Guide to Postel Certification Requirements for Remote Control Toys in Indonesia
Remote control toys are widely available in the market, ranging from remote-controlled cars, boats, airplanes, and helicopters to various electronic toys controlled wirelessly from a distance.
Because these products use a remote controller to send commands wirelessly to the toy, an important question arises: does a remote control toy need Postel or DJID/SDPPI certification before it can be imported and sold in Indonesia?
The answer is that not every remote control toy can automatically be classified as either mandatory or exempt from certification based solely on the product name. The assessment needs to consider whether the product uses telecommunications or radio transmission functions, the technology used, operating frequency, transmission power, and the applicable technical requirements.
The current certification framework includes Minister of Communication and Informatics Regulation No. 3 of 2024 concerning Certification of Telecommunications Equipment and/or Devices. This regulation replaced the previous operational certification provisions under Ministerial Regulation No. 16 of 2018.
Why Can Remote Control Toys Be Related to Postel Certification?
A remote control toy generally consists of two main components: the toy itself and the remote controller.
The remote controller sends wireless signals to the receiver installed in the toy. The signals are then used to execute commands such as moving forward, reversing, turning, stopping, ascending, descending, or performing other functions.
When this communication uses radio waves, radio frequency spectrum is involved. Therefore, telecommunications and radio frequency usage aspects need to be assessed.
The regulation on spectrum use based on Class License includes Short Range Devices (SRD). Ministerial Regulation No. 2 of 2023 includes SRD as one of the device groups that may use spectrum under a Class License, including devices with transmission power below 10 mW and other SRDs that comply with technical standards established by the Minister.
Are All Remote Control Toys Required to Have Postel Certification?
This cannot be determined solely from the term “remote control.”
The communication technology used by the product needs to be examined.
For example, a product may use:
- A radio transmitter in the remote controller.
- Bluetooth.
- WiFi.
- Other wireless technologies.
- A wired connection without any radio communication function.
For toys using radio transmitters, technical specifications such as frequency, transmission power, bandwidth, modulation, and wireless technology need to be assessed.
Ministerial Regulation No. 2 of 2023 provides that devices within groups including RLAN, LPWAN, SRD, Class-License-based IMT, and PMR must meet Technical Standards when manufactured, assembled, or imported for trade and/or use in Indonesia. Compliance with the Technical Standards is demonstrated through a Certificate.
Remote Control Toys with Transmission Power Below 10 mW
One important factor for remote control toys is transmitter power.
Ministerial Regulation No. 2 of 2023 includes telecommunications equipment and/or devices with transmission power below 10 mW as one of the Short Range Device (SRD) groups.
However, being categorized as an SRD or having low transmission power does not automatically mean that the device is exempt from certification.
The regulation states that devices within the relevant Class License groups must meet Technical Standards and that compliance is demonstrated through a Certificate.
Therefore, for remote control toys with low-power transmitters, the technical specifications and applicable standards still need to be assessed.
Remote Control Toys with Bluetooth
Some modern toys use Bluetooth to communicate with smartphones or remote controllers.
Bluetooth is one of the technologies included in the SRD group. Ministerial Regulation No. 2 of 2023 specifically lists Bluetooth IEEE 802.15.1 under SRD.
When a remote control toy uses Bluetooth, the Bluetooth module specifications need to be reviewed, including:
- Bluetooth version.
- Operating frequency.
- Transmit power.
- Antenna.
- Communication module.
- Device configuration.
Therefore, the use of Bluetooth in a toy needs to be assessed from the telecommunications certification perspective.
Remote Control Toys with WiFi
Some remote control toys use WiFi, particularly products controlled through smartphones or applications.
WiFi is included in the Radio Local Area Network (RLAN) group regulated under the Class License spectrum framework. Ministerial Regulation No. 2 of 2023 includes IEEE 802.11 or WLAN standards as part of RLAN.
When a toy uses WiFi, the following specifications need to be reviewed:
- WiFi standard.
- Operating frequency.
- Channel.
- Bandwidth.
- Transmission power.
- Antenna.
- Wireless module.
These specifications are required to determine the relevant technical standard and certification requirements.
Remote Control Toys Using Dedicated Radio Frequencies
Not all remote controls use Bluetooth or WiFi. Many toys use dedicated RF modules operating on specific frequencies to transmit commands from the remote controller to the toy.
For these products, technical assessment is particularly important because the technology can vary between products.
The manufacturer should ideally provide information such as:
- Operating frequency.
- RF output power.
- Channel spacing.
- Bandwidth.
- Modulation.
- Antenna type.
- Transmitter specification.
- Receiver specification.
- RF module datasheet.
This information can then be used to assess whether the device falls under the SRD category or another telecommunications equipment category.
DJID/SDPPI Regulatory Basis for Remote Control Toys
Several regulations need to be considered in the current regulatory framework.
1. Ministerial Regulation No. 3 of 2024
Ministerial Regulation No. 3 of 2024 regulates Certification of Telecommunications Equipment and/or Devices. This regulation replaced Ministerial Regulation No. 16 of 2018 because the previous regulation was considered no longer aligned with developments and requirements concerning technical standards and telecommunications certification.
