The Republic of Chile is a country in south-western South America with a population of about 19 mill. It is the southernmost country in the world along a narrow strip of land between the Andes Mountains and the Pacific Ocean, bordering Argentina to the east, Bolivia to the northeast and Peru to the north. The country’s capital and largest city is Santiago.
The Chilean Telecommunications Authority, the Subsecretaría de Telecomunicaciones (SUBTEL) has issued a Resolution Exenta N° 737/2025 which introduces one of the most significant regulatory transformations in Latin America for wireless and short-range devices (SRD).
By this new framework the traditional paper-based type approvals for most SRD equipment are replaced by a mandatory digital compliance and QR-based traceability system. The objective of the change is to modernize the approval process and streamline market access for such products
From February next year, all importers and manufacturers marketing SRDs in Chile must comply with this new system which entails the following key changes
• Most common SRDs (Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, Zigbee, RFID, etc.) no longer require formal SUBTEL type approval certification.
• Compliance must instead be demonstrated through a mandatory QR code affixed to the external packaging of each device.
• The QR code must link to a dedicated, active webpage containing essential compliance documentation, including:
– Declaration of Conformity
– Relevant test reports
– Technical specifications (frequency use, maximum power, etc.)
• Exceptions: Wireless medical devices listed under sections (g) and (h) of the Resolution continue to require full SUBTEL
certification.
• Focus shifts from pre-market certification to post-market oversight, enabling SUBTEL to perform digital audits and real-time
verification of products in the Chilean market.
Further information is available e.g. here
(This article is based on the information from CERTA Global Consulting; edited by T.Sollie)
