October 23, 2020 Approval to Changes in Establishment Plan of SoftBank Corp. on Specified Base Stations
The Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications has today approved the application of SoftBank Corp. (headed by MIYAUCHI Ken, President & CEO) for changes in its establishment plan on specified base stations for the 3.9th-generation mobile communications system (3.9G), the fourth-generation mobile communications system (4G), and respective peripheral facilities.
1. Background
Conventional frequencies assigned for 4G and the broadband wireless access system (BWA) are lower than those assigned for 5G in April 2019. There is a growing need to use these conventional frequencies for 5G and 5G-compatible BWA and secure a wide 5G service area to ensure mobility.
Considering these needs, MIC received a partial report from the Information and Communications Council on the technical requirements for 5G and BWA in March this year and made institutional development for technical requirements in August. In response to the above, to introduce a 4G frequency band to 5G., SoftBank Corp. made an application for changes in its establishment plan on specified base stations for the spread of 3.9G (hereafter referred to as the “3.9G establishment plan”) and those for the spread of 4G (hereafter referred to as the “4G establishment plan”). These applications were based on Article 27-14, Paragraph 1 of the Radio Act (Act No. 131 of 1950; hereafter referred to as the “Act”).
MIC examined the application based on Article 27-13, Paragraph 4 of the Act, which is applicable mutatis mutandis to Paragraph 2 of the same Article. As a result, MIC recognized the appropriateness of the change in the establishment plans and has today approved them.
2. Outline of changes in establishment plan
Schedule including 3.9G establishment plan
Rate of municipal population coverage |
No changes |
---|---|
Securement of base station locations |
|
Ensuring safety and reliability |
|
Institutional development for legal compliance, personal information protection, and user interest protection |
|
Opening Plan for 4G
Population coverage |
No changes |
---|---|
Securement of base station locations |
|
Ensuring safety and reliability |
|
Institutional development for legal compliance, personal information protection, and user interest protection |
|
MVNO promotion |
|
Various pricing |
|
3. Conditions for approval to changes
In approving the changes in the establishment plans for the spread of 3.9G, the establishment plans for the spread of 4G, etc., the conditions currently attached shall be revised. Furthermore, the following conditions shall be added.
- 1.
Strive to popularize a wide range of broadband services.
- 2.
Strive to improve the safety and reliability of telecommunications equipment, including measures against power outages and congestion and prevention of communication failures.
- 3.
When using the frequencies for 5G mobile communications systems, take adequate cybersecurity measures, including measures against supply chain risks, with consideration of the following: The Info-Communications Safety and Reliability Standards (MPT Notice No. 73 of 1987), the Unified Standard Group for Information Security Measures of Government Agencies (2016 version), and the Consultations regarding Procurement Policies and Procurement Procedures for Goods or Services in Japan related to IT Procurement (December 10, 2018, under relevant ministries agreement).
- 4.
Strive to promote the use of the specified base stations by interconnecting telecommunications equipment, providing wholesale telecommunications services, and other methods to those who have not been assigned with frequencies. In particular, provide services that contribute to the promotion of the use of the specified base stations. Then open the connection function, optimize the interconnection fees and wholesale telecommunications service charges. Strive further to promote the use of the specified base stations by electrically interconnecting using a communication method that uses the General Packet Radio Service (GPRS) tunneling protocol.
- 5.
Strive for low-cost, clear, and satisfying pricing that meets the needs of mobile phone users.
- 6.
When using frequencies for 5G mobile communication systems, the performance, including communication speed, should be properly disseminated by a polite and easy-to-understand method, such as an area map so that the user does not misunderstand.
- 7.
Regarding the implementation of termination promotion measures, strive to form a sufficient consensus with the target licensees, strive for smooth implementation, and ensure sufficient transparency.
- 8.
Considering that mobile phones have become an important means of living for people, steadily open base stations in dead zones.
-
(The following conditions are attached in the case of approval to the changes in the establishment plans for the spread of 3.9G, etc.)
9.When opening and operating a specific base station, respond appropriately to prevent and eliminate reception problems of terrestrial digital broadcasting
Contact
For further information about this press release, please fill in the inquiry form and submit it to MIC on the website
https://www.soumu.go.jp/common/english_opinions.html
International Policy Division, Global Strategy Bureau, MIC
TEL: +81 3 5253 5920
FAX: +81 3 5253 5924