October 26, 2007

Competition Review in the Telecommunications Business Field 2007

Proposals invited on strategic evaluation of "Analysis on platform functions' impacts on competition"
Based on the Detailed Items for Implementation of Competition Review in the Telecommunications Business Field 2007 (released on October 16, 2007; hereinafter called "Implementation Details 2007"), MIC will analyze the impacts of platform functions on competition, which is one of the themes of the strategic evaluation.
Prior to the analysis, MIC invites proposals, with a view to use them as a reference in analyzing the impacts, from today until Thursday, November 22, 2007.

1. Background
Based on the Guidelines concerning Competition Review in the Telecommunications Business Field 2006-2008 (released on October 13, 2006), MIC decides annual themes for standardized evaluation and strategic evaluation of implementation details and conducts competition review in the telecommunications business field. Strategic evaluation focuses on the specific themes to ensure that the themes can be more relevant to policies.
For this fiscal year, MIC will analyze the impacts of platform functions on competition for strategic evaluation by considering Implementation Details 2007.
Since it is expected that a wide variety of players are involved in the platform functions and that the perspectives and items to be examined are very extensive, MIC invites public comment on study items and issues prior to conducting the competition review.

2. Invitation closing date
17:00 on Thursday, November 22, 2007 (Mail applications must be postmarked no later than Thursday, November 22, 2007)

3. Future schedule
MIC will consider the contributed proposals and comments to analyze the impact of platform functions on competition.

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For further information about this press release, please fill in the inquiry form and submit it to MIC on 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