Mar 15, 2022

A Look at PTCRB Certification

By David Schaffstall

Category: Embedded

Last updated Mar 16, 2022

PTCRB is a forum comprised of North American network operators that serves to certify devices for a certain set of networks and bands. Solution providers can be denied service for devices that do not comply with proper certification. PTCRB has empowered CTIA (Cellular Telecommunications Industry Association) to act as the administrator for PTCRB certification, and has a number of accredited testing organizations around the country.

In today’s post we’re going to take a look at PTCRB certification and answer frequently asked questions about it.

Why are devices required to have PTCRB?

PTCRB device certification in the United States is a mandatory requirement for any new module or device, as well as for modifications to an already approved device and is a requirement for bringing new devices onto existing carrier networks. If a device is not certified, it may be blocked from a network. Each mobile network operator may have their own set of requirements that an M2M device must meet that are specific to their respective networks. These standards will vary from network to network depending on unique operator network configuration.

How long does it take to get PTCRB Certified?

The duration for PTCRB testing depends on features supported by the device – number of bands, data-only, data & voice, external or internal antenna etc. An important consideration is whether the device uses a module that has already received PTCRB\ certification. When the devices use an already PTCRB-approved module, the PTCRB certification for the device will take 2-3 months.

What other carrier device certifications are needed?

The primary goal of North American carrier device certification is to identify and repair issues related to quality of service and interoperability before commercial deployment. Networks are able to ensure that a device works as designed and will not cause service disruption due to rogue data consumption, interference, or other factors that could potentially jeopardize a network’s infrastructure.

Additionally, they can verify that devices operate seamlessly across different networks to ensure global interoperability. Certification benefits device manufacturers, as well as M2M operators and retailers because it provides a mechanism to mitigate operational issues before a device is commercially deployed. They are able to reduce costs of in-field service issues, minimize service disruption and maximize performance.

What sets ema apart from other devices?

OptConnect ema™ combines a fully certified 4G LTE embedded modem, onboard intelligence, embedded firmware and software, and a robust suite of managed services. It features dual carrier SIM card support for carrier to carrier failover and all of the low-level control and development so customers can just use the modem without having to develop all the software and code to make it work. OptConnect ema™ is the first Smart Embedded Modem™ that includes onboard intelligence that provides: