A Zone 1 / Zone 21 smartphone for crews at the Secunda and Sasolburg complexes, the Natref and Cape Town refineries, Mossel Bay, the fuel terminals and the surface plants of South African mining. The 1886 discovery on the Witwatersrand started the gold rush that built Johannesburg's mining industry, and the country is still fifth in world gold production by one account. Distribution partners for South Africa are being identified ahead of the Q4 2026 launch of the IS-04Z1.
Pre-launch · certification in progress · Launching Q4 2026
Short answer. South Africa has no appointed SAMS distributor yet: the IS-04Z1 is pre-launch (certification in progress, no certificate issued, launch planned for Q4 2026), and distributor applications are open.
Where things stand: the IS-04Z1 has not launched, and none of its four certification routes has produced a certificate yet. 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Ingress protection | IP rating for dust and water | IP68 design |
| Fleet management | EMM and MDM support | Android 16 with EMM and MDM |
| Explosion protection | A separate certificate and marking | In progress; not issued |
| Where it applies | South Africa: Milnerton, Cape Town, Mossel Bay, Western Cape, Durban | Classified by the site operator |
An intrinsically safe Android smartphone designed for Zone 1 and Zone 21 hazardous areas in South Africa. 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 South Africa market guide.
South Africa has a National Code of Practice for Electrical Machinery in Hazardous Locations under the Occupational Health and Safety Act 1993, with a section on regulatory requirements for explosion-protected apparatus.
Secunda CTL, owned by Sasol, is the world's largest coal liquefaction plant, with capacity of 160,000 barrels a day from units built in 1980 and 1984, so synthetic fuel gas and liquids handling is extensive.
Mining areas range from the Witwatersrand gold fields to Limpopo platinum mines such as Two Rivers at Steelpoort, so remote sites and deep underground workings are both common.
Electrical safety for some products is handled through SABS certificates of conformity and an NRCS letter of authority, which are separate from ICASA's radio approval.
“Industrial” describes a phone built for plant conditions: sealed, drop-resistant and manageable at fleet scale through Android Enterprise. It does not by itself mean the phone may enter a classified area. Only a device with a valid explosion-protection certificate and marking may do that.
The IS-04Z1 is designed to be both an industrial Android phone (IP68, 4,000 mAh battery, 50 MP camera, Android 16 with EMM and MDM support) and an intrinsically safe one. Its explosion-protection certificates are in progress and have not been issued.
In South Africa. Large South African fleets cover operators such as Eskom and Transnet alongside mining and chemical contractors. EMM and MDM support lets IT control a large fleet from one console, and coverage across very large sites is part of the planning. Charging takes place in safe areas, with the battery meant to last a shift.
Distribution of the IS-04Z1 is by authorised partners only, and SAMS has not yet granted a territory for South Africa. Each application is reviewed on its merits. Because opening a certified Ex handset in an ordinary workshop invalidates its certificate, the partner must be able to support and service the device locally.
Not today. Until the certificates are issued the IS-04Z1 stays out of classified areas, and until launch there is nothing to purchase. You can ask for the datasheet and the certification schedule, or book a safe-area evaluation unit.
No price is published. While certification is in progress there is no list price and no committed lead time, and a supplier quoting a firm figure for an uncertified Ex handset is promising something it cannot stand behind. Indicative pre-launch pricing is issued in writing against a stated quantity and site.
Yes by design: IP68 sealing, a 4,000 mAh battery, a 50 MP camera and Android 16 with EMM and MDM support. The explosion-protection certificates are separate and still in progress.
The market guide for South Africa covers Secunda, Mpumalanga, Sasolburg, Free State, Milnerton, Cape Town, Mossel Bay, Western Cape, among others. Site-level pages are linked below.
Apply through the distributor page with your company details and the territory you cover. SAMS reviews applications company by company and has not yet granted a territory for South Africa.
ICASA sets radio type approval, and it is described as relying on EU test reports covering spectrum use, EMC and electrical safety, with a conformity label on the equipment and packaging. SABS and NRCS handle some electrical-safety certificates separately. Confirm the route for your device with ICASA or an agent.
Conditions vary from hot, dusty surface sites to deep underground workings with heat and humidity. Check ingress protection, operating temperature range and battery life, and confirm site rules on device approval and gas detection with the mine or plant operator.
IP68 sealing and a rugged build are aimed at hot summers, cold winter mornings and dusty conditions. The approved ambient range will be stated on the certificate, which is in progress. Check that range against the coldest morning shift at your site before ordering.
More on South Africa, and on other places in South Africa.
Share the site details and quantity. You will get the datasheet and the certification schedule back by email; pricing is indicative only until launch.
Name the site and the operator and we will send what is available before launch.
