May 26, 2026 Revision of Directive and Guidelines Accompanying the Enforcement of the Amended Telecommunications Business Act, etc.

　The Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications (MIC) has revised and published the relevant directive and guidelines based on the "Solicitation for Opinions on Drafts of a Directive to Partially Revise the Review Standards Related to the Telecommunications Business Act" (April 8, 2026), the "Results of Solicitation for Opinions on Drafts of Institutional Development, including Draft Ministerial Ordinance to Partially Revise Regulations for Enforcement of the Telecommunications Business Act (Revision of Provisions Concerning the Introduction of the Universal Telecommunications Services Register), and Report from Information and Communications and Posts Administrative Council" (April 9, 2026), and the "Results of Solicitation for Opinions on Drafts of Institutional Development, including Draft Ministerial Ordinance to Partially Revise Regulations for Enforcement of the Telecommunications Business Act (Revision of Provisions Concerning the Ensuring of Fair Competition), and Report from Information and Communications and Posts Administrative Council" (April 9, 2026).

Note: The published materials are in Japanese only.

1　 Background

　The Act for Partial Revision of the Telecommunications Business Act and the Act on Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation, etc. (Act No. 46 of 2025), promulgated on May 28, 2025, provides that, except for certain provisions, it shall come into effect within a period not exceeding one year from the date of promulgation. In connection with the enforcement of the Act, MIC has revised and published the relevant directive and guidelines in order to carry out the necessary institutional development.

2　 Results of the Solicitation for Opinions

　MIC solicited opinions for 35 days, from April 9 to May 13, 2026, on drafts of a directive to partially revise the Review Standards Related to the Telecommunications Business Act and related materials, in order to carry out the necessary institutional development concerning the certification system for the provision of transmission towers in connection with the enforcement of the Act. As a result, three opinions were submitted.

　MIC also solicited opinions for 31 days, from February 21 to March 23, 2026, on drafts of institutional development, including the introduction of the Universal Telecommunications Services Register and the revision of provisions concerning the Ensuring of Fair Competition, which were necessary for the enforcement of the Act.

3　 Revision of Directive and Guidelines

　Based on the results of the solicitation for opinions, MIC has revised the following directive and guidelines:

• ○ Directive to Partially Revise the Review Standards Related to the Telecommunications Business Act
• ○ Guidelines on Application Relationships of the Telecommunications Business Act and the Radio Act concerning Infrastructure Sharing in the Mobile Communications Field
• ○ Guidelines for Consumer Protection Rules for the Telecommunications Business Act
• ○ Guidelines for Promotion of Competition in the Telecommunications Business Field
• ○ Basic Guidelines regarding the Registration Renewal System Associated with Intra-Group Mergers, etc.
• ○ Basic Guidelines regarding Designation of Telecommunications Carriers pursuant to the Provisions of Article 30, Paragraph 1 and Paragraph 3, Item 2 of the Telecommunications Business Act
• ○ Guidelines on Measures to be Taken to Ensure Fair Competition concerning NTT, Inc., etc.
• ○ Guideline on Application of the Telecommunications Business Act and Radio Act related to MVNO
• ○ Guidelines on the Application of the Telecommunications Business Act to Wholesale Telecommunications Services for FTTH Access Services and Other Services of NTT East and NTT West
• ○ Fair Competition Guidelines concerning the Utilization Operations of NTT East and NTT West

4　 Effective Date of the Revisions

　May 27, 2026

5　 How to Obtain Materials

　The published materials are posted in the "Press Release" section of the MIC website (https://www.soumu.go.jp/ )