Telecommunications Standards: October 2025 Monthly Overview

Looking back at October 2025, the Telecommunications, Audio and Video Engineering sector witnessed a notable range of new and revised standards published to address pressing industry needs in infrastructure, device testing, and electromagnetic compatibility. This month, five key standards came into effect—spanning advancements in fibre management systems, updated methodologies for portable multimedia device evaluation, and critical revisions to power quality measurement for EMC compliance. For industry professionals, compliance officers, engineers, and technology managers, this overview consolidates the most impactful publications from the period, distilling core technical requirements, industry implications, and practical strategies for implementation. Whether you are tasked with design, procurement, quality assurance, or regulatory adherence, this summary provides the analytical insight necessary to navigate October's updates and to align organizational practices with the latest in international best practices.

Monthly Overview: October 2025

October 2025 proved to be a significant month for the Telecommunications, Audio and Video Engineering field. The sector saw a converging focus on infrastructure robustness, the integration of advanced user devices, and an elevated emphasis on performance verification. Bright spots in standardization included:

• Enhanced specifications for fibre management and protection systems—explicitly targeting high-density, resilient deployments.
• Formalization of battery duration measurement for wearable multimedia devices, reflecting the surging demand for portable and body-worn audio solutions.
• Thorough revision and clarification of power quality measurement practices for electromagnetic compatibility, reflecting both technological evolution and adoption of harmonized international procedures.

Compared with previous months, the balance of infrastructure and device-centric standards published in October marks a broader shift towards converged, performance-driven network and equipment environments. This cluster of releases reflects the industry's response to the rapid proliferation of optical networks, growing consumer reliance on untethered devices, and the persistent necessity for high-assurance EMC compliance in increasingly complex operating contexts. Engineering teams are encouraged to review these updated requirements holistically, as many of the new specifications reference or harmonize with prior frameworks while introducing substantial new technical detail.

Standards Published This Month

EN 50411-3-1:2025 - Fibre Management Systems and Protective Housings for Optical Fibre Communication

Fibre management systems and protective housings to be used in optical fibre communication systems - Product specifications - Part 3-1: Wall or pole mounted box for splices, for category C and A

EN 50411-3-1:2025 was released as the definitive European product standard for wall or pole-mounted optical fibre splice boxes, supporting both controlled indoor (Category C) and aerial (outdoor above ground, Category A) environments. Designed for installations with up to 288 fibre splices, the standard thoroughly details dimensional, mechanical, optical, and environmental requirements, ensuring robust performance in diverse service conditions.

Major focus areas include:

• Dimensional and configuration requirements for up to seven box sizes, supporting a variety of fibre separation and splice tray configurations.
• Comprehensive testing protocols for mechanical sealing, environmental exposure (temperature cycling, ingress protection to EN 60529), and long-term operational reliability.
• Specification of allowed fibre and cable types—covering all EN IEC 60793 series single-mode and multimode fibres, as well as compatible cables—enabling deployment flexibility.
• Requirements for quality assurance processes, referencing recognized reliability assessment and manufacturing consistency programs to ensure product dependability over a 20-year service life.
• Updated test and performance acceptance criteria harmonized with EN IEC 61753-1:2018, and alignment with related European standards for street cabinets and internal box connectivity.

Key highlights:

• Enables installation in both indoor and harsh outdoor environments
• Reduced box size variant complexity; improved test protocols
• Up to 288 fibre splice capacity, supporting modern high-density deployments

Access the full standard:View EN 50411-3-1:2025 on iTeh Standards

IEC 63296-3:2025 - Battery Duration Testing for Wearable Powered Loudspeaker Equipment

Portable multimedia equipment - Determination of battery duration - Part 3: Wearable powered loudspeaker equipment

IEC 63296-3:2025 standardizes the methodology for measuring battery duration in wearable powered loudspeaker equipment, such as shoulder-carried or body-worn speakers. Recognizing the proliferation of wearable consumer audio devices, the standard provides:

• Clear definitions for battery duration under specified energetic conditions—specifically, continuous playback at a defined sound pressure level.
• Requirements for test set-up using head and torso simulators (HATS) to reproduce real-world acoustical environments. Only devices that can be worn (excluding bone conduction types) are included.
• Scope exclusion for devices where video playback is a main feature, maintaining focus on pure audio applications.
• Detailed protocols for standardizing environmental and operational variables (such as test signals, background noise level, battery requirements, and measurement instrumentation), ensuring repeatability and comparability of test results across manufacturers.

This document brings notable consistency to performance measurement, facilitating product benchmarking and helping manufacturers and purchasers establish realistic, standardized claims for device endurance in typical use-cases.

