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"Spectrum Policy," Chapter 5, R. Taplin and M. Wakui (eds.), Japanese Telecommunications: Market and Policy in Transition, Routledge, U.K., 2006, pp. 109-149.

[Outline]

Spectrum resources in Japan have been administered by Somusho (Ministry of Public Management, Home Affairs, Posts, and Telecommunications, MIC), a branch of the Government of Japan, since the end of the War. As in other countries, the demand for spectrum use for communication and other purposes has been increased significantly during recent years because of rapid technological progress and the emergence of new services; spectrum supply is in shortage now.


In contrast to U.S., U.K., and many other countries, however, the Japanese Government has adopted a very conservative way to deal with the shortage problem. It still relies on governmental command and control in handling the assignment of spectrum blocks to users (licensing). Somusho follows the global trend in reallocating spectrum bands; the supply of spectrum for new services including mobile telephony and wireless networking has been increased. No competitive mechanism such as spectrum auction has been introduced in doing this, although MPHPT is introducing reallocation and utilization fees to a limited extent. As a consequence, one sees few new major entrants in the use of spectrum in Japan.


This chapter summarizes the past and the present state of spectrum policy in Japan, particularly in comparison with those in other countries such as U.S. and U.K. In addition, an attempt will be made to explain what are the major impediments to the introduction of open and competitive supply of spectrum in Japan.

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[Keywords]

spectrum policy, Japan, history, allocation, assignment, spectrum bands, spectrum blocks, license, comparative hearings, spectrum commons, auction, exclusive use, spectrum regulation, radio law, blanket license, IMT-2000, 3G mobiles, wireless LAN, user fees, MIC

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[Publisher]

Routledge, London and New York.

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[Reviews (of the book)]

Martin Fransman (Communications Engineering, IET)

Sean Curtin (The Japan Society of the UK)

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[Miscellaneous]

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Hajime Oniki
ECON, OGU
02/09/2007
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