May 28, 2026
Core and Satellite Mobile Communications Division Results of the Solicitation for Opinions on the Draft Ministerial Ordinances Partially Amending the Regulations for Radio Equipment and the Report from the Radio Regulatory Council

　－Institutional Improvements for advancement of Inmarsat System D type－

　To facilitate institutional improvements for introducing Inmarsat-based IoT Communications System D type, the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications (MIC) prepared draft ministerial ordinances to partially amend the Radio Equipment Regulations (Radio Regulatory Commission Rules No. 18 of 1950). The MIC solicited opinions on these drafts from Friday, March 27, 2026, to Thursday, April 30, 2026. As a result, since two opinions were submitted, the submitted opinions and the MIC’s perspective on them will be announced.
　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

　Inmarsat mobile satellite earth stations have been operating the C, F, D, BGAN, GSPS , and IoT types in Japan. On this occasion, a new system has emerged that enables even faster communication through a software update for the Inmarsat system D type, which transmits and receives telemetry data from observation equipment and dynamic assets and have already been deployed in some countries.

　To this end, the Draft Ministerial Ordinances were prepared to enable advanced Inmarsat system D type to be deployed in Japan and public opinions were solicited from Friday, March 27, 2026, to Thursday, April 30, 2026.

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 on the matters 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.