The full name of Hong Kong OFTA is "the Office of the Telecommunications Authority", which is the Hong Kong Telecommunications Authority. OFTA certification is the abbreviation of the Hong Kong Telecommunications Authority's certification of communications products in Hong Kong.
The purpose of OFTA certification is to ensure the safety of products used in Hong Kong and to prevent telecommunications products from causing interference to public networks. Telecommunications equipment that has been tested and meets the relevant technical specifications and is certified by the Telecommunications Authority can be used in Hong Kong.
According to the Hong Kong Telecommunications Equipment Qualification and Verification Scheme, telecommunications equipment verification requirements are divided into Voluntary Certification Scheme (VCS) and Compulsory Certification Scheme (CCS). Under the Voluntary Certification Scheme, application for certification of telecommunications equipment is voluntary. Such equipment may be sold or used in Hong Kong even if it has not been verified to comply with the relevant technical specifications. However, manufacturers, suppliers and distributors must ensure that their telecommunications equipment complies with relevant technical specifications even if they do not apply for verification. Public telecommunications network operators can refuse to allow users' indoor equipment that does not meet specified specifications to connect to their networks. In addition, anyone who uses or sells radio communications equipment that does not comply with the relevant HKTA specifications is in violation of the Telecommunications Ordinance (Cap. 106) and will be prosecuted.
Under the mandatory certification scheme, applying for certification for telecommunications equipment is mandatory. Before the telecommunications equipment is used or sold in Hong Kong, it must be verified to comply with one of the following specifications:
(1) Relevant HKCA specifications;
(2) Technical standards prescribed or recognized by the Communications Secretary, if there are no relevant HKCA specifications;
(3) Specifications equivalent to (1) or (2) above.
OFTA certification process is divided into document identification and equipment identification
Document identification:
(1) Review the submitted technical specifications or user manual to verify whether the telecommunications equipment is likely to pass the corresponding equipment appraisal;
(2) Review the submitted type calibration certificates issued by other authorities and relevant test reports to verify whether the equipment needs to be certified;
(3) Review the test report submitted by the accredited testing agent to verify whether the equipment needs to be certified.
Equipment identification:
(1) Test samples of telecommunications equipment according to relevant HKTA specifications by the certification body;
(2) Test samples of telecommunications equipment according to relevant HKTA specifications or equivalent specifications by accredited testing agents;
(3) Based on type certification of telecommunications equipment issued by other authorities according to equivalent specifications to the relevant HKTA specifications, together with relevant test reports.