Pre 1987

Known as the Telecom Australia Regulatory Test Centre. Provided the testing service for Terminal, Data and PABX equipment so Telecom Australia Approvals could be granted.

1987

The Telecom Regulatory Test Centre was renamed Comtest and became accredited as an AUSTEL Test House for Telephony Products, AUSTEL was the newly formed Government Regulator for Telecommunications. Comtest was accredited to all the relevant AUSTEL standards for Telephony Products, this included Transmission, Protocol and the Safety standards.

1990

Comtest vacated the Telecom Exhibition Exchange and relocated at 32 Lincoln Square North in Carlton, Melbourne Victoria the new premises provided greater space and enabled Comtest to expand their Telecommunications testing facilities. Comtest also used the facility at the exhibition model exchange for ISDN testing and the Telecom, Maidstone facility for cable testing.

1991

Comtest is accredited by NATA for all the relevant AUSTEL standards for Telephony Products, this included Transmission, Protocol and the safety standards.

1997

Comtest was privatized with most staff transitioning from Telstra to the new “Comtest Laboratories Pty Ltd”

Comtest Laboratories was structured under the management of Greg Caspar (Business Director) and Peter Arms (Technical Director)

Under the guidance of Peter Arms and Greg Caspar, Comtest Laboratories was expanded into new fields of safety, performance and efficiency testing.

Comtest maintained the lead in A-tick testing and was the only Australian Test House accredited for all technologies including xDSL and ISDN. Comtest also has a wide range of accreditations for Europe and New Zealand.

Comtest Laboratories relocated to the present address of 1/570 City Road, South Melbourne, Victoria. This move enabled an expansion in testing fields. Including the installation of a screened room and a high voltage laboratory.

1998

Comtest Management realizing the compliance and regulatory needs of their customers formed a subsidiary company “Compliance Folder Management Pty Ltd”. Comtest has a close relationship with ACMA and the state electrical regulators, these associations has assisted Comtest customers with compliance and approvals issues.

Comtest Laboratories was determined by AMCA (then ACA) as a Certification Body to assist industry in gaining access to the market for products that there is no Recognised Testing Authority e.g. Mobile Phones.

Comtest Laboratories is accredited by Telecom New Zealand Access Standards to most PTC standards including all the digital standards.

Comtest Laboratories is determined as a European Designated body for the Low Voltage Directive (LVD) and the Telecommunications Terminal Equipment Directive (TTE Directive).

2000

Comtest accredited as a CB Scheme Testing Laboratory (CBTL) covering the standards IEC 60950 and IEC 61010. This has enabled Comtest’s customers access to over 50 countries through the IECEE. It has also ensured Comtest has maintained the high level of technical competence as required by both NATA and the IECEE.

2006

Comtest acquires high voltage/current surge equipment to achieve accreditation to AS/NZS 4117  (Telecommunications surge protection devices) and the ability to test to the ITU-T K series of recommendations.

2007

Comtest Laboratories is the first Laboratory in Australia to be accredited to the energy efficiency standard AS/NZS 4665 (Performance of external power supplies).

Comtest Laboratories is approved by Telecom New Zealand Access Standards to test to the ADSL 2+ standard PTC 273.

2008

Comtest Laboratories accredited to AS/NZS 62301, Household electrical appliances - Measurement of standby power

Ongoing

Because of Comtest’s experienced staff, Comtest as an Industry Leader has always been involved with Standards development committees and industry forums for example Comtest has participated in the committees that developed the AUSTEL and then the ACIF standards and continues to do so.

Comtest Laboratories is a member of most industry groups including Standards Australia, Australian Industry Group (AIG) (formally AEEMA) and the Communication Alliance (formally ACIF). Comtest is also a founding member of ECTA, the Electrical Compliance Testing Association of which Peter Arms was President for 10 years.