Appeal for Opinions on Ministerial Ordinance and Bulletin Plans relating to Technical Standards, etc. for Mobile Communications Systems Using 700MHz Band

1. Background

　From July 25, 2012, it will become possible in Japan for mobile communications systems to utilize empty frequencies (700MHz band) resulting from the digitization of terrestrial television broadcasting and empty frequencies (900MHz band) resulting from the reorganization of frequencies used by 2G mobile communications systems.

　In view of these circumstances, since December 2009 the Information and Communications Council has been deliberating over “Policy on Effective Frequency Use for Mobile Telephones, etc.,” and on February 17, 2012 a partial reply was received from the Information and Communications Council concerning technical requirements for mobile communications systems using the 700MHz band.

　Plans have now been drafted for partial revision of ministerial ordinances and bulletins relating to technical standards, etc. for mobile communications systems using the 700MHz band, and there will be an appeal for opinions on these plans.

2. Outline of revisions

(1) System maintenance relating to technical standards for mobile communications systems using the 700MHz band

　Ministerial ordinances and bulletins relating to wireless equipment regulations will be revised based on the partial reply received from the Information and Communications Council on February 17, 2012 concerning technical requirements for mobile communications systems using the 700MHz band.

(2) Other

A. Modification of frequency allocation plan

　Frequencies in the 700MHz band (718-748MHz/773-803MHz) for mobile phone use will be newly allocated in order to ensure the maximum amount of frequencies for mobile telephones in harmony with foreign countries' frequency allocations. Also, frequency allocation plans will be modified to newly allocate 1240-1300MHz and 2330-2370MHz for FPU migration and 470-714MHz and 1240-1260MHz for special radio microphones in order to switch frequencies for existing wireless systems using the 770-806MHz band (FPU (Field Pickup Unit: a wireless system used by broadcasting businesses conducting program material relays) and special radio microphones).

B. Other

　Other necessary regulations will also be serviced.

3. Subjects of public appeal for opinions, etc.

(1) Subjects of public appeal for opinions

A. Ministerial ordinance plans

Ministerial Ordinance Plan for Partial Revision of Wireless Equipment Regulations (1950 Radio Regulatory Council Regulation No. 18)

Ministerial Ordinance Plan for Partial Revision of Procedural Rules for Radio Station Licenses (1950 Radio Regulatory Council Regulation No. 15)

B. Bulletin plans

Bulletin plan for partial revision of item establishing special characteristics of receiver equipment adopted in examination of applications for land mobile business radio stations, handheld mobile business radio stations, simple radio stations and in-house radio stations (1986 Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications Bulletin No. 395)

Bulletin plan for partial revision of item establishing technical requirements for wireless equipment of radio stations, etc. conducting Code Division Multiple Access radio communications, time-sharing/CDMA mobile radio communications, and at radio stations, etc. conducting time-sharing/CDMA mobile radio communications (2005 Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications (MIC) Bulletin No. 1299)

Bulletin plan for partial revision of item establishing technical requirements for transmission equipment of radio stations, etc. conducting time sharing/orthogonal Frequency Division Multiple Access mobile radio communications, time sharing/FDMA mobile radio communications, single carrier FDMA radio communications and orthogonal FDMA mobile radio communications (2009 Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications (MIC) Bulletin No. 247)

Bulletin plan for partial revision of item establishing technical requirements for wireless equipment at radio stations relaying mobile radio communications (2011 Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications (MIC) Bulletin No. 453)

Bulletin plan for partial revision of the frequency allocation program (2008 Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications (MIC) bulletin plan No. 714)

Bulletin plan for partial revision of item establishing frequencies used by radio stations based on each of the regulations in Article 6, Clause 7 of the Radio Law (2000 Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications Bulletin No. 744)

(2) Deadline for submission of opinions

　Opinions must arrive no later than March 30 (Fri), 2012.

Please note that the relevant ministerial ordinance plans, etc. can be inspected at the contact address provided at the end of this document, and once preparations have been made will also be published in the “Reports and documents” area of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications (MIC) website (http://www.soumu.go.jp) as well as in the “Public comment” field of e-Gov (http://www.e-gov.go.jp), the electronic coordinated government contact website.

4. Schedule

　The necessary procedure will promptly advance based on the opinions received.

　Furthermore, an appeal for opinions on draft guidelines for establishment of special base stations using the 700MHz band has been reported separately on February 29, 2012 (refer to URL below).

　Also, information relating to frequency reorganization of the 700MHz band will be published on the “700/900MHz Band Frequency Reorganization Portal Website”, so please check the URL provided below.

 URL: http://www.tele.soumu.go.jp/j/ref/portal/index.htm

Related documents

Working Group Compilation of Studies into Frequencies for Implementation of Wireless Broadband (November 30, 2010)

About Basic Policy concerning “Path of Light” Concept (report published December 14, 2010)

Law for Partial Reform of the Radio Law (2011 Law, Act No. 60) (promulgated June 1, 2011)

Official Announcement of Evaluation Results from FY 2010 Survey of State of Radio Wave Use and Results from Appeal for Opinions (July 13, 2011)

Official Announcement of Results from Survey of Potential Market Entrants in 700/900MHz Band Mobile Communications System (September 6, 2011)

Official Announcement of “Frequency Reorganization Action Plan” (September 2011 Revised Edition) (September 14, 2011)

Results from Appeal for Opinions on System Maintenance Plan for 3.9G Mobile Communications System Diffusion, etc. and Reply from Radio Regulatory Council (December 9, 2011)

Report Issued to Radio Regulatory Council concerning Results from Acceptance of Applications for Authorization of Establishment Plans for Special Base Stations for Diffusion of 3.9G Mobile Communications Systems, etc. (February 10, 2012)

Technical Requirements for Mobile Communications Systems Using 700MHz Bands (February 17, 2012)

Appeal for Opinions on Draft Guidelines for Establishment of Special Base Stations Using 700MHz Band (February 29, 2012)

700/900MHz-band Frequency Reorganization Portal Website