Keeping in mind ICP-ANACOM?s statutory responsibilities in the area of equipment and material, the Authority oversees and regulates the market, aware of the modernisation challenges faced by the industry and of the need to obtain a high degree of product and service quality. This is surely an important contribution towards national technological development.
ICP-ANACOM thus carries out calibrations in the electric domain (Radio Metrology Laboratory), as well as electromagnetic compatibility trials (Electromagnetic Compatibility Laboratory), radiocommunications equipment trials (Radiocommunications Equipment Testing Laboratory) and tests to evaluate electromagnetic environments.
Activity pursued in 2002
Realisation of electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) trials of electric and electronic equipment
The Electromagnetic Compatibility Laboratory (LCEM ? Laboratório de Compatibilidade Electromagnética) tests emission and immunity, whether conducted or radiated, in electric and electronic equipment of several kinds.
The LCEM is a laboratory accredited by the Portuguese Quality Institute (IPQ) according to the standard NP EN ISO/IEC 17025 to carry out electromagnetic compatibility trials as per the IPQ qualification certificate no. 95/L. 143.
Compared to the previous year, the LCEM?s activity witnessed a significant rise in the quantity of tested equipment from ICP-ANACOM (internal customer) and a drop in the quantity of tested equipment from outside customers. The following graph for the period running from 1993 (when the lab became operational) to 2002 presents the annual accumulated figures for the quantity of equipment tested per customer type (internal and external).
Graph III. 1 - LCEM ? Annual activity / equipment tested
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Source: ICP-ANACOM
In 2002, considering the accumulated hours spent on the several customers of the LCEM, the following relative position was registered:
Graph III. 2 - LCEM ? Relative position of customers
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Source: ICP-ANACOM
Calibrations effected at the Radio Metrology Laboratory (LMR)
The Radio Metrology Laboratory (LMR ? Laboratório de Metrologia Radioeléctria) is a laboratory accredited by the Portuguese Quality Institute (IPQ) according to the standard NP EN ISO/IEC 17025, with IPQ qualification certificate no. 99/L. 264. The scope of this lab?s accreditation covers the calibration of devices in direct current/low frequency (DC/LF) and radiofrequency (RF) up to 18 GHz. There are three main types of equipment covered by the LMR?s activity: radiocommunications analysers, measurement devices (multimeters) and frequency generators.
Like the other ICP-ANACOM laboratories, the LMR became available to provide calibration services to outside entities. Indeed, in 2001, 64 percent of the equipment calibrated came from companies; in 2002 this figure remained significant (57 percent).
The provision of equipment calibration services in the 1999-20002 period is illustrated in the following graph.
Graph III. 3 - LMR ? Annual activity / processes completed
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Source: ICP-ANACOM
Regarding the relative position per customer of the LMR, considering the accumulated hours in the year 2002, the following distribution was verified:
Graph III. 4 - LMR ? Relative position of customers
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Source: ICP-ANACOM
Testing of radio equipment
Modification of the homologation regime meant that the Radiocommunications Equipment Testing Laboratory (Laboratório de Ensaios de Equipamentos de Radiocomunicações) had to assure verification of conformity of the characteristics of emission, reception and emission/reception equipment with the specific requirements set in national legislation (radiocommunications) and/or European standards issued by the European Telecommunications Standards Institute (ETSI), whose adoption is recommended by the Electronic Communications Committee (ECC) of the European Conference of Postal and Telecommunications Administrations (CEPT).
The goal of this activity is to assure correct use of the radio spectrum.
Equipment for diverse uses is subject to testing, namely: personal radio (CB), land mobile (private networks), fixed, mobile aeronautic, mobile maritime, paging and personal location (private and public use networks), amateur radio, cordless telephones, wireless microphones, and low-power short range devices (SRDs).
Available data for equipment tested in 2002 is as follows:
Graph III. 5 ? Radio ? Annual activity / equipment tested
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Unit: equipment/external test
Source: ICP-ANACOM
