March 17, 2020 Appeal for Opinions on Draft Revision of Guidelines on Application of the Telecommunications Business Act and Radio Act related to MVNO

The Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications (MIC) has decided to make an appeal for opinions from Wednesday, March 18 through to Thursday, April 16, 2020, on a draft revision of the Guidelines on Application of the Telecommunications Business Act and Radio Act related to MVNO, taking into account the final report of the Study Group on the Competitive Environment of the Mobile Market.

1. Overview

MIC, from the perspective of encouraging the entry into the market of MVNO businesses (Mobile Virtual Network Operator), which provide various services that utilize the wireless network of MNOs (Mobile Network Operator), has been formulating the Guidelines on Application of the Telecommunications Business Act and Radio Act related to MVNO (hereinafter referred to as the “MVNO Guidelines”), in order to promote further competition in the field of mobile communications, and for the benefit of users through the provision of more diverse and cheaper services, and to ensure the fair and efficient use of the radio spectrum.
MIC will revise the MVNO guidelines in order to make the necessary upgrades elaborated in the final report of the Study Group on Competitive Environment of Mobile Market.

2. Appeal for opinions

1. Subject

Revised MVNO guidelines

2. Submission period

From Wednesday, March 18, until no later than Thursday, April 16, 2020.

3. Future plans

MIC will promptly revise the MVNO guidelines based on the results of the appeal for opinions.

4. How to obtain further reference information

Further reference information can be viewed, and copies handed out, at the contact window of the MIC division which is in charge. In addition, it is also listed on the e-Government website ‘Public Comments’.

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