international discussions, mainly in the WGIG.

## (4) Study on mobile phone number portability

From November 2003 discussions were held by the MIC’s Study Group on Mobile Number Portability, which compiled a report in April 2004. In response to this report, the MIC created and published “Guidelines Concerning Introduction of Mobile Number Portability” in May of the same year.

## (5) Efforts toward upgrading mobile communications systems

In response to the report by the Radio Regulatory Council in March 2005 on formulation of technical standards for the high-power passive tag systems using the 950 MHz band, the partial amendment of the Rules for Regulating Radio Equipment concerning frequency assignment, and the draft partial amendment of the Frequency Assignment Plan, the MIC amended the relevant ministerial ordinance, etc. in April of the same year. With this amendment, RFID tags became usable not only in the conventional 135 kHz, 13.56 MHz, and 2.45 GHz bands, but also in the 950 MHz band, which allows relatively long-distance communications and has the potential for new usage.

## (6) Upgrading wireless access systems

Since the 5 GHz band frequency was globally allocated for wireless access systems at the World Radiocommunication Conference (WRC-03) in July 2003, the MIC consulted with the Telecommunications Council on the technical requirements in October of the same year in order to institutionalize the use of the new band, and received a partial report in November 2004. Based on this partial report, the MIC sought advice from the Radio Regulatory Council in April 2005 on the draft of the necessary stipulations. The MIC received the advice in the same month, and based on that advice, it institutionalized the use of the new band in May of the same year.

## (7) Promoting intelligent transport systems (ITS)

As a measure to promote the diffusion and upgrade of ITS, the MIC promotes dedicated short-range communications (DSRC) in cooperation with the DSRC Forum Japan (Secretariats: Association of Radio Industries and Businesses (ARIB), Highway Industry Development Organization (HIDO), and Japan Automobile Research Institute (JARI)), the ITS Info-Communications Forum (Secretariat: ARIB), the Smartway Project Advisory Committee, and the Study Committee for Practical Application of Smart Plates (Secretariat: Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport). At the same time, the MIC diffuses/develops ITS in local communities, and provides international cooperation by using Japan’s ITS technology in Asia, particularly in China.

In terms of R&D of ITS, the MIC engaged in “R&D of Internet ITS” until fiscal 2004, and plans to launch and promote “R&D of ubiquitous ITS” in fiscal 2005 in cooperation with the Study Group for Promotion of Advanced Safety Vehicles (ASV) and autonomous movement support projects in order to achieve a ubiquity for ITS.

## 2 Promoting advances in broadcasting

(1) Promoting digitization of terrestrial broadcasting

In the three major metropolitan regions, the MIC began countermeasures for transmitters in August 2002 and countermeasures for individual households and others in February 2003. It also implements countermeasures in other areas, and steadily promotes the respective measures according to the plan, launching countermeasures in 353 regions and completing countermeasures for about 2.3 million households (about 54% of the total) by the end of fiscal 2004.

Under the cooperation of the National Conference for Promotion of Terrestrial Digital Broadcasting and Local Councils to Promote Terrestrial Digital Broadcasting, the MIC drew up the concrete target time for starting broadcasting at the prefectural capitals nationwide, the implementation of which is planned by the end of 2006, and published the result as a roadmap for the opening of new terrestrial digital television broadcasting stations (prefectural capitals).

## (2) Upgrading satellite broadcasting

Based on the report by the Study Group on Protecting Personal Information in the Field of Broadcasting and Satellite Broadcasting in the Age of IT compiled in February 2005, the MIC announced the results of the invitation to comment on applying the Law Concerning Broadcast on Telecommunications Services to the use of left-hand circular polarization that is transmitted from communications satellites at 110 degrees east longitude in March of the same year, and plans to make necessary institutional improvements.

## (3) Upgrading cable television

As the cable television networks become more and more sophisticated, new modes of services such as FTTH have been started. In light of this situation, the MIC sought advice from the Telecommunications Council on the technical requirements for cable television networks mainly based on optical fiber cables as “technical conditions for improving cable television networks with FTTH” in July 2004 in order to smoothly provide the transmission characteristics specific to optical fiber and services that converge broadcasting and communications, and received a report from the council in March 2005. The MIC plans to formulate technical standards based on the report.