### 3. Development of radio policy

## (1) Summary of radio policy

### A. Promotion of effective frequency usage

As frequencies are a limited resource, it will be necessary to promote newly effective frequency usages such as the white space usage to ensure that this resource serves to increase people's benefit. Since December 2009, the MIC has held a Round-Table Conference, titled "Examination Team for New Radio Usage Vision," for initiating studies on new and more effective frequency usages.

### B. Efforts for transfer and reallocation of spectrum and development of the radio usage environment

Since October 2008, the MIC has held a Spectrum Policy Round-Table Conference for studies on the future vision and possible uses of radio communication systems and services in the 2010s and published the results as the Spectrum Policy Round-Table Conference Report: Strategy for Generation of Spectrum Business. Possible new applications harnessing wireless communication technology include systems and services such as non-colliding vehicles and comfortable, fully cordless living environments. It is estimated that the market for new spectrum-related services and systems could be worth 50 trillion yen by 2020.

## (2) Efforts toward sophistication and diversification of radio usage

### A. Advancement of mobile communication system and wireless access system

As of the end of March 2010, the number of cellular and PHS cellular phone units in Japan had reached 116.29 million, of which 3G (third-generation) “IMT-2000” mobile communication systems accounted for 95.4%. Currently, progress is being made toward standard adoption of the “3.9G” mobile communication system, more sophisticated than the 3G system, and throughout the world enterprises, etc. are moving toward the realization of full-scale adoption in 2010 or thereafter. Meanwhile, the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) is moving forward with standardization ahead of the adoption of the 4G system (IMT-Advanced), which achieves 100 Mbps when moving at high speeds and 1 Gbps at low speeds, around 2011, and the MIC is actively promoting efforts for research and development and international standardization with industry-academia-government cooperation.

With regard to broadband wireless access (BWA) systems, UQ Communications Co., Ltd. has been using mobile WiMAX to offer service in the 23 wards of Tokyo and Yokohama and Kawasaki cities since February 2009, with service expanding to the Tokyo-Nagoya-Osaka corridor in July 2009. The MIC began accepting applications for licenses to conduct regional WiMAX businesses at a municipal level in March 2008, and as of March 2010 has granted wireless station licenses to around 40 businesses, primarily cable TV operators, around one quarter of which have already begun commercial service.

### B. Promotion of ITS

The MIC established the Study Group on Advancement of ITS Wireless Systems in October 2008 to further the advancement of wireless systems used in ITS (Intelligent Transportation Systems) and to deliberate its vision for the utilization of the Wireless ITS Safe Driving Support System, its functions and required specifications and technological issues and promotional measures for its realization, and compiled a report in June 2009. As exemplified by VICS (Vehicle Information and Communication System) and ETC (electronic toll collection), ITS has become a vital part of Japan’s infrastructure, offering solutions to issues in a wide range of sectors, and efforts are underway to promote its increased sophistication.

## (3) Development of radio usage environment

### A. Efforts concerning effects of radio waves on the human body and medical equipment

The MIC has conducted research on the effect of the radio spectrum on the human body to protect the human body from the effect of the radio spectrum. Using the research results and international guidelines as a reference, the MIC has established safety standards (Safety Guidelines for Use of Radio Waves) to be applied in Japan. The MIC also evaluates and analyzes domestic and international research on the effects of the radio spectrum on the human body, promotes studies by extracting research themes to be addressed by Japan, and has held meetings of the Committee on Bioelectromagnetic Environment since June 2008, with the aim of creating a society where people can use radio spectrum safely.