Japan (country regulation overview)
License Price: US$ 3,740.00
The Japanese telecoms market is one of the most advanced in the world: it has a highly developed mobile market and is one of the leading markets for fiber network development. This is in part due to the balanced role played by the regulator, the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications (MIC). The MIC, working closely with industry players, has led a strong industry development policy with major ICT initiatives to develop infrastructure, competition, and industry usage.
It is a measure of Japan’s sophistication that its fiber unbundling regime has already been in place for several years. Later in 2010, Japan looks set to see the world’s first widespread implementations of LTE mobile network technology – a key example of the MIC facilitating new technologies and seeking to maintain the nation’s status as a world ICT leader.
Japan’s regulatory framework has been stable and predictable in recent years. The Japanese regulator generally strikes a good balance, intervening where necessary without overplaying its role or hampering competition or investment. As a result, consumers are well served, with affordable, competitive markets for both fixed and mobile telecoms services.
The Japanese telecoms market is one of the most advanced in the world: it has a highly developed mobile market and is one of the leading markets for fiber network development. This is in part due to the balanced role played by the regulator, the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications (MIC). The MIC, working closely with industry players, has led a strong industry development policy with major ICT initiatives to develop infrastructure, competition, and industry usage.
It is a measure of Japan’s sophistication that its fiber unbundling regime has already been in place for several years. Later in 2010, Japan looks set to see the world’s first widespread implementations of LTE mobile network technology – a key example of the MIC facilitating new technologies and seeking to maintain the nation’s status as a world ICT leader.
Japan’s regulatory framework has been stable and predictable in recent years. The Japanese regulator generally strikes a good balance, intervening where necessary without overplaying its role or hampering competition or investment. As a result, consumers are well served, with affordable, competitive markets for both fixed and mobile telecoms services.
Overview
Ovum view
Fixed market overview
Mobile market overview
Broadband (DSL and FTTH) market
National regulatory authority
Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications (MIC)
Global ICT Strategy Bureau
Information and Communications Bureau
Telecommunication Bureau
Telecoms Business Dispute Settlement Commission
National competition authority
Key legislation and regulation
Amendment of the Telecommunications Business Law and the NTT Law
Proposed communications key reforms
Competition regulation
Restructuring the NTT Group
Mobile licensing
3G licenses
Outline of 3.9G license policy
Spectrum regulation
Digital dividend in Japan
WiMAX in Japan
Retail regulation
Regulated services
Price cap on fixed telephone and leased line services
Wholesale fixed regulation
Services subject to regulation
Cost model for reference interconnection offer
Procedure for setting and reviewing charges
VoIP regulation
Narrowband flat-rate interconnection
Flat-rate Internet access call origination (FRIACO)
Narrowband voice interconnection
Interconnect charges
Set-up service for interconnect
Wholesale access
Facility sharing
Optical fiber regulation
Basis for wholesale charges for NTT’s optical fiber in 2008–10
Local loop unbundling (LLU)
Wholesale mobile regulation
Services subject to regulation
Basis for mobile termination rates
Current level of mobile termination charges
Mobile number portability
MVNO regulation
Guidelines for MVNO business
Guidelines for SIM unlocking
Competition cases
Current competition cases
Universal service
Universal service providers and the universal service fund
Government initiatives
Appendix
Methodology
Ovum view
Fixed market overview
Mobile market overview
Broadband (DSL and FTTH) market
National regulatory authority
Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications (MIC)
Global ICT Strategy Bureau
