British Approvals Board for Telecommunications
Encyclopedia
The British Approvals Board for Telecommunications (BABT) is the world's leading Telecommunications Certification Body.
government to provide type approval services to the telecommunication
s terminal industry. At that point in history, British Telecom
was a state monopoly, and even by 1982 BT only allowed (via approval) the four British manufacturers (STC
, GEC, Plessey
, and Thorn-Ericsson) to supply its twenty five types of phone through them, and not independently. However around 200,000 unapproved, independently-bought phones were being used on the network. Loyalty to BT was of importance (commercially sensitive) to STC, Plessey and GEC as equipment for BT's exchange
s was made exclusively by them.
In the same year, BT was becoming more commercially-minded, opening up around one hundred new BT Phone Shops having become separated from the GPO
through the British Telecommunications Act 1981 which also created the BABT. In 1982 there was a step-change in types of BT phones entering the market, and technology used for connecting phones, and the BABT was needed with a greater variety of phones than was previously available: BT was about to lose its monopoly on supplying phones.
TMC (formerly the Telephone Manufacturing Company) also made the new (more electronic) IXT phones. The British telephone sockets
were introduced on 19 November 1981. On 19 July 1982, the government announced its desire to privatise BT, which happened in late 1984. By 1982, 15 million British homes had a phone, with 5 out of 6 only having one phone. Adding an extra phone without the new sockets was heavy work.
In the 1980s, it shared offices with the BEAB
in Hersham
, Surrey. The [Telecommunications Act 1984]] detailed standards for modem
s, which had to conform to BABT standards.
Since its incarnation, BABT has established itself as a Notified Body in Europe and has a number of appointments such as the IMEI
allocation authority for GSM terminals under appointment from the GSM Association
. In May 1992 it gave its first GSM approval to Orbitel.
for the following European Directives: 98/13/EC TTE & SESE Directive (now superseded by the R&TTE Directive); 89/336/EEC EMC Directive; 73/23/EEC Low Voltage Directive; 1999/5/EC R&TTE Directive. BABT is a Competent Body for the following Directives: 89/336/EEC EMC Directive
State monopoly
It was established in July 1982 by the UKUnited Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
government to provide type approval services to the telecommunication
Telecommunication
Telecommunication is the transmission of information over significant distances to communicate. In earlier times, telecommunications involved the use of visual signals, such as beacons, smoke signals, semaphore telegraphs, signal flags, and optical heliographs, or audio messages via coded...
s terminal industry. At that point in history, British Telecom
BT Group
BT Group plc is a global telecommunications services company headquartered in London, United Kingdom. It is one of the largest telecommunications services companies in the world and has operations in more than 170 countries. Through its BT Global Services division it is a major supplier of...
was a state monopoly, and even by 1982 BT only allowed (via approval) the four British manufacturers (STC
Standard Telephones and Cables
Standard Telephones and Cables Ltd was a British telephone, telegraph, radio, telecommunications and related equipment R&D manufacturer. During its history STC invented and developed several groundbreaking new technologies including PCM and optical fibres.The company began life in London as...
, GEC, Plessey
Plessey
The Plessey Company plc was a British-based international electronics, defence and telecommunications company. It originated in 1917, growing and diversifying into electronics. It expanded after the second world war by acquisition of companies and formed overseas companies...
, and Thorn-Ericsson) to supply its twenty five types of phone through them, and not independently. However around 200,000 unapproved, independently-bought phones were being used on the network. Loyalty to BT was of importance (commercially sensitive) to STC, Plessey and GEC as equipment for BT's exchange
Telephone exchange
In the field of telecommunications, a telephone exchange or telephone switch is a system of electronic components that connects telephone calls...
s was made exclusively by them.
In the same year, BT was becoming more commercially-minded, opening up around one hundred new BT Phone Shops having become separated from the GPO
General Post Office
General Post Office is the name of the British postal system from 1660 until 1969.General Post Office may also refer to:* General Post Office, Perth* General Post Office, Sydney* General Post Office, Melbourne* General Post Office, Brisbane...
through the British Telecommunications Act 1981 which also created the BABT. In 1982 there was a step-change in types of BT phones entering the market, and technology used for connecting phones, and the BABT was needed with a greater variety of phones than was previously available: BT was about to lose its monopoly on supplying phones.
Mechanism of approval
From July 1982, manufacturers could submit phones to be approved by BABT for a cost of £1,700, and if approved would carry the green circular label. The main four British suppliers of telephones were very wary about supplying to non-BT independent retailers. At the same time BT was introducing its so-called IXT phones (IneXpensive Telephone), designed for the new plug-and-socket connections - another new innovation. PhilipsPhilips
Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. , more commonly known as Philips, is a multinational Dutch electronics company....
TMC (formerly the Telephone Manufacturing Company) also made the new (more electronic) IXT phones. The British telephone sockets
British telephone sockets
British telephone sockets were introduced in their current plug and socket form on 19 November 1981 by British Telecom to allow subscribers to connect their own telephones...
were introduced on 19 November 1981. On 19 July 1982, the government announced its desire to privatise BT, which happened in late 1984. By 1982, 15 million British homes had a phone, with 5 out of 6 only having one phone. Adding an extra phone without the new sockets was heavy work.
In the 1980s, it shared offices with the BEAB
British Electrotechnical Approvals Board
The British Electrotechnical Approvals Board was an electrical safety and certification organisation in the UK, until the introduction of Harmonised European Standards meant that local certification of electrical products was no longer permitted...
in Hersham
Hersham
Hersham is a village in Surrey, within the M25 boundary. It is within easy reach of Heathrow and Gatwick airports. The main A3 London to Portsmouth road runs through its boundaries...
, Surrey. The [Telecommunications Act 1984]] detailed standards for modem
Modem
A modem is a device that modulates an analog carrier signal to encode digital information, and also demodulates such a carrier signal to decode the transmitted information. The goal is to produce a signal that can be transmitted easily and decoded to reproduce the original digital data...
s, which had to conform to BABT standards.
Since its incarnation, BABT has established itself as a Notified Body in Europe and has a number of appointments such as the IMEI
International Mobile Equipment Identity
The International Mobile Equipment Identity or IMEI is a number, usually unique, to identify GSM, WCDMA, and iDEN mobile phones, as well as some satellite phones. It is usually found printed inside the battery compartment of the phone...
allocation authority for GSM terminals under appointment from the GSM Association
GSM Association
The GSM Association is an association of mobile operators and related companies devoted to supporting the standardizing, deployment and promotion of the GSM mobile telephone system...
. In May 1992 it gave its first GSM approval to Orbitel.
Structure
BABT is wholly owned by TÜV Product Service Limited, Germany's main test and certification body.Function
BABT is a Notified BodyNotified Body
A Notified Body, in the European Union, is an organisation that has been accredited by a Member State to assess whether a product meets certain preordained standards. Assessment can include inspection and examination of a product, its design and manufacture...
for the following European Directives: 98/13/EC TTE & SESE Directive (now superseded by the R&TTE Directive); 89/336/EEC EMC Directive; 73/23/EEC Low Voltage Directive; 1999/5/EC R&TTE Directive. BABT is a Competent Body for the following Directives: 89/336/EEC EMC Directive
External links
- Main website
- Parent company website
- IMEI Number Application: Manufacturers of GSM terminals may obtain IMEI allocations through BABT.
- RTTE Directive: Manufacturers of radio equipment and telecommunications terminal equipment can obtain European regulatory approval through BABT.
- History of British telephones