wireless data and Internet companies and other contributors to the wireless universe. For more information, please visit: