Comprehensive Compilation of Legal Regulations for Set Top Box Manufacturing and Importation in Vietnam

Set Top Boxes (STBs) are television signal receiving and decoding devices, classified under the mandatory electrical-electronic telecommunications and IT product group that requires testing and conformity certification before market entry. To comply with Legal Regulations for Set Top Box Manufacturing and Importation in Vietnam, enterprises must adhere to requirements concerning electrical safety, electromagnetic compatibility (EMC), radio frequency management, and all other related requirements under current regulations.

See more: Capacity Profile Of Phuc Gia Laboratory Corporation

Table 1: Testing Requirements for Television Signal Decoding Equipment (Set Top Box)

The following article summarizes the comprehensive Legal Regulations for Set Top Box Manufacturing and Importation in Vietnam, assisting enterprises in looking up and implementing mandatory procedures for testing, certification, and declaration, as well as preparing the necessary documentation for market entry.

Table 2: Procedures for Implementing Licenses for Television Signal Decoding Equipment (Set Top Box)

Table of contents

I. What is a Set Top Box?

A Set Top Box (television signal decoding device) is a device situated as an intermediary between the signal source and the TV. Its function is to decode the received television signals and then convert that data into audio and images displayed on the TV screen. Pursuant to Circular 02/2024/TT-BTTTT, the following types of Set Top Box currently exist:

Television signal decoding device (Set Top Box) in satellite television networks (including items 2.1 and 2.2, Appendix 2);
Television signal decoding device (Set Top Box) in digital cable television networks;
Television signal decoding device (Set Top Box) in IPTV networks;
DVB-T2 terrestrial digital television signal decoding device (Set Top Box DVB-T2).

II. Legal Regulations for Set Top Box Manufacturing and Importation in Vietnam

1. Procedures for Implementing Licenses for Set Top Box

1.1. For Imported Set Top Box

MANAGING MINISTRY	IMPORTED SET TOP BOX
MANAGING MINISTRY	Implementing Steps	Authorizing/Implementing Body
Ministry of Science and Technology	Step 1: Register for State Inspection (*)	Vietnam Telecommunications Authority
	Step 2: Conformity Testing	Phuc Gia®
	Step 3: Conformity Certification (**)	Telecom Metrology and Quality Center – Vietnam Telecommunications Authority
	Step 3+: Code Granting and Sample Stamp Registration (Applicable to enterprises importing telecommunication products for the first time)	Telecom Metrology and Quality Center – Vietnam Telecommunications Authority
	Step 4: Self-assessment of conformity to finalize the State Inspection registration dossier.	Vietnam Telecommunications Authority
	Step 5: Affix the ICT Conformity Stamp (Before circulation on the market)	Enterprise self-implements after being licensed

Note:

Phuc Gia®: Phuc Gia Laboratory Corporation.

(*) Submit online via dichvucong.gov.vn accompanied by 1 hard copy sent to the Authority of Telecommunications;

(**) Applies to technical regulations on “Technical requirements for Radio Frequency (RF)” such as: QCVN 54, 65.

1.2. Domestically Manufactured Set Top Box

MANAGING MINISTRY	DOMESTICALLY MANUFACTURED SET TOP BOX
MANAGING MINISTRY	Implementing Steps	Authorizing/Implementing Body
Ministry of Science and Technology	Step 1: Conformity Testing	Phuc Gia®
	Step 2: Conformity Certification (*)	Telecom Metrology and Quality Center – Vietnam Telecommunications Authority (**)
	Step 2+: Code Granting and Sample Stamp Registration (Applicable to enterprises manufacturing telecommunication products for the first time)	Telecom Metrology and Quality Center – Vietnam Telecommunications Authority
	Step 3: Declaration of Regulation Conformity	Department of Science and Technology (place of activity registration)
	Step 4: Affix the ICT Conformity Stamp (Before circulation on the market)	Enterprise self-implements after being licensed

Note:

Phuc Gia®: Phuc Gia Laboratory Corporation.

(*) Applies to technical regulations on “Technical requirements for Radio Frequency (RF)” such as: QCVN 54, 65.

(**) Certification according to Method 1: For products where the Manufacturer (MFG)/Production Factory has ISO 9001; Certification according to Method 5 (evaluation of the production line combined with typical sample taking): For products where the MFG/Production Factory does not have ISO 9001.

2. Legal Regulation Documents

Ministry of Science and Technology

Legal Regulation Documents

– Circular No. 02/2024/TT-BTTTT dated March 29, 2024, regulating the list of potentially unsafe products and goods under the management responsibility of the Ministry of Information and Communications (MIC);

– Circular 08/2021/TT-BTTTT dated October 14, 2021, regulating the list of radio equipment exempted from frequency licensing (must be compared with the operating frequency band and maximum transmission power level of WiFi);

– Circular 24/2022/TT-BTTTT – QCVN 132:2022/BTTTT dated November 30, 2022, on electrical safety for telecommunications and information technology terminal equipment;

– Decree No. 74/2018/NĐ-CP dated May 15, 2018, amending and supplementing a number of articles of Decree 132/2008/NĐ-CP dated December 31, 2008, detailing the implementation of a number of articles of the Law on product and goods quality;

– Circular No. 30/2011/TT-BTTTT dated October 31, 2011, regulating conformity certification and conformity declaration for specialized information technology and communication products and goods;

– Circular No. 10/2020/TT-BTTTT dated May 7, 2020, amending and supplementing a number of contents of Circular No. 30/2011/TT-BTTTT;

– Circular No. 15/2018/TT-BTTTT dated November 15, 2018, amending and supplementing Circular 30/2011/TT-BTTTT.

3. Types of Set Top Box within the Scope of Application

Ministry of Science and Technology

Types of Set Top Box within the Scope of Application

– Based on Item 2, Appendix II of the list of specialized Information and Communications Technology (ICT) products and goods subject to mandatory conformity declaration (attached to Circular 02/2024/TT-BTTTT), the following products must undergo testing, conformity certification, and conformity declaration according to technical regulation QCVN 118:2018/BTTTT:

Television signal decoding device (Set Top Box) for satellite television networks
Television signal decoding device (Set Top Box) for digital cable television networks
DVB-T2 terrestrial digital television signal decoding device (Set Top Box DVB-T2)
Television signal decoding device (Set Top Box) for IPTV networks

– HS Codes:

8528.71.11
8528.71.19
8528.71.91
8528.71.99

4. Regulations/Standards for Testing

Ministry of Science and Technology

Current Regulations/Standards for Testing

a. Technical Regulation on Radio Frequency (RF):

QCVN 54:2020/BTTTT (Wi-Fi 2.4 GHz, EIRP: 60 mW-200 mW);
QCVN 65:2021/BTTTT (Wi-Fi 5 GHz; EIRP: ≥ 60 mW).

b. Technical Regulation on Electromagnetic Compatibility (EMC):

QCVN 112:2017/BTTTT (EMC Emission, Immunity – EMS of Wi-Fi Modules);
QCVN 118:2018/BTTTT (Electromagnetic Interference – EMI).

c. Technical Regulation on DVB-T2 Television Signal Decoding:

QCVN 63:2020/BTTTT (DVB-T2 receiver).

d. Technical Regulation on Electrical Safety for Information Technology Terminal Equipment:

QCVN 132:2022/BTTTT (mandatory application from 01/01/2024).

5. Important Notes in Importation, Manufacturing, and Business Policies

Ministry of Science and Technology

Important Notes in Importation, Manufacturing, and Business Policies

– Pursuant to Article 5 of Circular 02/2024/TT-BTTTT, Set Top Boxes that integrate short-range radio equipment (listed in Item 2, Appendix I or Item 4, Appendix II) and do not integrate other radio transmission/reception equipment shall be exempted from conformity certification and declaration if they simultaneously satisfy the following requirements:

Imported for use by the importing organization or individual themselves;
Maximum of 03 products of each type per shipment;
Product’s operating frequency band and technical specifications comply with the technical and operational conditions stipulated in Circular No. 08/2021/TT-BTTTT.

⇒ Exempted from conformity certification and conformity declaration.

– Pursuant to Article 5 of Circular 02/2024/TT-BTTTT, imported Set Top Boxes that simultaneously satisfy the following requirements:

Maximum of 03 products of each type per shipment;
Written commitment that the products and goods comply with part/entirety of the technical regulation requiring destructive testing, and the importer takes full responsibility for the safety of the imported products and goods.

⇒ Exempted from conformity certification and conformity declaration for QCVN 101:2020/BTTTT, QCVN 132:2022/BTTTT, and the parts of the technical regulation that require destructive testing.

– Starting from January 1, 2026, Set Top Boxes must carry out conformity certification procedures regarding hazardous chemical content;

– The operating frequency and transmission power of the integrated short-range radio transmission/reception features must comply with the regulations on the list of radio equipment exempted from frequency licensing (currently Circular 08/2021/TT-BTTTT);

– If the voltage adapter is accompanied by the product or goods, the testing process under technical regulation QCVN 132:2022/BTTTT will be performed on both the product and that voltage adapter. If not accompanied by the product, the testing process under this regulation will only apply to the product and will not include the voltage adapter.

III. PHUC GIA LABORATORY CORPORATION: COMPREHENSIVE SERVICES FOR TELEVISION SIGNAL DECODING EQUIPMENT (SET TOP BOX)

ORD	Phuc Gia® Capabilities	Ministry of Science and Technology
1	Certification/ Designation	Phuc Gia’s official designation for testing services is currently active and remains in full effect. (Detail)
2	Quotation and Duration for Tests	The official listed quotation is available here.
3	Support	– Free 24/7 consultation service; – Consultancy on product quality improvement.
4	Contact for Testing Services	For assistance with testing/certification services, please contact: Phone: 0981 996 996/ 0982 996 696/ 024 7779 6696 E-mail: lab@phucgia.com.vn Website: phucgia.com.vn Address: ICD Long Bien, No. 01 Huynh Tan Phat, Sai Dong B Industrial Park, Long Bien Ward, Hanoi
Note: Phuc Gia Laboratory Corporation directly performs conformity testing for Set Top Box products according to regulations of the Ministry of Information and Communications (which has been merged with the Ministry of Science and Technology).