The AS/CA S042 family sets the bar for cellular-device safety and interoperability Down Under. Any product that transmits or receives over a mobile network must conform to one or more parts of this suite before it can be legally sold in Australia. These standards are split into three key documents—S042.1 for voice, S042.4 for LTE and S042.5 for 5G NR—each detailing specific technical and regulatory requirements.
AS/CA S042.1: Voice-Capable & Emergency-Call Requirements
To ensure public safety and user well-being, S042.1 tackles emergency-call reliability and audio exposure limits. Devices capable of dialing emergency numbers must route calls to 000. They must also route calls to the EU-style 112. This requirement holds even if the device is SIM-locked or lacks a valid subscription. Hand-held handsets and headsets must protect hearing by limiting sound pressure to 120 dB(A). This limit applies in the 400–4000 Hz band and is measured with a simulated ear. Every cellular device needs a unique IMEI or PEI identifier. The identifier must be encoded per ETSI rules. This supports lawful interception and network management.
AS/CA S042.4: LTE Radio & Interoperability Testing
With older 3G and WiMAX networks retired, LTE remains the workhorse for mobile broadband in Australia. This part of the standard verifies that devices play nicely with local LTE bands—1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 26, 28, 38, 40 and 42—by applying test methods drawn from both ETSI (Europe) and FCC (USA) frameworks. Products already certified in those regions often need only limited retesting, provided they cover the same frequency ranges and use cases. Specifically, LTE features such as Single Carrier, Carrier Aggregation, Cat-M1, NB-IoT and V2X each trigger dedicated test suites to prove radio-layer conformity.
AS/CA S042.5: 5G NR Requirements for FR1 & FR2
Australia’s 5G rollout spans both sub-7 GHz and millimeter-wave frequencies, and S042.5 mirrors this split.
Under FR1 (< 7 GHz), networks currently operate on n1, n3, n5, n7, n8, n26, n28, n40 and n76. For FR2 (24–71 GHz), band n258 is live, with n257 and n261 awaiting deployment. Moreover, the test protocols reference ETSI-standard NR suites to validate aspects like transmit power, receiver sensitivity, beam-forming and more. Nevertheless, even ETSI-compliant products must demonstrate they meet Australia’s exact band-plan configurations and channel allocations.
Implications for Your Product Line
Any cellular device—whether voice-only handsets, data-only IoT routers, emergency pendants or fixed-wire modems—must be mapped to the relevant S042 parts.
Products with dialing capabilities require full S042.1 testing. LTE-enabled hardware needs S042.4 compliance, and 5G NR modules fall under S042.5. Even devices that seem “simple,” such as Bluetooth trackers with a one-button dial feature, must prove emergency-call routing and identifier rules. Manufacturers should compile a gap analysis of existing ETSI/FCC reports against these Australian criteria to identify any retests or technical updates.
Preparing for AS/CA S042 Testing
To streamline your approval process, follow these steps:
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Conduct a feature audit, listing network capabilities and applicable S042 parts.
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Gather existing ETSI/FCC test reports that match Australian band and technology profiles.
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Engage a NATA-accredited laboratory early to discuss scope, timelines and documentation needs.
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Update user manuals and labels with emergency-call instructions, IMEI/PEI formatting and maximum sound-pressure warnings.
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Assemble a technical file that covers design descriptions, test evidence and the manufacturer’s declaration.
Partnering with Accredited Labs
Choosing the right test house is critical for first-pass success. Australian NATA-accredited labs such as Comtest Laboratories offer end-to-end AS/CA S042 services: from emergency-call routing validation and audio-level measurements (S042.1) to LTE and 5G radio conformance (S042.4 & S042.5). They can leverage your EU/US dossiers to minimise retest scope and deliver ACMA-ready reports.
Next Steps & Expert Support
The S042 suite touches radio design, audio safety and a hefty compliance paper trail. 360Compliance delivers end-to-end assistance—gap analyses, test-plan creation, lab coordination, technical-file assembly and team training. We liaise with NATA-accredited facilities and the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) to keep timelines short and risks low.Ready to launch in Australia? Contact us today to secure AS/CA S042 compliance and enter the market with confidence.
