{"id":"F2025L00395","name":"Telecommunications (Requirements for Customer Cabling Products – AS/CA S008) Technical Standard 2025","slug":"telecommunications-requirements-for-customer-cabling-products-as-ca-s008-technical-standard-2025","collection":"legislative_instrument","jurisdiction":"commonwealth","status":"in_force","isInForce":true,"actNumber":null,"makingDate":null,"administeringDepartment":null,"currentVersion":{"id":106209,"registerId":"commonwealth-F2025L00395-current","compilationNumber":null,"startDate":"2026-04-03","status":"InForce","reasons":null,"registeredAt":null},"sections":[{"sectionNumber":"1","sectionType":"section","heading":"Telecommunications (Requirements for Customer Cabling Products – AS/CA S008) Technical Standard 2025","content":"![Commonwealth of Australia coat of arms](image.001.png)\n\nTelecommunications (Requirements for Customer Cabling Products – AS/CA S008) Technical Standard 2025\n\nThe Australian Communications and Media Authority makes the following technical standard under subsection 376(1) of the Telecommunications Act 1997.\n\nDated: 20 March 2025\n\nAdam Suckling\n\n\\[signed\\]\n\nMember\n\nMichael Brealey\n\n\\[signed\\]\n\nGeneral Manager\n\nAustralian Communications and Media Authority  \n\nPart 1 – Preliminary\n\n1 Name\n\n(1) This technical standard is the Telecommunications (Requirements for Customer Cabling Products – AS/CA S008) Technical Standard 2025.\n\n(2) This technical standard may also be cited as AS/CA S008-2025.\n\n2 Commencement\n\nThis technical standard commences on 30 March 2025.\n\n> Note: This technical standard is registered on the Federal Register of Legislation which may be accessed free of charge at www.legislation.gov.au.\n\n3 Authority\n\nThis technical standard is made under subsection 376(1) of the Telecommunications Act 1997.\n\n4 Repeal of the Telecommunications Technical Standard (Requirements for customer cabling products – AS/CA S008) 2015\n\nThe Telecommunications Technical Standard (Requirements for customer cabling products – AS/CA S008) 2015 (F2015L00182) is repealed.\n\n5 Objects\n\nThe objects of this technical standard are to specify requirements that are necessary or convenient for:\n\n(a) protecting the integrity of a telecommunications network or a facility;\n\n(b) protecting the health or safety of persons who:\n\n(i) operate;\n\n(ii) work on;\n\n(iii) use services supplied by means of; or\n\n(iv) are otherwise reasonably likely to be affected by the operation of;\n\na telecommunications network or a facility;\n\n(c) ensuring that customer equipment can be used to give access to an emergency call service; and\n\n(d) ensuring, for the purposes of the supply of a standard telephone service, the interoperability of customer equipment with a telecommunications network to which the equipment is, or is proposed to be, connected.\n\nPart 2 – Interpretation\n\n6 Definitions\n\nIn this technical standard:\n\n> ACMA transition period has the meaning given by section 8.\n\n> Act means the Telecommunications Act 1997.\n\namendment instrument in relation to the AS/CA Standard means an instrument published by Communications Alliance Ltd that amends the AS/CA Standard.\n\n> AS/CA Standard means the AS/CA S008:2020 – Requirements for customer cabling products published by Communications Alliance Ltd in August 2020.\n\n> Note: The AS/CA Standard can be accessed free of charge on Communications Alliance Ltd’s website at http://www.commsalliance.com.au.\n\n> AS/CA transition period, for an amendment or the replacement of the AS/CA Standard, has the meaning given by section 9.\n\ncustomer cabling product means a passive device (including any cable or connecting hardware) that is used, or is to be used, on the customer side of the boundary of a telecommunications network, but does not include:\n\n1.  a cabling product used primarily for the distribution of AC mains supply;\n2.  a product used for telecommunications earthing systems or telecommunications power distribution; or\n3.  a surge suppression device.\n\ndate a modified item is made has the meaning given by section 11.\n\nincluded in a class of items has the meaning given by section 10.\n\nitem means a thing that is customer equipment or customer cabling to which this technical standard applies, as provided by section 12, and includes a modified item.\n\nmodified item means an item that has been modified, by or on behalf of the manufacturer or importer of the item, after the item was manufactured or imported and, for the avoidance of doubt, is the item as modified.\n\n    original item has the meaning given by subsection 10(1).\n    original modified item has the meaning given by subsection 10(2).\n    replacement standard, in relation to the AS/CA Standard, means a standard published by Communications Alliance Ltd that replaces the AS/CA Standard.