Appeal for Opinions on Draft Ministerial Ordinances, etc. for Partial Revision of the Ordinance Regulating Radio Equipment

1.Background and outline of revision

  The MIC officially announced the Action Plan for Spectrum Reallocation (revised version of September 2011) in September 2011 and made efforts for ensuring frequencies, etc. toward the realization of wireless broadband environments. Based on this Action Plan, the MIC has now created a draft institutional improvement on the following matters related to mobile radio communication systems, and an appeal for opinions on it will be held.

  (1) Addition of digital communication systems of 150MHz-band convenience radio stations
  Related provisions will be improved with regard to 150MHz-band convenience radio stations for introducing digital systems good for effective use of frequencies taking into account the demand in mountainous regions.
  (2) Reallocation of 800MHz-band portable radio communication systems
  As the switching over (reallocation of frequencies) from 2G mobile radio communication systems to 3G mobile radio communication systems (including 3.5G and 3.9G) has completed by July 24, 2012 in the context of expanded dissemination of portable radio communications, the provisions for 2G mobile radio communication systems will be deleted.
  (3) Termination of operation of 1.5GHz-band digital MCA in some areas
  As the operation of 1.5GHz-band digital MCA has ended in the respective jurisdictions of the Hokkaido Regional Bureau of Telecommunications and the Chugoku Regional Bureau of Telecommunications, related provisions will be improved so that frequencies for portable radio communications may be used ahead of schedule in those jurisdictions.
  (4) Ensuring of frequencies of 1.7GHz-band portable radio communication systems
  As a result of deliberations on interference with other systems using the 1.7GHz band, frequencies of 5MHz wide x 2 (1744.9~1749.9MHz/1839.9~1844.9MHz) have newly become possible to be ensured for portable radio communications. Therefore, provisions such as technical standards for expansion of frequencies will be improved ahead of future institutional improvements related to licensing procedures.
  (5) Switching over of frequencies for controlling PHS
  As the switching over of frequencies for controlling PHS has completed by May 31, 2012 in order to ensure frequencies for portable radio communications, the provisions related to frequencies for controlling PHS before the switching over will be deleted.
  (6) Upgrading of broadband wireless access systems (BWA)
   Based on the partial report on further upgrading of broadband wireless access systems (BWA) and expansion of frequencies (2625~2655MHz) from the Information and Communications Council on April 25, 2012, provisions for upgrading of BWA will be improved and provisions such as technical standards for expansion of frequencies will be improved ahead of institutional improvements related to future licensing procedures.
  (7) Institutional improvement of 79GHz-band high-resolution radars
  As the partial report on the technical requirements for 79GHz-band high-resolution radars which have higher resolution than the existing vehicle radars was received from the Information and Communications Council on April 25, 2012, related provisions will be improved.
  (8) Improvement of other necessary provisions
  The principles for regulatory and systemic reforms (cabinet decision on April 8, 2011) state that measures for alleviating the burden of management and storage of radio station licenses shall be taken. In response, provisions will be improved in such a way that one license is issued with respect to base stations, etc. of portable radio communications and broadband mobile wireless access systems and other necessary provisions are improved.