September 2026: Key Standard Updates in Telecommunications and AV Engineering

Five important new standards have been published in September 2026 for the telecommunications and audio/video engineering sector. Covering advanced requirements for cable performance, electromagnetic compatibility, and telecontrol communication, these standards bring the latest technical insights and implementation guidance to an industry under constant pressure to innovate and ensure interoperability. Professionals responsible for design, compliance, systems integration, and quality assurance should take note, as these updates signal significant changes for cable systems, test methods, and communication protocol adoption across a wide range of applications.

Overview / Introduction

Telecommunications and audio/video engineering are at the heart of today's connected world, enabling reliable information transmission in critical infrastructures, commercial networks, and consumer applications. International standards underpin the integrity, safety, and interoperability of systems spanning from broadband TV distribution to smart grid automation. This September 2026 update introduces five newly published standards covering metallic cable testing, coaxial drop cable requirements, and essential conformance test cases and integration guidelines for telecontrol and automation protocols. This article will help professionals understand the scope, requirements, and practical impacts of each standard, and offer guidance on compliance and technical adoption.

Detailed Standards Coverage

IEC 62153-4-17:2018 - Electromagnetic Compatibility Testing for Metallic Cables

Metallic cables and other passive components - Test methods - Part 4-17: Electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) - Reduction Factor

Scope & Applications: This international standard specifies a test method for assessing the reduction factor of multi-element metallic screened cables used in analogue and digital communication and control. The reduction factor is a key metric of how effectively a cable's screen suppresses electromagnetic interference (EMI) at frequencies below 1 kHz, which is critical in environments exposed to electrical power or railway signal interference.

Key Requirements & Specifications:

• Applicable to all screened metallic cables for analogue and digital signal transmission.
• Establishes the reduction factor as the voltage ratio between screened and unscreened cable configurations in a specified current loop arrangement.
• Detailed procedures for preparing cable samples, test setup, equipment calibration, and the conduction of measurements under controlled conditions.
• Test results must be expressed as per defined ratios, with strict accuracy margins (within 5% + 0.01 of the measured value).
• Amendment 1 (2026) introduces the use of frequency-selective filters in test equipment, providing flexibility over fully sinusoidal inputs.

Target Audience: Designers, manufacturers, and testers of metallic communication and control cables—especially for industries exposed to strong EMI such as rail, industrial automation, and power utilities.

Implementation Implications: Ensures robust cable screening evaluation, helping organizations reduce the risk of EMI-induced failures in critical applications. The method supports both type testing and routine quality assurance.

Key highlights:

• Defines comprehensive reduction factor test methodology for screened cables.
• Permits use of filters for greater flexibility in test equipment.
• Delivers reliable EMI performance data for compliance and procurement.

Access the full standard:View IEC 62153-4-17:2018 on iTeh Standards

EN 50117-9-1:2026 - Requirements for Coaxial Indoor Drop Cables (5 MHz to 1,000 MHz)

Coaxial cables - Part 9-1: Sectional specification for coaxial cables for analogue and digital signal transmission - Indoor drop cables for systems operating at 5 MHz - 1 000 MHz

Scope & Applications: This European standard applies to coaxial cables used for connecting subscriber taps or splitters to outlets within cable television, cable broadband, and interactive service networks, covering frequencies from 5 MHz to 1,000 MHz. The primary focus is on indoor drop cables transmitting both analogue and digital signals within CATV, MATV, and SMATV systems.

Key Requirements & Specifications:

• Specifies cable construction, design, installation, and labelling for indoor drop cables.
• Mandates test methods and requirements for electrical performance (e.g., attenuation, impedance), mechanical properties (tensile, crush resistance), and environmental robustness (temperature, moisture, UV, chemical resistance).
• Incorporates fire performance classifications per EN 13501-6 and compliance with REACH, RoHS, and CPR requirements.
• Revises requirements for cable components and test procedures to reflect the latest industry practices and regulatory developments.

Target Audience: Cable network operators, communication system integrators, cable manufacturers, and installers working with in-building coaxial connectivity for TV, broadband, and interactive multimedia.

