Customer Equipment Standards

Communications Alliance develops customer equipment Standards and related documents for the Australian telecommunications industry. The latest versions of the Standards are listed below.

Superseded customer equipment Standards (referred to as ‘Available Superseded’ Standards) can be downloaded from www.commsalliance.com.au/Documents/Available-Superseded. Note that Available Superseded Standards may be applicable under the ACMA Telecommunications Labelling (Customer Equipment and Customer Cabling) Notice 2001. See the regulatory information below.

Note that all references to CDMA in ACIF/Communications Alliance documents are no longer valid post 28 April 2008.

Our policy for handling complaints regarding the development processes of Standards can be found here.

Regulatory information

The Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) is a Commonwealth authority with statutory powers to impose requirements concerning telecommunications customer equipment and customer cabling. The ACMA requires Australian manufacturers and importers of specified items of customer equipment and customer cabling to establish compliance with Standards such as those listed on this website. Details on current compliance arrangements can be obtained from the ACMA website.

The ACMA makes AS/ACIF and AS/CA Standards from time to time as Technical Standards under s.376 of the Telecommunications Act 1997. In addition, the ACMA makes Cabling Provider Rules (CPRs) under section 421(1) of the Telecommunications Act 1997. Cabling wiring rules developed by Communications Alliance are given regulatory effect by inclusion in the CPRs. A complete list of applicable Standards (which may include both current and ‘available superseded’ versions) can be found on the ACMA Telecommunications standards list at www.acma.gov.au/WEB/STANDARD/pc=PC_2545.

Australian legislation is available from Comlaw.

List of Standards

AS/CA S002:2010 Analogue interworking and non-interference requirements for Customer Equipment for connection to the PSTN
Specifies requirements for telephone equipment that connects to the Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) by an analogue interface (e.g. corded and cordless phones, dial up modems, answering machines, facsimile machines)
AS/CA S003.1:2010 Requirements for Customer Access Equipment for connection to a Telecommunications Network<br>Part 1: General
Customer Access Equipment for connection to a Telecommunications Network.
AS/CA S003.2:2010 Requirements for Customer Access Equipment for connection to a Telecommunications Network<br>Part 2: Analogue and TDM based technologies
Customer Access Equipment for connection to a Telecommunications Network.
AS/CA S003.3:2010 Requirements for Customer Access Equipment for connection to a Telecommunications Network<br>Part 3: Packet and cell based technologies
Customer Access Equipment for connection to a Telecommunications Network.
AS/CA S004:2013 Voice performance requirements for Customer Equipment
Specifies the frequency and acoustic performance requirements for speech and tones (e.g. for distortion, loudness and acoustic shock). These requirements are for telephones that connect to the PSTN or ISDN.
AS/ACIF S006:2008 Requirements for Customer Equipment, operating in the voiceband, for connection to the non-switched Telecommunications Network
Specifies requirements for non-switching telephone equipment used in businesses, e.g. equipment connected to a tie-line.
AS/CA S008:2010 Requirements for Customer Cabling Products
Specifies requirements for telephone cables and cabling products (e.g. plugs, sockets, enclosures) used in customer’s premises and businesses. It does not cover cables or products used in the network by carriers. It is an updated version of the 2001 edition and has an associated companion guideline available.
AS/CA S009:2013 Installation requirements for Customer Cabling (Wiring Rules)
Specifies the rules for cablers must follow for the installation and maintenance of fixed or concealed cabling that is connected to telecommunications network. It does not cover cable installations in the carriers’ networks. It is an updated version of the 2006 edition.
AS/ACIF S016:2001 Requirements for Customer Equipment for connection to hierarchical digital interfaces
Specifies the requirements for telephone equipment typically used in businesses that connect to 2, 8, 34 or 136 Mbits/second services.
AS/ACIF S031:2001 Requirements for ISDN Basic Access
Specifies requirements for telephone equipment connected to Basic Rate ISDN.
AS/ACIF S035:2008 Requirements for installation of temporary field telecommunications customer cabling for defence purposes
Specifies the requirements for the installation of temporary field telecommunications customer cabling for DoD purposes during exercise, training or operational deployment.
AS/ACIF S038:2001 Requirements for ISDN Primary Rate Access Interface
Specifies requirements for telephone equipment connected to Primary Rate ISDN.
AS/ACIF S040:2001 Requirements for Customer Equipment for use with the Standard Telephone Service - Features for special needs
Specifies requirements for the features on telephones that are designed for improved accessibility such as the pip on the ‘5’ key and hearing aid coupling.
AS/ACIF S041.1:2009 Requirements for DSL Customer Equipment for connection to the PSTN - Part 1: General
Specifies the common requirements for filters, splitters and modems connected to DSL services.
AS/ACIF S041.2:2009 Requirements for DSL Customer Equipment for connection to the Public Switched Telephone Network - Part 2: Modems for use in connection with all DSL services
Specifies the specific requirements for DSL modems.
AS/ACIF S041.3:2009 Requirements for DSL Customer Equipment for connection to the Public Switched Telephone Network - Part 3: Filters for use in connection with all ADSL services
Specifies the specific requirements DSL filters and splitters.
AS/CA S042.1:2010 Requirements for connection to an air interface of a Telecommunications Network - Part 1: General
Specifies the common requirements for mobile and satellite phones such as the dialling of emergency call services (000, 112 & 106) and acoustic safety requirements.
AS/ACIF S042.2:1999 Requirements for connection to an air interface of a telecommunications network - Part 2: CDMA (IS-95)
This Standard has been withdrawn.
AS/ACIF S042.3:2005 Requirements for connection to an air interface of a telecommunications network - Part 3: GSM
Specifies the requirements for GSM mobile phones.
AS/CA S042.4:2010 Requirements for connection to an air interface of a Telecommunications Network—Part 4: IMT-2000 Customer Equipment
Specifies the requirements for GSM mobile phones.
AS/ACIF S043.1:2003 Requirements for Customer Equipment for connection to a metallic local loop interface of a Telecommunications Network- Part 1: General
Specifies the general requirements for telephone equipment that connect to the copper wire access networks such as the ability to call the emergency call services.
AS/ACIF S043.2:2008 Requirements for Customer Equipment for connection to a metallic local loop interface of a Telecommunications Network - Part 2: Broadband
Specifies the requirements for broadband equipment connected to copper wire pairs e.g. DSL modems.
AS/ACIF S043.3:2008 Requirements for Customer Equipment for connection to a metallic local loop interface of a Telecommunications Network Part 3: DC, low frequency AC and voiceband
Specifies the requirements for connected to copper wire pairs that can deliver DC, and AC signals