On December 5th, 2023, ENACOM released resolution 2097/2023 with link: https://www.boletinoficial.gob.ar/detalleAviso/primera/300255/20231207.
Where they inform that devices using 5G NR are now allowed to be approved in Argentina. This took effect on date of publication on the Official Bulletin, which was on December 7th, 2023.
Also, new technical standard, version 23.1, is released in this resolution.
Main changes:
Allowance of approvals of devices using 5G NR on n78 band: 3300 – 3700 MHz.
Update on local technical standard, adding Chapter V for 5G NR.
Devices manufactured outside Argentina are allowed to be approved using foreign test reports (FCC, RED, ANATEL, etc) as long as results comply with technical parameters established on local standard ENACOM-Q2-61.03 V23.1. Devices made in Argentina are allowed to be approved submitting a DoC.
There is a 90 days period, where existing of new applications using foreign test reports are able to comply with the previous standard, version v17.1 and the new version 23.1.
Anyway, standards are basically the same, except for the addition of Chapter V and some test methods for 3GPP.
Then, date where only version 23.1 will be accepted is March 6th, 2024.
At the moment, there are many important questions that we made to ENACOM:
Will cellular local testing become mandatory next year?
Once two local labs get the accreditation to test Chapter V of the standard (5G NR), foreign test reports will be accepted too?
How is the process of updating existing certificates that had 5G capability but it was not included because the 5G approval rules were not announced?
These questions will be answered as soon as possible. But ENACOM is delayed on these matters because national government changed on December 10th. Then, there are many authorities being changed on ENACOM. Also, new government announced a big cut of public spending that could affect reduction of personnel soon in ENACOM. Therefore, Argentina could (or not) have a period of uncertainty.