December 27, 2023 Revision of Guidelines on Application of the Telecommunications Business Act and Radio Act related to MVNO

The Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications (MIC) has revised the Guidelines on the Application of the Telecommunications Business Act and the Radio Act related to MVNO (originally established in June 2002) after soliciting opinions in accordance with partial amendments to the Regulations for the Enforcement of the Telecommunications Business Act, etc.

1. Background

MIC organized the Study Group on Calculation of Interconnection Charges, etc. * in March 2017 , which 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 seventh report of the study group was compiled and published on Wednesday, September 6, 2023. To establish necessary provisions based on the said report, MIC solicited opinions (from Wednesday, September 20 through Thursday, October 19 of the same year) and again (from Thursday, October 26 through Wednesday, November 8 of the same year) on partial amendments to the Regulations for Enforcement of the Telecommunications Business Act (Ministerial Ordinance of MPT No. 25 of 1985), etc., and received a report of November 22, 2023 on this matter, from the Information and Communications and Posts Administrative Council. Accordingly, MIC has promulgated the relevant ministerial ordinance, etc., today.
In this connection, MIC has revised the Guidelines on Application of the Telecommunications Business Act and Radio Act related to MVNO (originally established in June 2002) following the above solicitation for opinions. *The name was changed from the Study Group on Calculation of Interconnection Charges in December 2019.

2. Details of public announcement

• Guidelines on Application of the Telecommunications Business Act and Radio Act related to MVNO (Originally established in June 2002) (Attachment 1)
(Version showing revised part: Attachment 2)

3. Future plans

The revised guidelines will be in effect from today (December 27, 2023).

4. How to obtain materials

Attachments 1 and 2 are available for inspection and distribution at the Tariff and Telecommunications Access Policy Division, Telecommunications Business Department, Telecommunications Bureau, MIC (10th floor, Building No. 2, Central Government Building).

*The published materials are in Japanese only.