Information and Communications Bureau
Telecommunication Bureau
Telecoms Business Dispute Settlement Commission
National competition authority
Key legislation and regulation
Amendment of the Telecommunications Business Law and the NTT Law
Proposed communications key reforms
Competition regulation
Restructuring the NTT Group
Mobile licensing
3G licenses
Outline of 3.9G license policy
Spectrum regulation
Digital dividend in Japan
WiMAX in Japan
Retail regulation
Regulated services
Price cap on fixed telephone and leased line services
Wholesale fixed regulation
Services subject to regulation
Cost model for reference interconnection offer
Procedure for setting and reviewing charges
VoIP regulation
Narrowband flat-rate interconnection
Flat-rate Internet access call origination (FRIACO)
Narrowband voice interconnection
Interconnect charges
Set-up service for interconnect
Wholesale access
Facility sharing
Optical fiber regulation
Basis for wholesale charges for NTT’s optical fiber in 2008–10
Local loop unbundling (LLU)
Wholesale mobile regulation
Services subject to regulation
Basis for mobile termination rates
Current level of mobile termination charges
Mobile number portability
MVNO regulation
Guidelines for MVNO business
Guidelines for SIM unlocking
Competition cases
Current competition cases
Universal service
Universal service providers and the universal service fund
Government initiatives
Appendix
Methodology
LIST OF TABLES
Table 1: Award of 3G licenses in Japan
Table 2: Process of 3.9G introduction
Table 3: Outline of 3.9G (including 3.5G upgraded system) plans
Table 4: Telecoms price-cap regulation in Japan
Table 5: Standard charge index for 2006–10
Table 6: Fixed sector in Japan: services subject to regulation
Table 7: Fixed interconnect charges in Japan
Table 8: Wholesale charges for facilities by NTT East
Table 9: LLU charges by line type in Japan in 2010
Table 10: Mobile sector: services subject to regulation
Table 11: The asymmetric regulation (designated telecommunications facility) system in Japan
Table 12: Changes in subscriber numbers and growth rates after the introduction of MNP
Table 1: Award of 3G licenses in Japan
Table 2: Process of 3.9G introduction
Table 3: Outline of 3.9G (including 3.5G upgraded system) plans
Table 4: Telecoms price-cap regulation in Japan
Table 5: Standard charge index for 2006–10
Table 6: Fixed sector in Japan: services subject to regulation
Table 7: Fixed interconnect charges in Japan
Table 8: Wholesale charges for facilities by NTT East
Table 9: LLU charges by line type in Japan in 2010
Table 10: Mobile sector: services subject to regulation
Table 11: The asymmetric regulation (designated telecommunications facility) system in Japan
Table 12: Changes in subscriber numbers and growth rates after the introduction of MNP
LIST OF FIGURES
Figure 1: Total fixed-line telephone subscriptions in Japan
Figure 2: Mobile phone subscriptions in Japan by carrier, July 2010
Figure 3: Broadband subscriber numbers by technology in Japan
Figure 4: Current and provisional legal system of Japan
Figure 5: Structure and coverage of NTT
Figure 6: Figure 6 Procedure for radio station (spectrum allocation) in Japan
Figure 7: Plan for digital dividend
Figure 8: Unbundled network elements
Figure 9: Interconnect architecture
Figure 10: Configuration of NTT fiber-optic unbundling
Figure 11: NTT's investment in fiber local loops and total investment in facilities
Figure 12: Wholesale charges of NTT’s optical fiber in 2008–10
Figure 13: Historical MTR reductions in Japan (2005–10)
Figure 14: Revision of “benchmarking method”
Figure 1: Total fixed-line telephone subscriptions in Japan
Figure 2: Mobile phone subscriptions in Japan by carrier, July 2010
Figure 3: Broadband subscriber numbers by technology in Japan
Figure 4: Current and provisional legal system of Japan
Figure 5: Structure and coverage of NTT
Figure 6: Figure 6 Procedure for radio station (spectrum allocation) in Japan
Figure 7: Plan for digital dividend
Figure 8: Unbundled network elements
Figure 9: Interconnect architecture
Figure 10: Configuration of NTT fiber-optic unbundling
Figure 11: NTT's investment in fiber local loops and total investment in facilities
Figure 12: Wholesale charges of NTT’s optical fiber in 2008–10
Figure 13: Historical MTR reductions in Japan (2005–10)
Figure 14: Revision of “benchmarking method”