\n\n> Note: A number of expressions used in this instrument have the same meaning as in the Act, including:\n\n> Note: customer cabling (see sections 7 and 20);\n\n> Note: customer equipment (see sections 7 and 21);\n\n> Note: emergency call service (see section 7);\n\n> Note: facility (see section 7 and subsection 374(2));\n\n> Note: import (see section 7);\n\n> Note: manufacturer or importer of customer equipment or customer cabling (see section 406A);\n\n> Note: standard telephone service (see section 7);\n\n> Note: telecommunications network (see section 7 and subsection 374(1)).\n\n7 References to other legislative instruments\n\n  In this technical standard, unless the contrary intention appears, a reference to any other legislative instrument is a reference to that other legislative instrument as in force from time to time.\n\n> Note: For references to Commonwealth Acts, see section 10 of the Acts Interpretation Act 1901; and see also subsection 13(1) of the Legislation Act 2003 for the application of the Acts Interpretation Act 1901 to legislative instruments. All Commonwealth Acts and legislative instruments are registered on the Federal Register of Legislation. The Federal Register of Legislation may be accessed free of charge at www.legislation.gov.au.\n\n8 ACMA transition period\n\nIn this technical standard, if the AS/CA Standard is amended or replaced, there is an ACMA transition period, being:\n\n(a) in a case where there is an AS/CA transition period for the amendment or replacement of the AS/CA Standard – a period that is the same as the AS/CA transition period; or\n\n(b) in any other case – a period of two years commencing on the day the AS/CA Standard is amended or replaced.\n\n> Note 1: See subsections 14(3) and 15(5) in relation to an ACMA transition period.\n\n> Note 2: If the AS/CA Standard is amended or replaced during an ACMA transition period, there is another ACMA transition period which overlaps with the first-mentioned transition period. See subsections 14(4) and 15(6) in relation to overlapping ACMA transition periods.\n\n9 AS/CA transition period\n\n(1) If:\n\n1.  an amendment instrument or a replacement standard determines arrangements to deal with any issues of a transitional nature that may arise as a result of the amendment or replacement of the AS/CA Standard;\n2.  the arrangements are for a specified period commencing on the day the AS/CA Standard is amended or replaced; and\n3.  the arrangements have the effect of allowing a relevant item to comply with:\n\n> (i) the AS/CA Standard as in force immediately before the commencement of the specified period; or\n\n> (ii) the AS/CA Standard, or the replacement standard, as in force at the commencement of the specified period;\n\nthe specified period is an AS/CA transition period for the amendment or replacement of the AS/CA Standard, for the purposes of section 8.\n\n(2) For the purposes of subsection (1), each of the following is a relevant item:\n\n(a) an item that is manufactured in Australia or imported during the specified period;\n\n(b) a modified item that is made in Australia or imported during the specified period.\n\n10 Class of items\n\n(1) In this technical standard:\n\n> (a) an item (other than a modified item) is included in a class of items if the item:\n\n> (i) is identical to each other item of the class (irrespective of when the items were manufactured or imported); and\n\n> (ii) has the same manufacturer or importer as each other item; and\n\n> (b) the original item, in relation to the class of items, is the item of the class that was the first to be manufactured in Australia or imported.\n\n(2) In this technical standard:\n\n> (a) a modified item is included in a class of items if:\n\n> (i) the modification which resulted in that item is identical to the modification which resulted in each other item of the class (irrespective of when the items were so modified);\n\n> (ii) the modified item is, in all other respects, identical to each other item (irrespective of when the items were manufactured or imported); and\n\n> (iii) the modified item has the same manufacturer or importer as each other item; and\n\n> (b) the original modified item, in relation to the class of items, is the item of the class that was the first to be so modified in Australia.\n\n11 Date a modified item is made\n\nIn this technical standard, a reference to the date a modified item is made is a reference to the date of making of the modification which results in that item.\n\nPart 3 – Application and requirements\n\n12 Application\n\nThis technical standard applies to customer cabling products.\n\nNote 1: See the definition of customer cabling products in section 6.\n\nNote 2: In this technical standard, a reference to a telecommunications network is a reference to a telecommunications network in Australia that is operated by a carrier or carriage service provider (see section 7 and subsection 374(1) of the Act).\n\n13 Requirements\n\n(1) An item (other than a modified item) must meet the requirements of subsection 14(1), (2), (3) or (4).\n\n(2) A modified item must meet the requirements of subsection 15(1), (2), (3), (5) or (6).\n\n14 Standard for items (other than modified items)\n\n1.  If an item complies with the AS/CA Standard as in force on the date the item is manufactured in Australia or imported, the item meets the requirements of this subsection.