Commencement of Deliberations on “Technical Requirements for the 4G Mobile Radio Communication System (IMT-Advanced)

1.Background　of commencement of deliberations

  The number of subscribers and the penetration rate of mobile phones in Japan were about 125.56 million subscribers and 98.3%, respectively, at the end of December 2011. Also, services using the 3.9G mobile radio communication system have commenced from December 2010. The environment for mobile communication infrastructure of Japan is at the highest level in the world.
  On the other hand, the communication traffic is rapidly increasing due to the expansion of use of data communication using mobile phones such as Internet connections and moving image transmissions along with the wide spread use of mobile device focusing on use in environments connected to the Internet as represented by smartphones. In response to these circumstances, it is expected that a higher-speed and higher capacity mobile radio communication system which is more convenient and has a higher efficiency of use of frequencies will be introduced.
  Works for standardization of the 4G mobile radio communication system (IMT -Advanced) which realizes further speed-up have been carried forward, and a recommendation on wireless transmitting types of IMT-Advanced was approved at the Radiocommunication Assembly (RA-12) Meeting of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) held in January 2012.
  The Action Plan for Spectrum Reallocation of the MIC (revised version of September 2011) also states that technical requirements shall be deliberated so that the practical use of mobile radio communication systems such as the 4G mobile radio communication system will be realized from around 2015.
  The introduction of IMT-Advanced has become active also in foreign countries. In view of these circumstances, necessary technical requirements will be deliberated toward the introduction of IMT-Advanced in Japan based on international trends pertaining to IMT-Advanced and needs of domestic users.
 

2.Content of deliberations

  “Technical requirements for the 4G mobile radio communication system (IMT-Advanced)” among “measures for effective use of frequencies of mobile phones, etc.” (Telecommunications Technology Council Inquiry No.81 of July 24, 1995)
 

3.Future plans

  The MIC will receive a partial report around June 2013 and then consolidate related provisions.
 

Related reports and documents

  - Public announcement of “Action Plan for Spectrum Reallocation” (revised version of September 2011) (September 14, 2011)