The regulation provides that compliance with Technical Standards is carried out through testing and demonstrated by a Certificate. In principle, certification is based on the brand, type, and country of manufacture according to the applicable provisions.
2. Ministerial Regulation No. 2 of 2023
Ministerial Regulation No. 2 of 2023 regulates radio frequency spectrum use based on a Class License.
The regulation covers several device groups, including SRD, Bluetooth, NFC, RFID, UWB, LR-WPAN, devices with transmission power below 10 mW, and other SRDs that comply with applicable Technical Standards.
These provisions were subsequently amended by regulations effective from January 2025, so product assessments should use the latest applicable provisions rather than relying solely on older regulations.
Does a 2.4 GHz Remote Control Toy Require Postel Certification?
A remote control toy operating at 2.4 GHz needs to be assessed based on the technology it uses.
For example, the product may use:
- Bluetooth.
- WiFi.
- Proprietary RF.
- Other SRD technologies.
The 2.4 GHz frequency alone is not sufficient to determine certification requirements. The transmitter specifications and applicable technical standard still need to be reviewed.
Therefore, when an importer has a 2.4 GHz remote control toy, it is advisable to provide not only the “2.4 GHz” information but also the RF module datasheet or remote control specifications for a proper assessment.
Documents Required for Remote Control Toy Postel Assessment
To assess certification requirements, the following documents should ideally be prepared:
- Product photographs.
- Remote controller photographs.
- Product label photographs.
- Brand.
- Model or type.
- Datasheet.
- User manual.
- Remote controller specifications.
- Receiver specifications in the toy.
- RF module datasheet.
- Operating frequency.
- Transmission power.
- Bandwidth.
- Modulation.
- Antenna specification.
- Bluetooth specification, where applicable.
- WiFi specification, where applicable.
- Block diagram, where available.
- Manufacturer test report, where available.
These technical documents help identify the communication technology and determine the applicable technical standards.
Remote Control Toy Postel Certification Assessment Process
The assessment can begin by reviewing the type of toy and remote controller used.
The wireless technology is then identified. If the product uses RF, Bluetooth, WiFi, or another wireless technology, the communication module specifications are reviewed.
Once the technology is identified, the frequency and transmission power are compared with the applicable technical requirements.
If the device falls within a telecommunications equipment category that must comply with Technical Standards, certification is carried out through testing according to the applicable Technical Standard. Ministerial Regulation No. 3 of 2024 provides that compliance with Technical Standards is carried out through testing and demonstrated by a Certificate.
Once the applicable requirements have been fulfilled, the certification process can continue until the Certificate is issued.
Toy Certification or RF Module Certification?
One important issue is the actual product configuration.
When a toy incorporates an RF communication module, the assessment should consider the device as configured for commercial distribution and use.
Ministerial Regulation No. 3 of 2024 provides that Technical Standard compliance is generally carried out based on each brand, type, and country of manufacture of the telecommunications equipment and/or device.
Therefore, certification requirements should not be determined solely from the term “toy.” The product’s actual specifications and communication configuration must first be assessed.
What Are the Risks of Selling Remote Control Toys Without Certification?
If a product is classified as telecommunications equipment and is required to have a Certificate but is traded or used without certification, there is a risk of administrative enforcement.
Ministerial Regulation No. 3 of 2024 provides for supervision through inspection of Certificates, labels, and conformity of the device with the Technical Standards referenced by the Certificate. For devices without a Certificate, administrative measures can include written warnings, administrative fines, seizure, and/or product recalls in accordance with applicable provisions.
Therefore, assessment should ideally be completed before the product is imported and marketed in Indonesia.
Conclusion
A remote control toy cannot automatically be classified as either requiring or not requiring Postel certification solely because it is a remote control toy.
The key consideration is whether the toy uses radio communication or wireless technology that falls within a telecommunications equipment category subject to Technical Standards.
For remote control toys using RF, Bluetooth, WiFi, or other wireless technologies, the frequency, transmission power, bandwidth, modulation, antenna, and device configuration need to be assessed.
If the assessment determines that the product is a device required to comply with Technical Standards, compliance must be demonstrated through the applicable Certificate under the current certification framework.
Therefore, before importing or marketing the product, it is advisable to prepare the remote controller datasheet and RF module specifications so that the DJID/SDPPI certification requirement can be assessed accurately.
Contact Us
Biruni Consulting provides professional assistance for DJID/SDPPI assessment and certification for various wireless products, including remote control toys.
We assist with:
- DJID/SDPPI certification requirement assessment.
- RF specification analysis.
- Frequency and transmission power assessment.
- Bluetooth and WiFi technology identification.
- RF module assessment.
- Certification document preparation.
- Laboratory testing coordination where required.
- Certification assistance until the Certificate is issued.
If you have a remote control toy that will be imported or marketed in Indonesia, you can provide the product photographs, remote controller photographs, brand, type/model, frequency, and RF module datasheet for an initial assessment of the DJID/SDPPI certification requirements
