South Korea’s Ministry of Science and ICT (MSIT) has issued an updated regulation revising the technical standards for license-exempt radio equipment. The update, published on February 10, 2026, aims to improve spectrum efficiency, user convenience, and support advanced wireless technologies.

Key Highlights

• Scope of Update: Applies to 6 GHz Wi-Fi devices and other license-exempt low-power equipment, including Wi-Fi 7 and advanced IoT devices.

• Power Limits: Adjusted power density limits allow higher indoor connectivity performance while controlling interference.

• Indoor/Restricted Use: Devices are primarily allowed for indoor operation, with special provisions for deployment in public transport like subway cars.

• Compliance Principles: Devices must operate without causing harmful interference and accept interference from other systems (non-protection basis), consistent with Korea’s Radio Waves Act.

• Advanced Technologies: Standards include updated requirements for OFDM, DFS, TPC, and Listen Before Talk (LBT) to ensure efficient spectrum usage.

Industry Impact

The updated standards:

• Enable next-generation technologies such as Wi-Fi 7 and advanced IoT

• Improve device performance through relaxed technical limits (e.g., higher power in 6 GHz)

• Reinforce the need for KC compliance alignment before market entry