China To Stop Certifying Fax Machines, ISDN And Frame Relay Kit

China's Ministry of Industry and Information Technology tolled the bell on Monday for network access reforms that will mean the end for some well-loved but arguably obsolete communications technologies.

The Ministry's announcement includes news that it will stop issuing network access permits for wired and wireless landline telephones, fax machines, modems, and wireless pagers.

Any forthcoming telco products employing ISDN (integrated services digital network terminals) equipment, frame relay, or asynchronous transfer mode switches also won't be given permits.

The policy change appears not to mean existing kit can't connect to Chinese networks – just that the Ministry is uninterested in new products that employ legacy comms tech.

• Federal bans aren't stopping US states from buying forbidden Chinese kit
• UK comms regulator rings death knell for fax machines
• Japan to start stamping out rubber stamps and tearing up faxes as new digital agency given Sept. 1 start date
• Printers used to be a pricey luxury in Asian homes, then along came ... you know what

Manufacturers probably won't mind. Whatever participants remain in the dwindling markets for fax machines and ISDN will likely be happy cranking out their current machines for as long as buyers need legacy products, rather than giving them meaningful updates. Users may be less happy, as this change is a signal to either stockpile kit or finally migrate away from legacy tech before the market shrinks even further.

The document suggests another reason for ceasing certification of old tech: a simplification of testing regimes. Chinese authorities are clearly going to be busy certifying actual new stuff in coming years, making a new fax machine a potentially unwelcome item on a to-do list. The reforms promise a huge reduction in turnaround time for certification, which should be welcomed by all.

Another change removes the obligation to resubmit products for certification if changes are cosmetic, rather than functional.

Devices capable of running virtual network functions are also addressed under the changed rules – they are now required to be assessed and certified just like physical kit. ®