What We Do
For more than 30 years, CTIA Certification and its working groups have developed industry standards and best practices for the mobile wireless industry. Our certification programs are recognized globally as the gold standard. They are utilized by network operators and device manufacturers, and now consumers through our WISE certification program, to ensure quality and reliability.
8
Certification Programs
30+
Industry Working Groups
100+
Test Labs & Service Centers Around the World
Our Story
CTIA Certification launched in 1991, certifying the rapidly proliferating new analog cellphones in the U.S.
Setting the Standard
Needing a standard to ensure the growing variety of cellphones would work seamlessly with the cellular networks being deployed throughout the U.S., CTIA member companies came together to develop the first certification test plan for the new Analog Mobile Phone System (AMPS).
Beyond Interoperability
What started as a single test plan has grown to include a portfolio of over 20 test plans. Today, CTIA Certification programs have expanded beyond phone/network interoperability to include performance, safety, reliability, and service quality requirements.
Emerging Technology
Collaboration between the wireless industry subject matter experts who make up the CTIA Certification working groups enables our certification programs to keep pace with evolving technology.
5G & Beyond
To sum it all up: CTIA Certification has provided gold standard test plans and certifications since the days of analog (1G), through the first digital phones/networks (2G & 3G), and in the current age of internet-based networks (4G & 5G).
Our Brands
The CTIA Certification family of brands includes the IoT Network Certified program for cellular-enabled Internet of Things IoT devices; the PTCRB certification program that provides confidence that devices will perform optimally on mobile wireless networks; and the WISE certification, which promotes excellence in mobile device repair.
Participating Companies
Over 100 companies throughout the wireless industry participate in the CTIA Certification Program Working Groups, which develop and maintain our world-class standards, best practices, and certification programs.
Responsible for developing and maintaining the CTIA Certification Speech Performance Test plan. Working group members define the methodology for measuring the performance of speech-capable wireless devices in narrowband (NB), wideband (WB), and super-wide band (SWB) modes.
- Co-Chair: Harinder Nehra, T-Mobile
- Co-Chair: Robert Manalo, TELUS
Defines the requirements for the CTIA Battery Compliance Certification Program. This working group develops the process to validate a lithium ion battery’s compliance with the IEEE Standard for Rechargeable Batteries for Cellular Telephones (IEEE Std 1725™) and the IEEE Standard for Rechargeable Batteries for Multi-Cell Mobile Computing Devices (IEEE Std 1625™).
- Co-Chair: Matthew Larkin, Samsung
- Co-Chair: Jay Nishiguchi, Microsoft
Defines the requirements for the CTIA Battery Life Certification Program. This working group develops accurate and standardized methodologies for estimating the battery life of smartphones and smartwatches.
- Co-Chair: John Bulger, AT&T
- Co-Chair: Michael Thijm, Analytek
- Secretary: Craig Mensinger, UL
Defines the requirements for the CTIA Cybersecurity Certification Program for Internet of Things (IoT) devices. Working group members develop and maintain the industry’s cybersecurity certification requirements for IoT devices.
- Co-Chair: Hawa Ibrahim, T-Mobile
- Secretary: Bobby Lele, DVT
Defines the requirements for the CTIA Device Hardware Reliability Certification Program. This working group develops standardized lifecycle testing methodologies for smartphones.
- Co-Chair: Eric Christie, T-Mobile
Responsible for developing and maintaining the CTIA Certification test plans for wireless device OTA performance. Multiple test plans define the requirements for performing transmit and receive performance measurements on wireless devices.
- Co-Chair: Ron Borsato, AT&T
- Co-Chair: Thorsten Hertel, Keysight
- Secretary: Jose Fortes, Rohde & Schwarz
Reporting to the OTA Plenary, this group is responsible for developing and maintaining the CTIA Certification/Wi-Fi Alliance Test Plan for RF Performance Evaluation of Wi-Fi Mobile-Converged Devices.
- Co-Chair: Elvis Yen, Dell
- Co-Chair: Hassan Yaghoobi, Intel
- Secretary: Lisa Ward, Rohde & Schwarz
Reporting to the OTA Plenary, this group is responsible for developing and maintaining the CTIA Certification Test Plan for Millimeter-Wave Over-the-Air Performance.
- Co-Chair: Thorsten Hertel, Keysight
- Co-Chair: Taeho Park, Apple
- Secretary: Edwin Mendivil, ETS Lindgren
Reporting to the OTA Plenary, this group is responsible for defining the measurement uncertainty requirements within the CTIA Certification test plans for wireless device OTA performance.
