April 11, 2025 Announcement of the Third Interim Report on FY 2024 Test Purchases of Wireless Communication Devices

　The Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications (MIC) is conducting test purchases of wireless communication devices available through online shopping sites and other channels to verify their compliance with the standards set forth in the Radio Act.
　The MIC has compiled the third interim report for FY 2024 and has decided to make it public.

1. Overview of test purchases of wireless communication devices

　The Radio Act stipulates that wireless communication devices that do not require a license prior to use include ones that emit extremely low-power radio waves (hereinafter referred to as "extremely low-power wireless communication devices"). These devices should be, in principle, used within the standards for extremely low-power wireless communication devices, particularly in situations where long communication distances are not required. However, wireless communication devices exceeding these standards in terms of radio waves are actually available on the market, causing interference with other radio stations and creating various disturbances.
　The MIC considers it necessary to prevent consumers from purchasing and using wireless communication devices that do not conform to the standards for extremely low-power wireless communication devices since doing so may constitute a violation of the Radio Act, i.e., the illegal establishment of a radio station. Interference with other radio stations or other forms of disturbance should also be prevented. To address this issue, the MIC purchases wireless communication devices widely available on the market, measures their radio wave strength and characteristics, and verifies their compliance with the standards. If a device is found to be non-compliant, the MIC makes it known to the public.

2. Results of the third interim report on FY 2024 test purchases of wireless communication devices

　As a result of measurements conducted on purchased wireless communication devices, 41 models were found to emit radio waves that do not comply with the standards for extremely low-power wireless communication devices. The results have been posted on the Radio Use Website of the MIC.
(https://www.tele.soumu.go.jp/j/adm/monitoring/illegal/result/index.htm )
　A summary of the results is provided in the attached PDF .
　Efforts are also underway to label wireless communication devices that comply with the standards for extremely low-power wireless communication devices as such, in order to certify their compliance.

3. Future plans

　For the wireless communication devices found to emit radio waves that do not comply with the standards for extremely low-power wireless communication devices, published this time, the MIC will request that sellers refrain from offering them for sale.
　The MIC will continue to conduct test purchases of wireless communication devices and publish the results, and work to secure an appropriate radio wave usage environment through collaboration with related organizations and proactive outreach to sellers and Internet shopping site operators.