January 24, 2007

Technical Requirements Concerning Low-power Repeaters for Cellular Telephones and PHS
-- "Information and Communications Council" Starts Deliberations Thereupon --

On January 24, 2007, the Information and Communications Technology Sub-Council of the Information and Communications Council started deliberations upon the "technical requirements concerning low-power repeaters for cellular telephones and PHS."
As of the end of December 2006, the numbers of subscriptions to cellular telephones and PHS terminals are 95 million and 4.9 million, respectively. Those systems have become popular communications means for consumers. Although users want to use such terminals not only outdoors but also indoors, illegal unlicensed repeaters for mobile terminals have been increasing. Such illegal repeaters have been causing interference.
Thus, in order to eliminate blind zones and prevent installation of illegal repeaters, it is anticipated that inexpensive, small-sized and easy-to-install low-power repeaters will be introduced by mobile carriers, etc. To this end, the Council has started considering technical requirements concerning low-power repeaters for such mobile terminals as cellular telephones and PHS terminals.
The Council will submit a report to MIC, and MIC will prepare the necessary regulatory frameworks.
+++++++++++++++
For further information about this press release, please fill in the inquiry form and submit it to MIC through the website
http://www.soumu.go.jp/joho_tsusin/eng/contact.html
International Policy Division,
International Affairs Department
Telecommunications Bureau, MIC
TEL: +81-3-5253-5920 / FAX: +81-3-5253-5924