Device certification is a technical process that verifies that a mobile device works correctly, is secure, and meets quality and compatibility requirements before it reaches the end user.
In general, several aspects are reviewed, which in a mobile device would be:
- Basic functionality: the mobile device is checked to ensure it can make calls, send messages, connect to the internet, etc.
- Network compatibility: ensuring that the device works well with mobile networks (such as 4G, 5G, IMS, etc.).
- Security: evaluating aspects such as fraud protection, secure data deletion, and resistance to attacks.
- Technical quality: reviewing aspects such as battery life, camera quality, processor performance, etc.
- Updated software: validates that the operating system is correctly installed and functioning without errors.
Why is it important?
Certification is important for several reasons. The first and most important is to protect the customer: ensuring that the device works as it should and complies with all current health and safety regulations.
It also serves to improve what we call the “user experience,” or the set of sensations, perceptions, and responses that a person has when interacting with a mobile device. It’s not just about whether something works, but how it feels to use it, whether it’s easy to use, pleasing to the eye, or accessible, for example.
From the operator’s point of view, certification is not only important, but also very necessary, because it allows us to detect and correct possible faults before the device reaches the customer. In addition, these tests allow us to characterize the device, that is, to understand how it works and how it performs basic operations, or how it displays our services to the user.
This way, we can respond more quickly to customer questions or more easily reproduce any scenario they present to us, to help them with any queries they may have. We also ensure that the devices work well on all the group’s networks, guaranteeing that they comply with the security and quality standards required by the company.
When a customer purchases a device certified by the operator, they can be confident that it has been tested and validated to the level of quality that ensures optimal performance on that network and in their country, as well as the security that their data is protected.
What certifications are important for mobile devices at Telefónica?
Local and global regulations must always be complied with on all mobile devices. For example, at the European level, you have probably heard of the “CE marking” (all products marketed in the European Economic Area must bear the ‘CE’ or “Conformité Européenne” symbol), which is simply a declaration by the manufacturer that their product complies with the essential requirements of safety, health, environmental protection, and electromagnetic compatibility established by European legislation.
This marking does not require a license, but it does require the manufacturer to assess the conformity of the product, prepare a technical file, and draft and sign a Declaration of Conformity. In the case of mobile devices, the CE marking implies that the terminal has been assessed in accordance with directives such as:
- LVD (Low Voltage): electrical safety.
- EMC (Electromagnetic Compatibility): prevents interference.
- RED (Radio Equipment): for devices with Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, etc.
- RoHS: limits the use of hazardous substances.
- WEEE: electronic waste management.
At Telefónica, in addition to the CE marking, which, as we have said, is mandatory in Europe for all products, we also require that mobile devices be certified by the GCF (Global Certification Forum), which is an international organization responsible for certifying mobile and IoT devices (such as smartphones, routers, embedded modules, etc.) to ensure that they comply with the interoperability standards defined by the 3GPP (Third Generation Partnership Project—an international telecommunications standardization body that develops technical standards for mobile networks, from 2G (GSM) to, soon, 6G) and other standardization bodies.
Its certification combines laboratory compliance testing with field testing on commercial networks, and verifies that devices work correctly with infrastructures from different providers and technologies such as VoLTE, 5G, eSIM, among others.
There are also other certifications, such as the Bluetooth Certificate or the Wi-Fi Alliance certificate, awarded to devices that support short-range technologies such as Bluetooth or Wi-Fi, respectively, which are also mandatory at Telefónica.
What does Telefónica certification add?
All of the above certificates serve as a basis for defining the “pending” test plan. In other words, the certificates establish the minimum requirements that a device must meet in order to “work,” and with our Telefónica certification, we ensure that it will “work optimally on our networks.”
By relying on the certificates that a mobile device has, we avoid repeating tests that have already been passed satisfactorily (saving time and money), focusing on those that have not been covered, either because they are strategic features that have only been launched at Telefónica, or because they occur in particular scenarios for the operator that are not reproduced under normal conditions.
Thus, at Telefónica, we perform both technical and functional tests on our networks, evaluating connectivity issues (you may be familiar with the acronyms VoNR, VoWi-Fi, 5G SA), performance (battery life), compatibility with operator services (RCS, Slicing, etc.), security, camera, accessibility, and more. The software, hardware, and customization of the device are validated.
At Telefónica, we certify hundreds of models every six months before they reach our stores, applying a global certification model to ensure that the devices meet technical and security requirements, as well as our quality standards, in all countries where the group operates.
Any errors we detect are corrected by the manufacturers before each device is marketed or, if they are serious, the device is rejected and removed from our stores’ portfolio.
But we don’t just optimize our devices; the manufacturer also integrates any errors detected or improvements into the “open” software versions that you can find on mobile devices in different electronics stores.
