The R&TTE Directive applied to "radio equipment" and "telecommunications terminal equipment" ("TTE"), where:

• Radio Equipment is a product capable of communication by emission or reception of radio waves.
  Sound and TV broadcast reception equipment is exempt, as is equipment used by radio amateurs and equipment covered by the Marine Equipment Directive.
  
• TTE is a product enabling communication and intended to be connected to the public telecommunications network.
  

This article will concentrate on Radio Equipment, which falls into two classes: Class 1 radio equipment may be placed on the market and put into service without restriction - equipment that operates in a frequency band which is harmonised across Europe.
Class 2 radio equipment is everything else - equipment that operates in a frequency band which is not harmonised across Europe.
The CE mark for Class 2 equipment must be accompanied by an "!" mark and the relevant EU radio spectrum authorities must be notified prior to equipment being placed on the market.
The R&TTE Directive covers 3 mains areas: Articles 3.
1a, Safety: electrical safety requirements are similar those of Low Voltage Directive but with no lower voltage limit; and human exposure to EM fields Article 3.
1b, EMC: requirements similar to the EMC Directive.
It should be noted that most Harmonised EMC standards for radio products require a Radiated Spurious Emissions measurement to be performed in place of an Radiated Emissions measurement (e.
g.
55022) Article 3.
2, Radio Spectrum: This part requires efficient use of the radio spectrum.
Manufacturers may only self declare after they have fully applied all relevant harmonised standards.
For products with many variants, or products operating in more than one frequency band or offering more than one service, careful test planning together with a draft Technical Construction File and a Notified Body Opinion, is often a quicker and cheaper route to market.