November 27, 2024 Results of the Solicitation for Opinions on the Draft Ministerial Ordinances Partially Amending the Regulations for Enforcement of the Radio Act and Other Rules, and the Report from the Radio Regulatory Council

 To introduce wireless power transmission systems for transport robots, the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications (MIC) prepared draft ministerial ordinances to partially amend the Regulations for Enforcement of the Radio Act and the Rules on Certifying Conformity of Specified Radio Equipment with Technical Standards (hereinafter referred to as the "Draft Ministerial Ordinances"). The MIC solicited opinions on these Draft Ministerial Ordinances from Wednesday, October 16, 2024, to Thursday, November 14, 2024, and received 11 opinions.
 Based on the results of the opinion solicitation, the MIC consulted the Radio Regulatory Council, chaired by SASASE Iwao, Professor Emeritus of Keio University, regarding matters under the Radio Act (Act No. 131 of 1950) included in the Draft Ministerial Ordinances. Today, the MIC received a report stating that these matters are appropriate.
 Based on the results of the opinion solicitation and the report from the Radio Regulatory Council, the MIC will promptly amend related regulations.

1. Overview

 The wireless power transmission system for transport robots transmits electric power in the 6.7 MHz band using the electric field coupling method to charge or supply power to transport robots in factories and distribution centers, eliminating the need for wired connections. The recent decrease in the working population and labor shortage in the logistics industry have made the use of automated guided vehicles (AGVs) and robots indispensable. This has led to the need for the introduction of wireless power transmission systems for transport robots, which enables electric power to be fed to AGVs or robots in operation without interruption.
 The MIC received a partial report from the Information and Communications Council, chaired by ENDO Nobuhiro, Special Advisor to NEC Corporation, regarding its technical requirements. In response, the MIC prepared the Draft Ministerial Ordinance to partially amend the Regulations for Enforcement of the Radio Act in order to make institutional enhancements for introducing these systems.
 For the wireless power transmission systems of the spatial type operating in the 2.4 GHz and 5.8 GHz bands, the MIC anticipates their further proliferation and the need to include them in specific radio equipment. To address this, it prepared the Draft Ministerial Ordinance to partially amend the Rules on Certifying Conformity of Specified Radio Equipment with Technical Standards.
 The MIC have solicited opinions on these Draft Ministerial Ordinances.

2. Report from the Radio Regulatory Council

 Based on the results of the opinion solicitation, the MIC consulted the Radio Regulatory Council regarding matters under the Radio Act (Act No. 131 of 1950) included in the Draft Ministerial Ordinances. Today, we have received a report stating that these matters are appropriate.

3. Upcoming schedule

 Based on the report from the Radio Regulatory Council and the results of the opinion solicitation, the MIC will promptly amend related regulations.