May 26, 2025 Results of the Solicitation for Opinions on the Draft Ministerial Ordinances Partially Amending the Regulations for Enforcement of the Radio Act and Other Rules (hereinafter referred to as the "Draft Ministerial Ordinances"), and the Report from the Radio Regulatory Council
- Institutional Improvements for the Introduction of Inmarsat-based IoT Communications Systems -

　To facilitate institutional improvements for introducing Inmarsat-based IoT Communications Systems, the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications (MIC) prepared draft ministerial ordinances to partially amend the following regulations: The Regulations for Enforcement of the Radio Act (Radio Regulatory Commission Rules No. 14 of 1950), the Radio Equipment Regulations (Radio Regulatory Commission Rules No. 18 of 1950), and the Rules on Certifying Conformity of Specified Radio Equipment with Technical Standards (Ordinance of the Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications No. 37 of 1981). The MIC solicited opinions on these drafts from Wednesday, March 26, 2025, to Thursday, April 24, 2025. As a result, five opinions were submitted.
　Based on the results of the opinion solicitation, the MIC consulted the Radio Regulatory Council, chaired by SASASE Iwao, professor emeritus at Keio University, regarding the appropriateness of the Draft Ministerial Ordinances. Today, the MIC received a report stating that they are appropriate.
　Based on the results of the opinion solicitation and the report from the Radio Regulatory Council, the MIC will promptly amend the related regulations.

Note: The published materials are in Japanese only.

1. Overview of the opinion solicitation

　The Inmarsat-based IoT Communications Systems are satellite communications systems that utilize Inmarsat satellites and comply with the 3GPP satellite NB-IoT standard. These communications systems are expected to be used in terminals integrated into the same chassis as mobile phones and similar devices, in-vehicle terminals, and IoT terminals, and have already been deployed in some countries.
　However, the introduction of Inmarsat-based IoT Communications Systems in Japan requires amendments to certain ministerial ordinances. To this end, the Draft Ministerial Ordinances were prepared, and public opinions were solicited from Wednesday, March 26, 2025, to Thursday, April 24, 2025.

2. Report from the Radio Regulatory Council

　Based on the results of the opinion solicitation, the MIC consulted the Radio Regulatory Council, chaired by SASASE Iwao, professor emeritus at Keio University, regarding the appropriateness of the Draft Ministerial Ordinance related to the Radio Act. Today, the MIC received a report stating that the Draft is appropriate.

3. Future plans

　Based on the results of the opinion solicitation and the Council's report, the MIC will promptly proceed with the amendment of the related regulations.