October 20, 2025 Technical Requirements for 800 MHz Band Broadband Low-power Wireless Communications Systems (hereinafter the "800 MHz Technical Requirements") as Part of Technical Requirements for Upgrading Low-power Wireless Communications Systems (hereinafter the "Low-power Upgrade Technical Requirements"), and Technical Requirements for 3D Positioning Systems (hereinafter the "3D Technical Requirements") as Part of Technical Requirements for Upgrading Commercial Land Radiocommunications Systems (hereinafter the "Land Upgrade Technical Requirements")

- Partial Report from the Information and Communications Council -

　Today, the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications (MIC) received a partial report on the 800 MHz Technical Requirements and the 3D Technical Requirements, from the Information and Communications Council, chaired by ENDO Nobuhiro, Special Advisor to NEC Corporation. The 800 MHz Technical Requirements form part of the Low-power Upgrade Technical Requirements, which correspond to Consultation No. 2009 dated September 30, 2002. The 3D Technical Requirements form part of the Land Upgrade Technical Requirements, which correspond to Consultation No. 2033 dated May 17, 2013.

Note: The published materials are in Japanese only.

1. Background

　The digital Multi-channel Access (MCA) system was first introduced in 1994. Since then, it has been used as a self-operated radio communications system covering a relatively large area of several tens of kilometers for various purposes, including work-related communications in various industries, vehicle information management, and business continuity measures implemented by the private sector and the national and local governments. However, as the digital MCA system still relies on second-generation mobile phone technology, its continued maintenance and management have become difficult. Consequently, the discontinuation of the service at the end of May 2029 has been announced.

　To explore the potential use of the frequency band that will become vacant following the termination of the digital MCA service, a "Study on New Radio Use in the 900 MHz Band" was conducted in FY2019. This study resulted in the proposal of three systems using the 800 MHz band. In FY2020 and FY2021, a frequency-sharing study was carried out, confirming that these three systems can operate in the frequency band even during the period in which the digital MCA system remains in service. Note that one of these systems has been withdrawn, as its introduction has not yet been decided.

　In light of this situation, the Information and Communications Council has been studying the technical requirements necessary for introducing systems that utilize the 800 MHz band—the 800 MHz band broadband low-power wireless communications system and two 3D positioning systems. Today, the MIC received a partial report on these technical requirements from the Council.

2. Future plans

　Based on this partial report, the MIC plans to develop the relevant regulations.