\n2.  If an item:\n\n1.  is included in a class of items; and\n2.  complies with the AS/CA Standard as in force on the date the original item of the class was manufactured in Australia or imported;\n\nthe first-mentioned item meets the requirements of this subsection.\n\n1.  If an item:\n\n1.  is manufactured in Australia or imported during an ACMA transition period; and\n2.  complies with:\n\n1.  the AS/CA Standard as in force immediately before the commencement of the transition period; or\n\n1.  the AS/CA Standard, or a replacement standard, as in force at the commencement of the transition period;\n\nthe item meets the requirements of this subsection.\n\n1.  If:\n\n1.  an ACMA transition period overlaps with another ACMA transition period;\n2.  an item is manufactured in Australia or imported during the period of overlap; and\n3.  the item complies with:\n\n1.  the AS/CA Standard as in force immediately before the commencement of the earliest of those transition periods; or\n2.  the AS/CA Standard, or a replacement standard, as in force at the commencement of any one of those transition periods;\n\nthe item meets the requirements of this subsection.\n\n15 Standard for modified items\n\n1.  If a modified item complies with the AS/CA Standard as in force on the date the modified item is made in Australia, the modified item meets the requirements of this subsection.\n2.  If a modified item:\n\n1.  is included in a class of items; and\n2.  complies with the AS/CA Standard as in force on the date the original modified item of the class was made in Australia;\n\nthe first-mentioned item meets the requirements of this subsection.\n\n(3) If:\n\n(a) a modified item would have been included in a class of items but for the making of the modification which resulted in that item; and\n\n(b) the modification is not material and, in particular, the modified item complies with the AS/CA Standard as in force on the date the original item of the class was made in Australia or imported;\n\nthe first-mentioned item meets the requirements of this subsection.\n\n(4) For the purposes of subsection (3), the modification is material if the modification would or could reasonably be expected to affect whether the modified item complies with the AS/CA Standard as in force on the date the original item of the class was made in Australia or imported.\n\n(5) If a modified item:\n\n1.  is made in Australia during an ACMA transition period; and\n2.  complies with:\n\n1.  the AS/CA Standard as in force immediately before the commencement of the transition period; or\n2.  the AS/CA Standard, or a replacement standard, as in force at the commencement of the transition period;\n\nthe modified item meets the requirements of this subsection.\n\n(6) If:\n\n1.  an ACMA transition period overlaps with another ACMA transition period;\n2.  a modified item is made in Australia during the period of overlap; and\n3.  the modified item complies with:\n\n1.  the AS/CA Standard as in force immediately before the commencement of the earliest of those transition periods; or\n2.  the AS/CA Standard, or a replacement standard, as in force at the commencement of any one of those transition periods;\n\nthe modified item meets the requirements of this subsection.\n\nPart 4 – Savings and transitional arrangements\n\n16 Items manufactured, imported or modified before commencement\n\n(1) If an item (other than a modified item):\n\n1.  was manufactured in Australia or imported before the commencement of this technical standard; and\n2.  complies with the Telecommunications Technical Standard (Requirements for customer cabling products – AS/CA S008) 2015 as in force immediately before the commencement of this technical standard;\n\nthe item is taken to comply with this technical standard.\n\n(2) If a modified item:\n\n1.  was made in Australia before the commencement of this technical standard; and\n2.  complies with the Telecommunications Technical Standard (Requirements for customer cabling products – AS/CA S008) 2015 as in force immediately before the commencement of this technical standard;\n\nthe modified item is taken to comply with this technical standard.","sortOrder":0}],"analysis":{"flash_summary_failed":{"failed":true,"reason":"A positive credit balance is required for all requests, including BYOK, so fallback providers remain available. Add credits at https://vercel.com/d?to=%2F%5Bteam%5D%2F%7E%2Fai%3Fmodal%3Dtop-up to continue.","source":"analysis-cron"},"kimi_summary":{"content_quality":"ok","complexity_score":6,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"The legislation maintains the same scope as its 2015 predecessor. It continues to regulate customer cabling products for the same purposes (network integrity, safety, emergency access, interoperability). The 2025 version updates the referenced industry standard and refines transition arrangements but does not expand the regulatory scope beyond the original intent."