The Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications (MIC) held the 1146th Radio Regulatory Council meeting, conducting consultation deliberations on ministerial ordinance drafts related to system development accompanying FY2025 Radio Law and Broadcasting Law amendments, and implementing radio effective use evaluations to optimize Japan"s radio administration and strategically advance information and communication policies. This council functions as an important policy decision body aimed at modernizing radio usage systems responding to full-scale 5G/6G mobile communication system deployment, IoT/AI technology proliferation, and cybersecurity enhancement.
The major deliberation items of Radio Law Enforcement Regulations amendment ministerial ordinance draft (Consultation No. 23) and Broadcasting Law Enforcement Regulations amendment ministerial ordinance draft (Consultation No. 24) aim to establish legal system foundations for realizing radio usage efficiency, broadcasting service diversification, and information security enhancement in the digital transformation era. Particularly, through radio usage fee system review, wireless equipment technical standard conformity assurance, interference countermeasure strengthening, and international standard alignment, optimal allocation of limited radio wave resources and usage efficiency improvement are pursued.
The NHK FY2024 financial report highlights public broadcasting sustainability assurance, proper reception fee system operation, and improved public understanding as important challenges. Particularly, the balance between enhancing public broadcasting value through expanded use of internet simultaneous distribution service "NHK Plus," promoting 4K/8K broadcasting proliferation, and strengthening disaster reporting and international broadcasting functions, while achieving management efficiency and reducing public burden is required.
In radio effective use evaluation, detailed analysis of various radio system usage conditions in frequency bands below 714MHz and public service radio stations provides improvement recommendations from frequency reallocation, technological innovation response, and international coordination perspectives. This evaluation plays important roles in optimizing frequency sharing among diverse radio users including mobile phone systems, disaster prevention administrative radio, broadcasting stations, aviation/maritime communications, and amateur radio, and in establishing policy guidelines for promoting new technology introduction.
In Beyond 5G (6G) technology development, securing frequency resources for realizing ultra-high speed, ultra-low latency, and massive connectivity, active participation in international standardization activities, and promoting technological innovation through industry-academia-government collaboration are advanced as priority policies. Additionally, through next-generation communication infrastructure development including quantum communication, satellite communication, and submarine cables, strengthening Japan"s international competitiveness in information and communications fields and ensuring economic security are pursued.
In cybersecurity enhancement, establishing security standards for wireless equipment, addressing IoT device vulnerabilities, protecting critical infrastructure, and responding to cyber threats through international cooperation promote safe and secure digital society assurance. Toward realizing the Digital Garden City Vision, environmental development enabling comfortable digital service usage anywhere nationwide is advanced through 5G base station development in rural areas, optical fiber network expansion, digital divide resolution, and regional informatization support.
In international cooperation and standardization, active involvement in technical standard formulation at ITU (International Telecommunication Union) and 3GPP, radio usage coordination in the Asia-Pacific region, and technical cooperation with developing countries promote international expansion of Japan"s radio administration know-how and technological capabilities. The deliberation results of this Radio Regulatory Council represent important policy decision processes determining Japan"s information and communication policy directions, holding extremely important significance in infrastructure development for digital society realization and Society 5.0 promotion.