May 2, 2024 Inquiry to Information and Communications Council regarding Ideal State of Telecommunications Number System for Migration to IP Networks, etc.

 Today, the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications (MIC) submitted the inquiry to Information and Communications Council (chaired by ENDO Nobuhiro) on the ideal state of telecommunications number system for migrating to IP networks, etc.

1. Background

 Japan’s telecommunications number system was established as a result of the revision of the Telecommunications Business Act (Act No. 86 of 1984) (by the Act for the Partial Amendment of the Telecommunications Business Act and the Act on The National Institute of Information and Communications Technology, Independent Administrative Agency (Act No. 24 of 2018)), which came into effect in May 2019. The conditions for using each type of telecommunications number are stipulated in the Telecommunications Numbering Plan (Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications Notification No. 6 of 2019).
 Now we are facing the completion of the migration of the public switched telephone network (PSTN) to IP networks, which is scheduled for January 2025, potentially resulting in changes to the traditional methods of network signal connections.
 Following the transition to IP networks, bidirectional number portability is expected to be available for fixed-line telephone numbers, similar to voice transmission mobile phone numbers; however, the details about exceptions to the portability has not yet been clarified.
 Also we are facing the continuation of the misuse of telecommunications numbers for crimes such as special fraud. Moreover, we are seeing the increase in the number of incidents of arrests, prosecutions, and prison sentences for such cases. Now it has become one of the most serious social problems.
 In this regard, it is necessary to discuss and decide the conditions, etc., concerning the use of telecommunications numbers in response to the completion of the migration of the public switched telephone network (PSTN) to IP networks and the drastic measures against criminal use of telecommunications numbers.

 Based on the above, the inquiry regarding the ideal state of telecommunications number system for migrating to IP networks, etc. has been submitted.

2. Matters for which a report is requested

 Ideal state of telecommunications number system for migration to IP networks, etc.

3. Scheduled deadline for the report

 October 2024