},"complexity_factors":["Multiple overlapping transition periods (ACMA transition period vs AS/CA transition period) with nested conditions in sections 8-9 and 14-15","Complex class-based compliance system allowing 'original item' dating for identical products (sections 10, 14(2), 15(2))","Modified items treated separately from original items with distinct compliance pathways (sections 11, 15)","Materiality test for modifications with conditional exception (section 15(3)-(4))","Cross-references to external industry standard (AS/CA S008:2020) not contained in the instrument itself","Overlapping transition period logic requiring comparison of 'earliest' transition period (sections 14(4) and 15(6))","Savings provisions for pre-commencement items requiring reference to repealed 2015 standard (section 16)"],"plain_english_summary":"This law updates Australia’s technical rules for customer cabling (phone, network and connecting hardware), requiring compliance with the industry standard AS/CA S008 from 30 March 2025. It affects manufacturers, importers and businesses that modify cabling, and includes a two‑year transition when either the old or new standard may be used; products meeting the 2015 rules remain grandfathered.\n\nIt matters because enforcing the standard protects networks, public safety and emergency-call reliability by keeping poor or incompatible cabling off the market."},"flash_summary":{"complexity_score":6,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"The technical standard maintains the same subject‑matter coverage as the repealed 2015 standard: passive customer cabling products used on the customer side of the network boundary, with the same listed exclusions (see repeal in section 4; definition and exclusions in section 6; application in section 12). Mechanically it updates which AS/CA S008 edition applies and adds detailed ACMA transition rules (sections 8–9 and 14–15). While future Communications Alliance amendment or replacement standards could alter substantive scope, this instrument itself does not expand the covered categories; it chiefly updates the reference standard and transitional arrangements (see section 6 on amendment instruments)."},"complexity_factors":["Dependence on an external industry standard (AS/CA S008:2020) and on future amendment or replacement standards published by Communications Alliance Ltd (definitions and notes in section 6).","Detailed transitional arrangements and dual-layer transition periods (AS/CA transition period and ACMA transition period) creating overlapping windows for compliance (sections 8 and 9; subsections 14(3)–(4) and 15(5)–(6)).","Classification rules for 'classes of items' that tie compliance of later-manufactured/imported items to the original item or original modified item (section 10; subsections 14(2) and 15(2)–(3)).","Separate and parallel requirements for new items and modified items with a materiality test for modifications that could affect standard compliance (sections 11 and 15(3)–(4)).","Savings and transitional recognition of items compliant with the 2015 standard (section 16) — requires cross-checking historic compliance records.","Interplay with statutory definitions and provisions in the Telecommunications Act 1997 (section 6 notes and section 7 references), which requires reference to external statutory meanings for terms like 'customer cabling', 'import' and 'manufacturer'.","Specific exclusions from scope for certain products (AC mains distribution, telecommunications earthing/power distribution, surge suppression) which require careful eligibility assessment (definition of 'customer cabling product' in section 6).","Compliance enforcement and who bears costs is concentrated on manufacturers, importers and modifiers (application and requirements in sections 12–15), creating administrative and testing burdens for industry participants."],"plain_english_summary":"This instrument replaces the 2015 customer‑cabling technical standard and requires passive customer cabling products to comply with the AS/CA S008 standard and the technical standard’s transitional rules. It applies to manufacturers, importers and parties who modify cabling products and sets compliance, classification and transition tests intended to protect network integrity, health and safety, emergency calling access and interoperability."}},"importantCases":[],"_links":{"self":"/api/acts/telecommunications-requirements-for-customer-cabling-products-as-ca-s008-technical-standard-2025","history":"/api/acts/telecommunications-requirements-for-customer-cabling-products-as-ca-s008-technical-standard-2025/history","analysis":"/api/acts/telecommunications-requirements-for-customer-cabling-products-as-ca-s008-technical-standard-2025/analysis","conflicts":"/api/acts/telecommunications-requirements-for-customer-cabling-products-as-ca-s008-technical-standard-2025/conflicts","importantCases":"/api/acts/telecommunications-requirements-for-customer-cabling-products-as-ca-s008-technical-standard-2025/important-cases","documents":"/api/acts/telecommunications-requirements-for-customer-cabling-products-as-ca-s008-technical-standard-2025/documents"}}