OEMs, start your assembly lines as the European Commission (EC) has published its USB-C rules, and an official date for enforcement has been set for December 28, 2024.
When
the law comes into effect, any newly made radio equipment that can be charged with a wire, from smartphones and tablets to earbuds, mice and keyboards, will have to contain a USB-C port instead of an old micro USB port or one of Apple's Lightning ports.
The only exception to the law now on the books are laptops, which are being given until April 28, 2026, to comply with the rule. Devices that only charge wirelessly, like smartwatches, are exempt from the USB-C port requirements.
The EC first informed the world of its plans in
June of this year, when it said it had agreed to add a single-charging solution to planned Radio Equipment Directive amendments.
It justified the proposed change by saying it would reduce electronic waste and simplify device charging for consumers. Beyond requiring manufacturers to simplify their cable landscape, the European Parliament said the standard would also eliminate confusing and variable fast-charging speeds, as all USB-C cables delivered with equipment would be required to offer 100 watts of power delivery.
www.theregister.com
