Consumer products and retail

May 2025 - Electrical and electronics

In Effect as of May 20, 2025

On May 20, 2025, Japan’s Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications enacted amendments to the Radio Act Enforcement Regulations (Ordinance No. 14 of 1950) and related rules. These updates respond to the growing need for mobile communication systems to be installed on drones and other devices, especially for infrastructure inspections and real-time aerial image transmission.

The amendments aim to allow the use of airspace for mobile phones, Broadband Wireless Access (BWA), and local 5G systems that use TDD (Time Division Duplex) frequency bands.

 

Key Changes:

1. Expansion of Permitted Operation Areas for Local 5G

• The regulations now expand the movement range for local 5G radio stations.
• Previously restricted to “rivers, lakes, and waters excluding areas outside of territorial waters,” the range now includes “other equivalent areas”.
• This expansion facilitates the use of mobile systems in broader airspace zones, such as drones used for aerial operations.

2. Effective Date and Transitional Measures

• The revised rules took effect on May 20, 2025, the same day they were published.
• Local 5G radio stations already licensed or provisionally licensed may continue operating under the previous regulations.

 

Related Amendments:

Notice No. 277 of 2024 – Land Mobile Stations

• The updated notice excludes certain local 5G equipment from being classified as “land mobile stations” subject to specific radio station requirements.
• This applies to local 5G used in telecommunications businesses, where movement is limited to specific areas defined in a separate notice.

Notice No. 399 of 2020 – Prohibited Installation Zones

• Amended to specify areas where installation of base stations, relay stations, and mobile stations is not allowed for the following frequency bands:
  • 4.6–4.8 GHz
  • 4.8–4.9 GHz
  • 28.2–29.1 GHz
• This restriction applies to:
  • Local 5G base stations
  • Local 5G land mobile relay stations
  • Local 5G land mobile stations

These amendments aim to support the expanding use of mobile networks in aerial and mobile applications while maintaining appropriate controls over radio wave usage.

 

Reference:

[1] https://public-comment.e-gov.go.jp/pcm/download?seqNo=0000293072

 

 

How does this impact you and your business?

Contact us to discuss.

TÜV SÜD has dedicated experts to assist you in the development of consumer products and meeting applicable regulations. Through a global network of laboratories, TÜV SÜD offers a wide range of services that includes chemical tests, physical or mechanical tests as well as inspections to ensure the compliance of your products in target markets. 

For enquiries, please contact us at [email protected]