October 6, 2021 Results of Appeal for Opinions on Draft Ministerial Ordinance and Pertinent Conditions for Partial Revisions to Ordinance Regulating Radio Equipment and Related Requirements and Report from Radio Regulatory Council

The Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications (MIC) prepared a draft ministerial ordinance etc. for partial revisions to the Ordinance Regulating Radio Equipment and pertinent conditions to enable the use of 2.3 GHz band frequencies for mobile communications systems by sharing frequencies dynamically (dynamic frequency sharing), with consideration of the geographical and temporal operational status of existing systems. Therefore, MIC made an appeal for opinions from July 17 through August 20, 2021, on the drafted revisions. As a result, nine opinions were submitted. Accordingly, MIC decided to open the submitted opinions and MIC’s views on the opinions to the public.
Considering the results of the appeal for opinions, MIC submitted an inquiry today to the Radio Regulatory Council (Chaired by HIBINO Takashi, Chairman of the Board of Daiwa Securities Group Inc.). This inquiry was about the matters related to the drafted ministerial ordinance and a draft notice to partially change the Frequency Assignment Plan. Then, MIC received a report today stating its approval as drafted.
MIC will promptly work on developing the relevant regulations based on the results of the appeal for opinions and the report from the Radio Regulatory Council.

1. Background and outline of revisions

The number of subscribers to mobile communications systems, including mobile phones, in Japan is increasing year by year. New frequencies will need to be secured to respond to the mobile communication traffic expected to increase in the future. On the other hand, the tightness of frequencies, which are finite radio resources, is increasing. The more efficient use and shared use of frequencies will be indispensable for new frequency allocation.
In response to this situation, the Information and Communications Council deliberated on technical requirements for mobile communications systems in the 2.3 GHz band. This deliberation aimed to allocate 2.3 GHz band frequencies to mobile communications systems to complement frequency use in mobile phones by sharing frequencies dynamically (dynamic frequency sharing), considering the geographical and temporal operational status of conventional systems. In this connection, MIC has received a partial report on the technical requirements on April 20, 2021.
Accordingly, MIC prepared the draft ministerial ordinance, etc., to partially revise the Ministerial Ordinance Regulating Radio Equipment and related conditions for necessary institutional development to introduce mobile communications systems in the 2.3 GHz band frequencies and made the appeal for opinions on the drafted revisions from Saturday, July 17 through Friday, August 20, 2021.

2. Results of appeal for opinions

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  The published material is in Japanese only.

3. Report from Radio Regulatory Council

Based on the results of the appeal for opinions, MIC submitted an inquiry to the Radio Regulatory Council on the matters to be discussed under the Radio Act (Act No. 131 of 1950). These matters are a part of the draft ministerial ordinance to partially revise the Ordinance Regulating Radio Equipment and the draft notice to partially change the Frequency Assignment Plan. Then MIC today received a report by return stating its approval as drafted.

4. Future plans

MIC will promptly revise the Ordinance Regulating Radio Equipment, etc., based on the report from the Radio Regulatory Council and the results of the appeal for opinions.