June 14, 2021 Results of FY2020 Test Purchase of Wireless Communications Devices

The Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications conducts an initiative to purchase wireless communications devices sold on Internet shopping sites and check whether they conform to the technical regulations of the Radio Act (i.e., a test purchase of wireless communications devices).
Recently, MIC summarized the results of the fiscal 2020 test purchase of wireless communications devices and the status of MIC’s efforts based on them and decided to open the results to the public.

1. Initiative overview

There are cases where wireless communications devices that emit radio waves not conforming to the technical regulations of the Radio Act or exceeding the scope of extremely low power of emission as stipulated by the Radio Act are distributed in the market, causing crosstalk and electromagnetic interference with other radio stations.
Therefore, MIC purchases wireless communications devices sold in the market and measures whether the strength and characteristics of the radio waves emitted complies with the relevant technical regulations and opens information on the wireless communications devices to the public every year. This initiative prevents general consumers from purchasing and using wireless communications devices that do not conform to the technical regulations, resulting in violation of the Radio Act (the illegal establishment of radio stations) and crosstalk and electromagnetic interference with other radio stations.
Recently, MIC summarized the results of the test purchase of wireless communications devices in fiscal 2020, along with MIC’s initiative based on the results.

2. FY2020 Test Purchase of Wireless Communications Devices

MIC targeted 85 wireless communications devices purchased from the market and tested the strength of the radio waves emitted by these devices, which needed to be extremely weak and within the scope not requiring radio station licenses under the Radio Act. At the same time, MIC checked the conformity of some models to the technical regulations specified by Chapter 3 of the Radio Act.

3. Status of response to distributors of wireless communications devices not meeting the technical regulations

Considering the results of the test purchase of wireless communications devices, MIC has been working on the distributors, manufacturers, and importers of wireless communications devices not meeting the technical regulations the Radio Act or exceeding the scope of extremely low power of emission to stop selling them for the prevention of crosstalk and electromagnetic interference. As a result, 78% of the distributors stopped selling these wireless communications devices as of June 1, 2021.

4. Trends in wireless communications devices with extremely low power of emission in the circulation market

Wireless communications devices that emit radio waves exceeding the scope of extremely low power of emission are on the market. Against this background, the Japan Auto Accessories Manufacturers’ Association (JAAMA) and the Electromagnetic Compatibility Conference, Japan (EMCC) have been implementing an initiative (system of weak radio equipment registration). In this initiative, they test and clarify whether the strength of radio waves emitted by wireless communications devices is within the scope of extremely low power of emission and register and disclose the results. Thus, this initiative enables consumers to choose wireless communications devices with extremely low power of emission with peace of mind.

5. Future plans

MIC’s test purchase of wireless communications devices is underway in fiscal 2021 as well.
MIC will announce wireless communications devices that do not meet the standards specified on the above website of radio wave usage. At the same time, MIC will continue working on securing an appropriate environment of radio wave usage by cooperating with related organizations and working with distributors etc.