Angola: geography and layout
Cabinda is an exclave province of Angola, separated from the rest of the country by territory of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, which affects how people and equipment are moved there.
A Zone 1 / Zone 21 smartphone for crews on Angola's deepwater FPSOs, the Cabinda and Soyo onshore facilities, Angola LNG and the Luanda refinery. This page sets out how an explosion proof smartphone supply route to Angola will work for the IS-04Z1, and what is and is not available before launch.
Pre-launch · certification in progress · Launching Q4 2026
Short answer. An explosion proof smartphone for Angola cannot be bought yet: the SAMS IS-04Z1 is pre-launch (certification in progress, no certificate issued), and the datasheet, certification schedule and safe-area evaluation units are available now.
Current position: certification in progress, nothing issued, launch targeted for Q4 2026. An operator's own vendor approval is a separate step. Certification status. Place facts reviewed October 2026.
| Check | What to look for | IS-04Z1 today |
|---|---|---|
| Protection concept | Flameproof (Ex d) or intrinsic safety (Ex i) | Intrinsic safety, level ib |
| Zone suitability | Zone 1 gas and Zone 21 dust | Design target for Zone 1 and 21 |
| Certificate | Number, issuing body and schedule of conditions | In progress; not issued |
| Where it applies | Angola: Lower Congo basin, offshore, Kwanza basin, offshore, Luanda | Classified by the site operator |

An intrinsically safe Android smartphone designed for Zone 1 and Zone 21 hazardous areas in Angola. It is pre-launch: IECEx, ATEX and NEC 500 certification is in progress ahead of the Q4 2026 launch.
The classified areas, operators and sites below are the ones covered in the SAMS Angola market guide.
Cabinda is an exclave province of Angola, separated from the rest of the country by territory of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, which affects how people and equipment are moved there.
Portuguese is Angola's official language, so permits, manuals and safety notices for local crews are normally expected in Portuguese.
The Instituto Angolano das Comunicações, INACOM, is the telecom regulator whose homologation is needed for wireless and telecom equipment sold in Angola.
Angola LNG Limited is owned by Sonangol, Chevron, TotalEnergies and Azule Energy, so the Soyo site combines several shareholders' operating practices.
“Explosion proof” is the phrase most buyers use for equipment that may be taken into a classified hazardous area. Strictly, it covers several protection concepts: a flameproof enclosure (Ex d) contains an internal explosion, while intrinsic safety (Ex i) limits electrical energy so that an ignition cannot start. Phones are normally intrinsically safe, because a flameproof handset would be too heavy to carry all shift.
The IS-04Z1 uses intrinsic safety, with a marking target of Ex ib IIC T4, and is designed for Zone 1 and Zone 21. It is pre-launch, certification is in progress and no certificate has been issued.
In Angola. On a deepwater FPSO the phrase explosion proof usually means a flameproof Ex d enclosure that contains an internal explosion. The IS-04Z1 takes a different route, intrinsic safety, which limits energy so a handset can be used on a process deck without a heavy enclosure. Which areas need which concept is decided by the operator's classification.
Supply of the IS-04Z1 to Angola starts only after certification, through authorised distributors. Until then a buyer can request the datasheet and the written certification schedule, and arrange a safe-area evaluation unit, which puts the site on the list for the right local channel at launch.
The technical specification, marking target and conditions of use, sent by email.
Which certificates are in progress, in what order, and what is still to be confirmed.
Evaluation units can be used for connectivity, MDM enrolment and workflow testing outside classified areas.
Tell us the site, zone, gas group and quantity so the right authorised distributor can contact you.
No. Nothing can be bought or taken into a classified area today: certification is in progress and launch is planned for Q4 2026. What is available now is the datasheet, the written certification schedule and evaluation units for safe-area use.
SAMS has not published a price. Any figure you are offered for an uncertified Ex phone should be treated with caution; written indicative pricing is available for a defined quantity and site.
It is intrinsically safe (marking target Ex ib IIC T4), which is the usual way to make a phone for hazardous areas. It is not a flameproof (Ex d) design, and certification is still in progress.
The market guide for Angola covers Luanda, Soyo, Zaire province, Cabinda and Malongo, Lobito, Benguela, among others. Site-level pages are linked below.
Through authorised distributors once certificates exist. Until then SAMS can send the datasheet and certification schedule and arrange safe-area evaluation units.
Large sites such as Angola LNG have several shareholders and an operating company that sets site HSE rules, which may follow one partner's standards. Confirm which standards and approved-equipment lists the operating company applies before you ship devices to Angola.
A single-train LNG plant typically has liquefaction, gas treatment, propane and butane storage, condensate handling and marine loading areas, all of which are normally classified as hazardous. The operator issues the zone drawings, so request them with the gas group and temperature class before choosing equipment.
It is designed for Zone 1 and Zone 21 duty, with a target marking of II 2 G Ex ib IIC T4, but certification is in progress and no certificate has been issued. Offshore use would depend on the operator's own equipment approval and the schedule of conditions. Confirm with the FPSO operator before any deck use.
Related guides for Angola and for Angola.
Share the site details and quantity. You will get the datasheet and the certification schedule back by email; pricing is indicative only until launch.
Send the zone and gas group of your site and we will reply with the datasheet and schedule.