Report from the Radio Regulatory Council concerning Draft Ministerial Ordinances, etc. for Partial Revision of the Regulations for Enforcement of the Radio Act and Results of Appeal for Opinions

1.Outline, etc.

  Services for mobile terminals, automobiles and ships are currently provided in Japan with respect to the Inmarsat BGAN (Broadband Global Area Network) system for Inmarsat portable mobile earth stations. In order to be able to provide the service of Inmarsat BGAN airborne radio equipment (the service provided by Inmarsat PLC (UK) is named “Swift Broadband”) that allows in-flight Internet connection in Japan as well, related ministerial ordinances, etc. will be partially revised.
  In addition, there is a growing need for satellite mobile phones in preparation for disasters, as effectiveness of satellite mobile phones on the occasion of large-scale disaster was recognized recently. Therefore, related provisions will be improved in such a way that services for new satellite mobile phones using the 1.5/1.6GHz bands can be provided in Japan.
  The MIC has created the draft partial revisions of the related ministerial ordinances, etc. accompanying their introduction, and held an appeal for opinions from August 4 to September 3, 2012.
 

2.Report and results of appeal for opinions

  (1) An inquiry was submitted to the Radio Regulatory Council concerning the draft ministerial ordinance for partial revision of the Regulations for Enforcement of the Radio Act, etc. and the draft notice for partial change of the Frequency Assignment Plan in order to introduce the above-mentioned services. In response, the MIC received a report stating the draft revision is appropriate on September 12, 2012.
  (2) An appeal for opinions on the draft partial revisions of the related ministerial ordinances, etc. concerning the introduction of the above-mentioned services was held from August 4 to September 3, 2012. In response to the appeal for opinions on the draft institutional improvement for introduction of Inmarsat BGAN airborne radio equipment, three opinions were submitted. No opinion was submitted in response to the appeal for opinions on the draft institutional improvement for introduction of new satellite mobile phones (Thuraya satellite mobile phones) using the 1.5/1.6GHz bands (L band).
 

3.Future plans

  The MIC will swiftly revise the related ministerial ordinances, etc. based on the report from the Radio Regulatory Council and the results of the appeal for opinions.