- Co-Chair: Kimberly Rutkowski, MVG Inc
Reporting to the OTA Plenary, this group is responsible for developing and maintaining the CTIA Certification Test Plan for 2×2 Downlink MIMO and Transmit Diversity Over-the-Air Performance.
- Co-Chair: Peter Liao, SGS
- Co-Chair: Istvan Szini, Apple
Reporting to the OTA Plenary, this group is responsible for developing body phantoms used in the CTIA Certification test plans for wireless device OTA performance.
- Chair: Clive Bax, Bureau Veritas ADT
- Secretary: Kevin Li, Google LLC
Reporting to the OTA Plenary, this group develops the reverberation chamber requirements within the CTIA Certification test plans for wireless device OTA performance.
- Co-Chair: Edwin Mendivil, ETS-Lindgren
- Co-Chair: Derek Skousen, BlueTest
- Secretary: Ethan Chen, Google, LLC
Reporting to the OTA Plenary, this group develops the IoT device requirements within the CTIA Certification test plans for wireless device OTA performance.
- Co-Chair: Adeel Ahmad, T-Mobile
- Co-Chair: Clive Bax, Bureau Veritas ADT
- Secretary: Kevin Li, Google LLC
Composed of the PTCRB OSG, leaders of the PTCRB working groups, and representatives of various industry segments (phone vendors, chipset vendors, module vendors, test equipment vendors and test labs), this group manages the activities of the PTCRB working groups.
Reporting to the PTCRB Plenary, this group is responsible for defining the PTCRB certification requirements for IoT devices.
- Chair: Ian Baragar, KORE Wireless
- Vice Chair: Robert Holden, AT&T
- Secretary: Kevin Goodfellow, Sierra Wireless
Reporting to the PTCRB Plenary, this group collaborates across the device certification community to support marketing messages, provide resources for member companies, and build external market awareness for PTCRB certification.
- Co-Chair: Johee Chang, Bureau Veritas
- Co-Chair: Michelle James, CTIA
Composed of CTIA member network operators, this group provides direction to the PTCRB Plenary which is responsible for defining the PTCRB device certification program.
Defines the requirements for the PTCRB device certification program and maintains the PPMD and NAPRD03 requirements documents.
- Chair: Scott Prather, AT&T
- Vice Chair: Darren Thompson, T-Mobile
- Secretary: Graham Harvey, Sporton
Reporting to the PTCRB Plenary, this group is responsible for validating test cases for the PTCRB device certification program.
- Chair: Muharrem, Gedikoglu, Cetecom
- Vice Chair: Graham Harvey, Sporton
Responsible for developing best practices and guidelines for protecting mobile wireless device assets in transit.
- Chair: Tevon Taylor, FedEx Supply Chain
- Vice Chair: Scott Blick, US Cellular
Responsible for developing and maintaining the CTIA Certification Wireless Device Grading Scales Criteria and Definitions document.
- Co-Chair: Kimberley Allison, AT&T
- Co-Chair: Cale Turner, Asurion
- Co-Chair: Larry Worden, ecoATM
Responsible for developing procedures to validate the authenticity of core parts in the reverse supply chain.
- Chair: Avi Sen, Apple
- Vice Chair: Paul Walker, Samsung
- Secretary: Sean Fuchs, AT&T
Defines the requirements for WISE™ certified Authorized Service Providers performing wireless device repairs in retail locations and on-demand/remote consumer-facing environments.
- Co-Chair: Josh Beasley, Likewize
- Co-Chair: Tripp Grant, uBreakiFix/Asurion
- Co-Chair: Chris Bleess, ServiceCentral
Defines the requirements for CTIA Certification Authorized Service Centers performing non-consumer-facing repair, refurbishment and remanufacturing of wireless devices.
- Co-Chair: Paul Walker, Samsung
- Co-Chair: Ron Wacker, Ingram Micro
Defines the training and certification requirements for WISE™ certified repair technicians.
- Co-Chair: Darwin Garcia, Motorola
- Co-Chair: Jason Bailey, Cell Phone Repair/Assurant
- Co-Chair: Chris Johncke, iFixYouri
Responsible for developing guidelines for the sustainable packaging of mobile wireless devices and accessories.
- Chair: Angel Manriquez, AT&T
- Secretary: Gregory Iles, Asurion
- 7Layers
- Asfalis Inc.
- A Test Lab Corp.