Implementation Implications: Adopting this standard ensures compliance with safety regulations and consistent high-performance signal delivery, reducing troubleshooting and future upgrades.

Key highlights:

• Defines detailed construction, test, and marking requirements.
• Updated to match evolving regulations and technology standards.
• Facilitates reliable, certified cable installations for broadband and AV networks.

Access the full standard:View EN 50117-9-1:2026 on iTeh Standards

IEC TS 60870-5-601:2015 - Conformance Test Cases for IEC 60870-5-101 Protocol

Telecontrol equipment and systems - Part 5-601: Transmission protocols - Conformance test cases for the IEC 60870-5-101 companion standard

Scope & Applications: IEC TS 60870-5-601 provides standardized conformance test cases for telecontrol equipment, Substation Automation Systems (SAS), and associated front-end functions in Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) systems, specifically for IEC 60870-5-101 implementations. It is critical for achieving interoperability and robust integration across manufacturers in power grid management, automation, and similar sectors.

Key Requirements & Specifications:

• Delivers comprehensive, unambiguous evaluation of protocol conformance to IEC 60870-5-101:2003.
• Describes test configuration, parameterization, and validation steps for physical, link, and application layers.
• Introduces resolved ambiguities and negative test cases to avoid acceptance of non-compliant devices.
• Covers mandatory/optional tests for application functions, addressing, file transfer, command processing, redundancy, clock sync, and more.

Target Audience: Vendors, systems integrators, and utility operators implementing or verifying telecontrol and SCADA systems based on IEC 60870-5-101.

Implementation Implications: Standardization of protocol conformance testing leads to improved product selection, streamlined procurement, and fewer integration errors—directly benefiting operational continuity in critical infrastructures.

Key highlights:

• Updated and optimized conformance tests for 60870-5-101 protocol devices.
• Expanded coverage with negative test cases to ensure rigorous compliance.
• Facilitates cross-vendor interoperability in utility SCADA systems.

Access the full standard:View IEC TS 60870-5-601:2015 on iTeh Standards

IEC TS 60870-5-604:2016 - Conformance Test Cases for IEC 60870-5-104 Protocol

Telecontrol equipment and systems - Part 5-604: Conformance test cases for the IEC 60870-5-104 companion standard

Scope & Applications: This Technical Specification provides a test suite and guidelines for verifying conformance of telecontrol and SCADA devices using IEC 60870-5-104—the TCP/IP-based protocol companion in the 60870 series. The standard applies to SAS, front-end SCADA devices, and protocol testers seeking to ensure interoperable, robust communication essential for smart grid, remote monitoring, and process automation.

Key Requirements & Specifications:

• Details conformance test cases for all protocol layers and functions in IEC 60870-5-104, including negative cases and redundancy.
• Refined test cases and expanded coverage in response to ambiguities found in prior editions.
• Procedures cover a full range of device capabilities—general interrogation, event acquisition, command transfer, cyclical and event-based data exchange.
• Facilitates harmonized product validation and cybersecurity resilience by identifying protocol deviations early in development or procurement.

Target Audience: Equipment manufacturers, integrators, utilities, and test labs implementing or validating 60870-5-104-based devices and systems.

Implementation Implications: Deploying devices certified under this standardized test suite ensures long-term system robustness, interoperable expansion, and regulatory confidence, particularly in increasingly digitalized utility sectors.

Key highlights:

• Comprehensive, up-to-date protocol test suite for 60870-5-104.
• Includes negative, edge, and tolerance tests, supporting device hardening.
• Streamlines compliance and market entry for SCADA vendors.

Access the full standard:View IEC TS 60870-5-604:2016 on iTeh Standards

IEC TS 61850-80-6:2026 - Using IEC 61850 for Power Utility Automation Communication

Communication networks and systems for power utility automation - Part 80-6: Using IEC 61850 for communication between power system automation equipment and control or maintenance centres

Scope & Applications: IEC TS 61850-80-6 offers comprehensive guidance for information exchange between power system automation equipment and centralized control or maintenance centers leveraging IEC 61850 protocols. The standard lays out architectures, engineering workflows, use cases, and security considerations necessary to deploy reliable, scalable, and secure communications in advanced smart grid and substation environments.

