International Safety Standardisation of Telecommunication Equipment and Systems

Satety of telecommunication equipment and systems are going to become internationally standardized. Because of the far reaching interconnections via telecommunication networks, safety is a most important factor in designing and constructing telecommunication equipment and systems. In the past safety standardisation of telecommunication was a national task mostly adressed by the telecom administrations. Today, because of the ongoing merging of telecommunication and computer technology and of the opening of the telecom market, safety aspects of these technologies are gaining more and more international attention. In this paper the main rules on safety especially valid in the telecommunication section will be shown with respect to the internationally standardized pilot functions on safety, and their relation to practically gained experience on telecommunication equipment and systems concerning currents and voltages used at accessible parts. Last not least, international activities on that subject including pending investiqations on advanced technologies, e.g. numerously used SMPS or new telecom systems drifting apart into subscribers premises, as well as new requirements and test methods based on these technologies are mentioned.