May 12, 2025 Results of the Solicitation for Opinions on the Draft Ministerial Ordinance to Partially Amend the Regulations for Enforcement of the Radio Act (hereinafter referred to as the "Draft Ministerial Ordinance")
- Institutional Enhancements for Introducing Time Division Duplex (TDD)-Based Mobile Phones for Aerial Use -

　The Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications (MIC) solicited opinions on the Draft Ministerial Ordinance to partially amend the Regulations for Enforcement of the Radio Act (Radio Regulatory Commission Rules No. 14 of 1950). The opinion solicitation period ran from Saturday, March 1, 2025, to Monday, March 31, 2025. As a result, 13 opinions were submitted.
　Based on the results of the opinion solicitation, the MIC will promptly revise the relevant regulations.

1. Background

　With the recent expansion of drone applications, there is growing demand to mount communication devices—such as mobile phones—on drones for tasks like inspecting infrastructure facilities from the air or capturing and transmitting aerial images in real time.
To accommodate such demands, the sharing and technical conditions for using mobile phones operating in TDD frequency bands, Broadband Wireless Access (BWA), and local 5G in aerial applications have been studied by the Information and Communications Council, chaired by ENDO Nobuhiro, special advisor to NEC Corporation. On Tuesday, December 17, 2024, the MIC received a partial report from the Council regarding technical conditions.
　In light of this, we solicited opinions regarding the Draft Ministerial Ordinance to enable the aerial use of mobile phones operating in TDD frequency bands, BWA, and local 5G. The opinion solicitation period ran from Saturday, March 1, 2025, to Monday, March 31, 2025.

2. Future plans

　We will amend the "Guidelines for Introducing Local 5G" based on the results of the opinion solicitation.
The amendment will take effect on the effective date of the ministerial ordinance.
　Based on the opinions submitted, we will promptly proceed with the necessary procedures to amend the Regulations for Enforcement of the Radio Act and related regulations.