Key Requirements & Specifications:

• Defines communication use cases and technical requirements for connectivity between automation devices and control/maintenance centers.
• Provides guidelines for configuration using IEC 61850-6 and integration of Proxy/Gateway components.
• Details options for service selection, communication modeling, and engineering workflows—including tools to model redundancy, availability, and security based on IEC TS 62351 references.
• Covers abstract conformance test cases foundational for future device certification.
• Addresses security by referencing authentication, message integrity, redundancy, and information availability, while deferring specific cyber provisions to related standards.

Target Audience: Power utility engineers, SCADA/EMS/DMS architects, automation system designers, vendors, and certification bodies involved with IEC 61850-based system deployments.

Implementation Implications: Adhering to this guidance improves system flexibility, availability, and cyber resilience—streamlining project workflows and supporting regulatory and operational best practices.

Key highlights:

• Holistic approach to IEC 61850-based communication—beyond device-to-device.
• Incorporates modern cybersecurity and redundancy concepts for critical systems.
• Establishes groundwork for multi-vendor, future-proof smart grid solutions.

Access the full standard:View IEC TS 61850-80-6:2026 on iTeh Standards

Industry Impact & Compliance

These new standards are critical in supporting businesses as the telecommunications and audio/video engineering sectors advance toward higher speeds, greater system interoperability, and more rigorous performance and cybersecurity requirements. Implementing these specifications enables:

• Reliable interoperability between devices from multiple manufacturers.
• Stronger electromagnetic compatibility and signal integrity across networks.
• Reduced operational risks, outages, and troubleshooting costs.
• Easier regulatory compliance (e.g., fire safety, cyber resilience, EMC regulations).
• Streamlined procurement and acceptance testing based on unified test criteria.

Compliance Considerations:

• Transition periods are typically specified; early adoption is recommended for future-proofing.
• Certification and test documentation based on these standards strengthen market standing and regulatory acceptance.
• Non-compliance may result in increased failures, interoperability issues, or rejection in bidding processes, particularly in markets mandating international standards conformance.

Technical Insights

The reviewed standards collectively introduce several unifying technical trends:

• Rigorous Test Methodologies: Both cable-focused and protocol-focused standards insist on tightly specified test methods, acceptance criteria, tolerances, and data analysis approaches.
• Emphasis on Interoperability: Robust conformance and negative test cases for protocols ensure detection of deviations that can disrupt cross-vendor deployments.
• Comprehensive Construction & Environment Criteria: For cables, detailed material, mechanical, and environmental test requirements ensure reliability and extended service life.
• Security, Availability, and Redundancy: Especially in IEC TS 61850-80-6, security and redundancy are treated as key architectural design goals and not only as compliance checkboxes.

Best Practices for Implementation:

1. Stay current with applicable standards and their referenced documents.
2. Integrate testing and compliance reviews from early development through deployment.
3. Use certified or pre-tested components where available to minimize risk.
4. Ensure all staff and supply chain partners are informed of evolving requirements.
5. Maintain robust documentation for audit and certification processes.

Conclusion / Next Steps

September 2026 marks a pivotal update cycle for telecommunications and audio/video engineering international standards. With five essential standards introduced in this first part (and more to follow), industry practitioners have access to the latest frameworks for cable performance, EMC, and both protocol and system interoperability.

Key Takeaways:

• Early adoption offers reduced operational risk and better long-term cost efficiency.
• Engage in regular standards training/briefings for technical and compliance teams.
• Leverage the iTeh Standards platform to explore full texts and maintain ongoing awareness of updates.

Recommendations:

• Review your current compliance and testing practices against these new standards.
• Assess your suppliers and partners’ adherence to updated specifications.
• Plan budget and resources for timely adoption, certification, and continuous improvement.

Stay ahead in the telecommunications and audio/video engineering sectors—explore these new standards now and ensure your organization remains compliant and competitive.