Brazil intends on mandating USB-C

• Brazil’s wireless regulator Anatel is polling the population on whether or not Brazil should adopt USB-C for all electronics.
• Starting in 2024, all small and medium-sized electronics, including smartphones, must support the standard connector.
• The agency touts the same benefits as the EU and US: e-waste reduction and customer ease.

The EU has already agreed that starting in 2024, all small and medium-sized electronics—importantly, including smartphones—must support USB-C.

Now that some US legislators want to implement a similar scheme, Brazil’s wireless regulator is polling the population to see whether it should do the same.

Brazil’s enterprises and citizens have until August 26 to express their opinions in response to Anatel’s Public Consultation 45/2022.

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Anatel’s proposal solely pertains to cellphones, unlike the new EU regulations, which also encompass tablets, portable gaming systems, headphones, speakers, e-book readers, and other comparable equipment.

In addition to the connector, the government also aims to standardize the charging protocol.

Additionally, the retail packaging and manual must state if rapid charging is supported and the minimal power needed.

It’s interesting to note that the goal is to just require USB-C for phones that enable wired charging, leaving room for phones that solely support wireless charging.

Of course, all of this is directed at Apple, as other smartphone manufacturers have already adopted USB-C. According to reports, Apple has already begun testing iPhones with Type C ports.

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Such a measure has already been taken into consideration. For instance, Anatel made a recommendation in 2019 outlining the specifications for a standard charger.

The agency touts the same benefits as the EU and US: e-waste reduction while enhancing customer ease.

The same worry—that USB-C will hinder innovation—was also raised. The USB-C connector’s capacity has not yet been reached by contemporary smartphones. It can operate an 8K monitor and sustain up to 240W of charging.

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Additionally, the EU stated that it is prepared to adopt a new, higher norm when the time comes (it was previously pushing micro-USB as the common standard, so it has done in once already).