To thoroughly implement the spirit of the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China and the requirements of the Opinions of the General Office of the State Council on Deepening the Reform of the Management System of the Electronic and Electrical Industry (Guo Ban Fa [2022] No. 31), and to create convenient conditions for telecom equipment manufacturers (hereinafter manufacturers) to bring products to market, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) has decided to launch and promote a new network access licence mark, gradually replacing the original paper mark. The relevant matters are notified as follows:

Mark format

The new network access licence mark consists of the licence logo, the device model and a digital code (see the annex for specifications).

Application route

Manufacturers may apply to use the new mark through the following routes:

(1) For telecom equipment newly applying for network access licence, the manufacturer shall describe the design and use plan for the new mark in the "product introduction" section of the application materials. Once the application has been reviewed and approved by MIIT and the network access licence granted, the new mark may be used.

(2) For telecom equipment that has already obtained a network access licence, the manufacturer shall submit the design and use plan for the new mark to MIIT (Telecom Equipment Certification Centre); the Centre completes the necessary review within three working days of receipt and notifies the enterprise to use the new mark.

Methods of application to products

Depending on product characteristics, manufacturers may apply the new mark in one or more of the following ways:

(1) Electronic display. Set up and display the new mark in the telecom equipment operating system or management software.

(2) Physical printing. Print, spray, mould or etch the new mark on the equipment body, nameplate or packaging.

(3) Label adhesion. Affix or attach a label printed with the new mark on the equipment body, nameplate or packaging.

(4) Other circumstances meeting the requirements.

Use requirements

(1) When applying the new mark, manufacturers shall ensure that it is clear, easy to identify, harmonious and attractive. The colour or black-and-white style may be chosen as needed, and the mark may be scaled up or down proportionally in accordance with the specified style, but must not be distorted.

(2) To facilitate public recognition, where telecom terminal equipment uses electronic display of the new mark, the manufacturer shall also apply the new mark on the smallest packaging of the product, or print the Chinese wording for "this product has obtained network access licence".

(3) Manufacturers shall explain the display position and how to view the new mark in the product instructions, accompanying materials or on the official website.

(4) Manufacturers shall promptly report to MIIT (Telecom Equipment Certification Centre) the product name and code, the network access licence number (including trial approval document) and validity period associated with the new mark, and shall keep the information updated and maintained.

Overall arrangements

(1) From 1 July 2023, the new mark is officially launched. Between 1 July and 31 December 2023, manufacturers may apply to MIIT (Telecom Equipment Certification Centre) to use the new mark, or may continue to apply for and use the original paper mark.

(2) From 1 January 2024, the new mark will be promoted across the board. From then on, the original paper marks will no longer be issued; paper marks already issued remain valid during the validity period of the network access licence and may continue to be used.

Other matters

(1) From the date of this notice, manufacturers are no longer required to mark the network access licence number on telecom equipment packaging, built-in information or advertising.

(2) The specifications and format of the new mark and the application process for manufacturers are set out in the annex.

Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, 25 June 2023

Specifications and format of the new network access licence mark

(1) Mark style

The new mark comes in colour and black-and-white styles, as shown in Figure 1, and manufacturers may choose which to use.

(Figure 1: style of the new network access licence mark)

(2) Mark elements

The new mark consists of the licence logo, the device model and a digital code, as shown in Figure 2:

(Figure 2: schematic of the elements of the new mark)

Licence logo: composed of the four Chinese characters meaning "network access licence" or "network access trial", a graphic emblem and a background tint (the black-and-white style has no background tint). The vector artwork of the licence logo is provided centrally by MIIT (Telecom Equipment Certification Centre) and can be downloaded by manufacturers from the MIIT government services platform website.

[Website: https://jwxk.miit.gov.cn]

Device model: shall be consistent with the device model recorded on the network access licence (including the trial approval document), and is applied by the manufacturer to the vector artwork in accordance with the specification requirements.

Digital code: a 21-character alphanumeric combination, of which the first 6 characters are the model number (obtained together with the network access licence) and the last 15 are generated and issued centrally by MIIT (Telecom Equipment Certification Centre) on application by the manufacturer. The digital code is the unique identifier of the mark and the necessary basis for querying mark information; it is applied by the manufacturer to the vector artwork in accordance with the specification requirements.

(3) Specification requirements

The standard dimensions of the new mark are shown in Figure 3. The standard size of the licence logo is 40 mm x 20 mm; the standard font size for the device model is 12 point in Hanyi Chusong typeface, not bold, centred, with the character spacing adjustable according to the number of characters but the overall width must not exceed the mark frame; the standard font size for the digital code is 8 point in Hanyi Chusong typeface, not bold, centred, with the overall width filling the bottom of the mark.

When applying the mark to equipment, manufacturers may adjust the display position appropriately and scale the mark proportionally, but must not distort it. The display shall be clear, legible and highly recognisable.

(Figure 3: standard dimensions of the new mark)

Application for and generation of the new mark

(1) Mark design and use plan

Manufacturers may download the vector artwork of the licence logo from the MIIT government services platform website and prepare their own design and use plan for the new mark according to the specification requirements. This is submitted as part of the telecom equipment network access licence application (for new applications) or separately (for equipment that already holds a licence) to MIIT (Telecom Equipment Certification Centre), and the mark may be used once the plan is approved. Review of a separately submitted plan takes no more than three working days.

(2) Mark application and generation

Once approved to use the new mark, manufacturers may log in to the MIIT government services platform website, enter the enterprise and equipment information, apply online for the required number of marks and download the data for the last 15 digits of the code. The manufacturer then applies the device model and digital code to the vector artwork according to the requirements, producing the complete new mark.

Use of the new mark

Depending on equipment characteristics, manufacturers may apply the new mark in one or more of the following ways:

(1) Electronic display. Set up and display the new mark in the telecom equipment operating system or management software, as shown in Figure 4.

(Figure 4: electronic display)

(2) Physical printing. Print the new mark on the equipment body, nameplate or packaging by printing, spray painting, moulding or etching, as shown in Figure 5.

(Figure 5: physical printing)

(3) Label adhesion. Affix or attach a label printed by the enterprise with the new mark on the equipment body, nameplate or packaging, as shown in Figure 6.

(Figure 6: label adhesion)

(4) Other circumstances meeting the requirements. Where a manufacturer genuinely has difficulties and objectively cannot use the three methods above, it may explain the reasons in the design and use plan for the new mark and propose an alternative method, to be implemented after review and approval by MIIT (Telecom Equipment Certification Centre).

MIIT (Telecom Equipment Certification Centre) will guide industry associations in separately developing standards for the design and use of the new mark for manufacturers to refer to, so as to genuinely facilitate design and use by manufacturers.

Information reporting for the new mark

Manufacturers shall report online (website: https://imei.miit.gov.cn) to MIIT (Telecom Equipment Certification Centre) the product name, manufacturer, device model, unique device identifier, network access licence number (including trial approval document) and validity period associated with the new mark, and shall keep the information updated and maintained. The specific information, timing and format requirements can be found on the website homepage.