April 1, 2021 Appeal for Opinions on Draft Report of Switching Facilitation Taskforce

The Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications (MIC) will make an appeal for opinions from Friday, April 2 through Thursday, May 6, 2021, on a draft report of a Switching Facilitation Taskforce (headed by Chief Investigator HAYASHI Hideya, Professor, Graduate School of Law, Nagoya University).

1. Background

On October 27, 2021, MIC announced an action plan that summarized specific efforts to create a fair, competitive environment for the mobile market to reduce mobile phone charges.
Since the end of last year, mobile phone operators have announced new rate plans one after another. As price competition becomes more active, users will be able to experience the results of the competition. Therefore, it is important to create an environment where users can select and use those that meet their needs. The Switching Facilitation Taskforce was established under the Working Group (WG) on Verification of Competition Rules (headed by Chief Investigator NIIMI Ikufumi, Professor Emeritus at Meiji University), has been conducting intensive, specialized, and technical studies to facilitate transfers between carriers. This WG examines the impact of measures, such as the complete separation of communications charges and terminal charges in the mobile market and the prohibition of excessive customer capturing.
Recently, the Switching Facilitation Taskforce drafted the report that summarized the results of their studies, and MIC has decided to make an appeal for opinions on the draft report.

2. Subject of appeal for opinions and guidelines therefor

1. Subject of appeal for opinions

Draft Report of Switching Facilitation Taskforce

2. Submission deadline

No later than Thursday, May 6, 2021
(Opinions submitted by postal mail will be accepted if postmarked the same day.)

3. Future plans

With consideration of opinions submitted, MIC will finalize and announce the report.