May 12, 2023 Administrative Guidance on Noncompliance with Technical Standards for Radio Equipment Manufactured and Sold by Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd.

The Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications (MIC) confirmed today that some specified radio equipment manufactured and sold by Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd. (headed by INOUE Osamu, President and COO, corporate No. 5120001077450, headquartered at Chuo-ku, Osaka, Osaka Prefecture) does not comply with the technical standards under the Radio Act (Act No. 131 of 1950). Therefore, we have issued administrative guidance to the company and Arcadyan Technology Corporation (President: Edward Tseng, headquartered in Hsinchu, Taiwan), a certified dealer, to take necessary measures to prevent recurrences.
In addition, MIC requested that Kiwa Nederland B.V. (headed by Paul Hesselink, CEO, headquartered in Apeldoorn, the Netherlands), a registered foreign conformity assessment body that certified our technical standards, improve its auditing operations.

1. Case overview

It was found that some set-top boxes, i.e., specified radio equipment manufactured and sold by Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd. to output video signals, such as cable TV broadcasting and Internet services, to televisions, had Bluetooth aerial power exceeding the allowable deviation for the certified construction design. The fact that the Bluetooth aerial power exceeded the allowable deviation of the certified construction design was recognized. Therefore, Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd. and Arcadyan Technology Corporation, the certified dealers who manufactured such set-top boxes, violated the construction design conformity obligation stipulated in Article 38-25 of the Radio Act.

In addition, it was found that Kiwa Nederland B.V., a registered foreign conformity assessment body, had certified the Bluetooth aerial power of the set-top boxes with values different from those applied for by Arcadyan Technology Corporation. Kiwa Nederland B.V., which conducted this certification, failed to properly evaluate the conformity to the technical standards under the provisions of the Radio Act, and Arcadyan Technology Corporation, which obtained this certification, failed to confirm that the construction design document applied for and the certified one was identical.

2. Details of administrative guidance

MIC issued a strict warning to Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd. and Arcadyan Technology Corporation today. Along with this, MIC instructed them to take necessary measures, including the replacement and recall of products that do not conform to the construction design and do not meet the technical standards, take actions to protect users’ interests, and report by the end of May on the details of such measures and future measures to prevent recurrences.

MIC also issued a strict warning to Kiwa Nederland B.V. and requested Kiwa Nederland B.V. to improve its examination operations and report back to MIC by the end of May on measures to prevent future recurrences.
(Reference) Public disclosure of equipment subject to this case
To protect users’ interests, MIC will announce on its Radio Use Web Site the model, type, etc., of the subject equipment manufactured and sold by Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd. (Refer to the URL below.)
MIC will also announce on its website, as needed, its efforts to protect the interests of its users in the future.

MIC’s Radio Use Website

https://www.tele.soumu.go.jp/j/sys/equ/tech/zirei