Key highlights:

• Standardizes battery duration measurement for wearable speakers
• Ensures testing under controlled, real-world correlated acoustical conditions
• Supports harmonization with international audio equipment measurement practices

Access the full standard:View IEC 63296-3:2025 on iTeh Standards

IEC 61000-4-30:2025 - EMC Testing & Measurement Techniques for Power Quality

Electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) - Part 4-30: Testing and measurement techniques - Power quality measurement methods

IEC 61000-4-30:2025 delivers a substantial overhaul to the internationally-recognized framework for power quality measurement in AC power systems. The fourth edition incorporates technical amendments and clarifications, including:

• Expanded and updated measurement methods for key power quality parameters: supply frequency, voltage, flicker, dips/surges, rapid voltage changes, interruptions, transient voltages, unbalance, and harmonics/interharmonics.
• Introduction and separation of measurement classes (“A” for advanced measurement and “S” for surveys), each with defined application scenarios and permissible error tolerances.
• Reorganization of conducted emission measurement methods in the 2 kHz–9 kHz and 9 kHz–150 kHz bands. Annex C and new Annex D define detailed procedures for these increasingly relevant high-frequency disturbances.
• Removal of irrelevant or outdated sections (such as Annex D for under/over deviation parameters and Annex E for Class B), reflecting evolving system requirements and simplifying user navigation.
• Emphasis on in-situ (on-site) measurement reliability, repeatability, and comparability—key for applications in utility power quality management, infrastructure certification, and contractual compliance.

Organizations using or procuring measurement equipment, or responsible for EMC compliance, should carefully review this new edition for updates that affect test practices, interpretation of results, and contractual obligations.

Key highlights:

• Thorough update of measurement procedures and error limits
• Division and refinement of conducted emission testing methods
• Removal of legacy material for tighter compliance focus

Access the full standard:View IEC 61000-4-30:2025 on iTeh Standards

Common Themes and Industry Trends

A holistic view of October’s publications in Telecommunications, Audio and Video Engineering reveals several overarching trends:

• Infrastructure Modernization: Updates to fibre management products and test criteria position networks for higher capacity, physical durability, and long-term maintenance predictability—vital as gigabit broadband and 5G rollouts accelerate.
• Portable Device Standardization: Explicit test methodologies for battery-powered, wearable audio devices address the needs of both manufacturers and end-users seeking fair comparison and credible product endurance claims. This standard also harmonizes regional market practices, reducing barriers to global distribution.
• EMC and Power Quality Evolution: The latest revisions to EMC power quality measurement standards reflect the sector’s migration to denser, more electronically complex networks. Measurement precision and harmonized criteria underpin both technical certification and regulatory compliance in the present electrical environment.

Critically, these standards do not stand in isolation but instead build upon the foundation of previous releases and evolving best practices in adjacent sectors (data centers, smart buildings, consumer electronics). Their alignment with international norms ensures cross-border functional and regulatory consistency.

Compliance and Implementation Considerations

For organizations affected by these standards, several practical steps are recommended:

1. Gap Analysis: Begin by reviewing your current product specifications, test procedures, and compliance documentation against the new/updated requirements set out in these publications.
2. Training and Awareness: Engage engineering, testing, and quality assurance teams with targeted training on updated methodologies, especially for in-situ measurement, high-frequency emission testing, and robust power and battery test set-ups.
3. Update Procurement Specifications: Ensure that component and system procurements (especially fibre management enclosures, wearable device test benches, and EMC analyzers) reference the latest standard editions.
4. Documentation and Recordkeeping: Maintain thorough compliance records, as many of these standards place explicit requirements on testing, result reporting, and reliability assurance.
5. Implementation Timeline: Note the sunset dates for prior standard editions (e.g., EN 50411-3-1:2012 is now withdrawn) and ensure products in development or service transition to the new requirements during the allowed period.
6. Resource Access: Leverage iTeh Standards’ resources and community to access authoritative versions, stay aware of corrigenda/amendments, and receive updates on applicability or further revisions.

Conclusion: Key Takeaways from October 2025

October 2025’s standardization activity in Telecommunications, Audio and Video Engineering reflected the sector’s ongoing evolution towards secure, high-performance, and customer-centric technologies. The following are particularly noteworthy:

• Publication of EN 50411-3-1:2025 brings infrastructure robustness and clarity, necessary for expanding optical access networks and supporting future urban deployments.
• IEC 63296-3:2025 fills a market need for transparent, reproducible performance testing of wearable audio devices—empowering both suppliers and users with credible product information.
• IEC 61000-4-30:2025 consolidates and refines the power quality measurement landscape, supporting reliable EMC compliance and interoperability across advanced networks and installations.

Industry professionals are encouraged to engage with these standards actively, updating processes, equipment, and compliance strategies as required. The continued pace and scale of standardization in this sector reinforce the need for systematic professional development and proactive standards management.

For further analysis, updates, and access to full-text standards, professionals should make use of iTeh Standards—a comprehensive platform supporting updated knowledge and implementation best practices for the global standards community.