In a majority of Latin American countries type approval certification is required before telecommunication equipment is allowed to be sold. Type Approval of telecommunication equipment  is the authorization of telecommunication equipment which has never been granted a license for manufacturing or importation, by verifying the compliance of the telecommunications equipment against the standards which have been adopted the specific regulatory agency.

Those standards the Regulatory agencies use ensure that the telecommunications equipment imported in their country meets a minimum set of regulatory, technical and safety requirements and  in some cases is compliant with the electromagnetic international standards. Every country will have it’s own specific set of regulatory requirements for telecommunications equipment.

Some common types of telecommunications equipment that requires approval are Cellular phones, Cordless phones, Fax machines, Mobile radios, Modems, Wireless remote devices, PABXs, Radio receivers, Radio transmitters, Satellite earth stations, Telecommunications switching equipment, equipment emitting a radio signal.