May 28, 2021 Appeal for Opinions on Draft Revision to Guidelines for Ensuring Smooth Distribution and Use of Mobile Terminal Equipment and Draft Guidelines for Promoting eSIM Services

With consideration of a report issued by the Switching Facilitation Taskforce (headed by Chief Investigator HAYASHI Shuya, Professor, Graduate School of Law, Nagoya University), the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications (MIC) has drafted a revision to the Guidelines for Ensuring Smooth Distribution and Use of Mobile Terminal Equipment, along with the Guidelines for Promoting eSIM Services. Accordingly, MIC will make an appeal for opinions on these drafts from Saturday, May 29 through Monday, June 28, 2021.

1. Overview

Since November last year, the Switching Facilitation Taskforce (headed by Chief Investigator HAYASHI Shuya, Professor, Graduate School of Law, Nagoya University) has been conducting intensive, specialized, and technical studies to facilitate transfers between carriers. In this connection, the report of the Switching Facilitation Taskforce has been released today.
With consideration of the report, MIC has prepared the drafted revision to the Guidelines for Ensuring Smooth Distribution and Use of Mobile Terminal Equipment and drafted the Guidelines for Promoting eSIM Services. With this revision and the establishment of the new guidelines, MIC aims to minimize the cost of business operator changes. MIC also aims to secure a fair, competitive environment by facilitating the switching of business operators and improve users’ convenience, including overseas traveler users’ convenience. Accordingly, MIC has decided to make this appeal for opinions on these drafts.

2. Appeal for opinions

1. Target

• Draft Revision to Guidelines for Ensuring Smooth Distribution and Use of Mobile Terminal Equipment
• Draft Guidelines for Promoting eSIM Services

2. Period of submission

From Saturday, May 29 and no later than Monday, June 28, 2021

3. Future plan

With consideration of opinions submitted, MIC will promptly revise the Guidelines for Ensuring Smooth Distribution and Use of Mobile Terminal Equipment and establish the Guidelines for Promoting eSIM Services and release them.