December 24, 2021 Appeal for Opinions on Institutional Development for Ensuring Appropriateness of Wholesale Consultations, Drafted by Study Group on Calculation of Connection Charges, etc.

The Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications (MIC) will make an appeal for opinions on a draft of “Institutional Development for Ensuring Appropriateness of Wholesale Consultations” from Saturday, December 25, 2021 through Friday, January 28, 2022. This draft was prepared by MIC’s Study Group on Calculation of Interconnection Charges, etc. (chaired by TSUJI Masatsugu, President, and professor at Kobe International University).

1. Background

MIC organized the Study Group on Calculation of Interconnection Charges, etc. (hereafter referred to as the “Study Group”)^* in March 2017. Since then, the Study Group has been deliberating on the current interconnection system, which is the basis for ensuring fair competition, and other matters for providing various services smoothly in a fair competition environment.
The Study Group issued the fifth report in September 2021. The report states that it is appropriate to study institutional development to ensure that inter-operator consultations on wholesale services of designated equipment will function effectively and that rates and other service conditions will be optimized autonomously. Based on this report, the study group held four meetings by December 2021 to discuss the actual conditions of wholesale consultations and the ideal state of institutional development while listening to the opinions of related businesses and business organizations as observers. The draft of “Institutional Development for Ensuring Appropriateness of Wholesale Consultations” has now been compiled, and MIC has decided to make this appeal for opinions on the draft.

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  The name was changed from the Study Group on Calculation of Interconnection Charges in December 2019.

2. Guidelines for appealing opinions

1. Subject of appeal for opinions

Draft Institutional Development for Ensuring Appropriateness of Wholesale Consultations

2. Submission deadline

No later than Friday, January 28, 202２ (Submission of opinions by postal mail must also arrive no later than the deadline.)

3. Future plans

Based on the results of the appeal for opinions, the Study Group will further deliberate, finalize, and release the report.