- Assurant
- AGiRepair
- Asurion
- Allstate
- AT&T Mobility
- Altman Vilandrie and Company
- ATMC Labs, Inc.
- Amazon
- Axis Communications
- Anritsu
- B-Stock Solutions Inc.
- Apple
- BTL Inc.
- Back Market
- Batteries Plus Bulbs
- Beijing Hwa-Tech
- Blancco Services, LLC
- Bluetest AB
- BluFlux, LLC
- Bragg Communications DBA Eastlink Wireless
- Bureau Veritas ADT
- CETECOM GmbH
- Cisco, Inc.
- Communications Global Certification Inc.
- Communications Test Design, Inc.
- Comprion GmbH
- Corning Incorporated
- Continental Automotive Services
- CTTL – China Telecommunication Technology Labs
- Custom Communications Inc.
- Dekra Certification
- Dell Technologies
- Delta Enterprise USA
- DISH Network
- DVT&C
- Dynamic Lifecycle Innovations
- East China Institute of Telecommunications
- Electro Magnetic Test, Inc.
- Elite Electronic Engineering
- EMITE Ing SL
- Encore Repair
- Ericsson, Inc.
- ETS-Lindgren, Inc.
- Eurofins E&E
- Exponent
- FedEx Supply Chain
- Fitbit, Inc.
- FutureDial, Inc.
- General Test Systems Inc.
- Global Resale
- GM Onstar
- Google LLC
- Guangzhou MCM Certification
- HCT Co. Ltd.
- HEAD acoustics GmbH
- HP Inc.
- HTC America, Inc.
- Hyla Mobile
- Ingram Micro, Inc.
- Injured Gadgets
- Inseego
- Intel Corporation
- Intertek
- Itron Inc.
- Keysight Technologies
- KORE Wireless
- Korea Compliance Testing Laboratories
- Korea Testing Laboratory
- Kyocera International, Inc.
- Lenovo Inc.
- LG Electronics MobileComm USA, Inc.
- Ligado Networks
- Liquidity Services, Inc.
- Luna Systems LLC
- Microsoft Corporation
- Motorola Mobility, Inc.
- MTCC (Mobile Technology Convergence Center)
- MVG, Inc.
- NextNav, LLC
- Nokia Solutions and Networks US LLC
- Onward Security Corporation
- P3 Communications, Inc.
- Panasonic Systems Company of North America
- PCS Wireless
- PCTEST Engineering
- QUALCOMM, Inc.
- Reconext
- Rohde & Schwarz USA, Inc.
- Samsung Electronics America
- Samsung SDI
- Sasktel
- Sector 5, Inc.
- ServiceCentral Technologies, Inc.
- SEQAL Korea
- SGS North America Inc.
- Shanghai Tejet Communications Technology Co., Ltd.
- Shenzhen BALUN Technology Co. Ltd.
- Shenzhen Morlab Communications Technology Co. Ltd.
- Shenzhen Sunway Communications Co. Ltd.
- Shenzhen Sunyield Technologies Co., Ltd.
- Sierra Wireless
- Sony Mobile Communications AB
- Southern Linc
- SPEAG (Schmid & Partners Eng. AG)
- Spirent Communications GmbH
- Sporton International Inc.
- T-Mobile USA
- TA Technology (Shanghai) Co. Ltd.
- Taoglas USA, Inc.
- Tech Mahindra (America) Inc.
- Telecommunications Technology Association (TTA)
- Telit Wireless Solutions, Inc.
- TEOCO Corporation
- THALES DIS AIS Deutschland GmbH
- The State Radio Monitoring Testing Center
- TracFone Wireless, Inc
- TUV Rheinland of North America Inc.
- TUV SUD PSB Pte Ltd
- Twilio, Inc.
- U.S. Cellular
- UL Verification Service Inc.
- United Smart Tech
- Verizon
- Verkotan OY
- WE Certification Oy
- Wireless Research Center of North Carolina
- Zebra Technologies
Our Team
Karen Harshfield Castro
Manager, Certification Program Operations
Will Colbert
Director, Certification Program Management
Marin Galvin
Director, Strategic Industry Programs
Michelle James
Vice President, Strategic Industry Programs
Will Lightfoot
Assistant Vice President, Certification Program Operations
Mark Sargent
Vice President, Certification Programs
Sean Wang
Director, Certification Programs
Have Questions?
We welcome new opportunities for collaboration, which has always helped us solve problems, establish best practices, and set the gold standard for the wireless industry. Please reach out if you would like to participate in a working group or have other questions!