Development of Technical Examination Services Concerning Frequency Crowding

1.Purposes of the Technical Examination Services

The number of radio stations has increased rapidly in recent years, and in order to eliminate or minimize interference and airwave congestion arising from frequency crowding, it has become necessary to quickly implement technology that would allow the efficient use of radio waves.

For this purpose, technology that is believed to realize increased efficiency in radio wave use is placed under consideration from a technical perspective in order to expedite implementation under the system of technical examination services started in FY1996. This system is used to ease crowding of frequencies experienced by those establishing and operating radio stations.

2.Outline of the Technical Examination Services

Technology examination services cover the following three main areas.

1. Technology to improve transmission efficiency and frequency capacity

   This covers technology to improve transmission efficiency and narrow down the frequency bandwidth per channel within existing frequency bands in order to increase the frequency that can be used for new allocations, thus improving the use of the existing frequency.

   1. ①Technology for narrowing, digitalization, etc.
   2. ②Intelligent control technology, etc.
2. Technology to lower or eliminate interference and jamming

   This covers technology to lower or eliminate interference and jamming from other stations in frequencies where this prevented the allocation of frequency, thus improving frequency usage.

   1. ①Technology to lower or eliminate interference and jamming within the same medium
   2. ②Frequency sharing technology
   3. ③Electromagnetic environment and radio equipment measurement technology
3. Technology to increase use of high frequency bands

   This covers technology to increase use of high frequency bands (3GHz and above), where technology is not established and usage is low

   1. ①Microwave technology
   2. ②Millimeter-wave technology

3.List of Technical Examination Service Cases

1. Improving transmission efficiency and frequency capacity

   Examination conducted	Outline
   (1) Studies and evaluation tests on technological advancement of disaster-preparedness community radio	Studies on digital modulation systems suitable for the small-scale transmission demands of disaster-preparedness community radio, aimed at promoting the digitalization of disaster-preparedness radio in small municipalities, etc.

2. Lowering or eliminating interference and jamming

   Examination conducted	Outline
   (1) Survey and studies on high-density frequency sharing technology in large-zone radio systems	Studies on “technology for elimination of no-reception dead zones accompanying urbanization” and “technology for identification of zones suitable for multiple applications through appropriate frequency sharing standards” as frequency-sharing technologies for denser use of frequencies in large-zone radio systems
   (2) Studies on technical conditions for boosting efficiency of fixed microwave communication lines	Studies on technical conditions needed to enable outdoor installation of radio equipment directly below antennas, for the purpose of reducing transmitted waves and alleviating interference with other radio stations
   (3) Studies on advanced frequency application technologies for 400MHz-band medical telemeters	Studies on technical conditions for application of highly safe communications standards currently in the process of standardization, and shift to two-way transmissions, so as to facilitate the advancement of 400MHz-band medical telemeters
   (4) Studies on mobile communications technology employing the 700MHz band, etc.	Studies on frequency-sharing technology for road-to-vehicle communications systems, technology for coexistence with neighboring systems, and technology for efficient frequency use, so as to facilitate the advancement of mobile communications systems employing the 700MHz band
   (5) Survey and studies on frequency sharing technology geared toward advanced application of short-range radio transmission systems	Studies on technical conditions for sharing of frequencies with existing systems, etc., so as to facilitate advanced application of short-range radio transmission systems that transmit signals and electricity
   (6) Studies on frequency sharing technology for radio systems employing white space	Survey and study on technical conditions for required radio equipment and conditions for sharing of frequencies with existing radio stations, so as to realize the practical application of VHF and UHF-band radio systems employing white space
   (7) Studies on technical conditions applying to destination frequencies in reallocation of frequencies for independent broadcast, commercial broadcast, and electro-communication applications for efficient use of frequencies in the 700-900MHz band.	Technical studies geared toward selection of destination frequencies and formulation of technical standards, etc. for destination systems, so as to facilitate reallocation of frequencies for radio systems employing the 700-900MHz band
   (8) Survey on radio noise accompanying spectrum use, in preparation for frequency reallocation	Establishment of methods for measurement of radio noise in frequency bands used by existing radio systems, and accurate assessment of the radio noise situation in Japan, aimed at facilitating determination of maximum transmission output and frequency sharing considerations for introduction of new radio systems
   (9) Survey on radio equipment testing methods employing ultra-wide band digital signal analysis technology	Survey and studies on various conditions for application of wide-band digital measurement devices to testing of the radio properties of increasingly advanced and wide-band radio equipment

3. Increased use of high frequency bands

   Examination conducted	Outline
   (1) Studies on technology for efficient frequency use in mobile communications systems employing the 40GHz band	Studies on required conditions for systems, conditions for frequency-sharing with existing systems, and interference between systems of the same type, so as to realize air- and land-vehicle wide-band radio communications in the 40GHz band

Assessment system for appropriate implementation of technical examination services

In light of the fact that technical examination services are funded by spectrum user fees, in order to maximize the transparency and practicality with which these services are implemented, a Meeting for Assessment of R&D, Etc. Funded by Spectrum User Fees (hereinafter referred to as an “Assessment Meeting”) is convened to perform preliminary assessments, ongoing assessments and final assessments. The Meeting performs these assessments of each technical examination service case as follows:

1. Two-stage assessment consisting of assessment of technical aspects at the budget request stage, and comprehensive assessment based on the technical assessment results (Preliminary assessment)
2. During RD project implementation stage, assessment of whether the project is proceeding in an efficient and appropriate manner (Ongoing assessment)
3. After completion of R&D project, assessment of whether the project produced satisfactory results (Final assessment)

Provision of assessment results as feedback promotes more efficient implementation of technical examination services in the future.

The process of assessment of each individual service is as follows.

Assessment criteria

＜Preliminary assessment＞

• Is the introduction of new technology necessary?
• Is the implementation period of the examination service appropriate?
• Has the most appropriate technology been selected?
• Is there an appropriate schedule and framework for implementation?
• With the above taken into account, is the service judged to be beneficial overall?

＜Ongoing assessment＞

• Are the contents to be implemented appropriate for achievement of the final objective?
• Are the budget and implementation framework appropriate for the studies in question?
• To what extent was the objective achieved for the fiscal year in question?
• Are there an appropriate budget, implementation plan and framework for the next fiscal year?
• With the above taken into account, is the service judged to be properly implemented overall?

＜Final assessment＞

• Was it necessary to perform studies on the examination services?
• Were the studies on the examination services launched at the appropriate time?
• Were funds used efficiently?
• Were proper measures (in terms of human resources, determination of schedules, specific work policies, etc.) taken to ensure objectives were achieved?
• Were examination results reflected in technical standards, or are they expected to be?
• Were secondary results (in terms of new technical issues or considerations with useful potential applications) obtained which could contribute to frequency crowding countermeasures?
• With the above taken into account, is the service judged to be beneficial overall?

List of meeting members (in Japanese hiragana syllabary order, honorifics omitted)

(Note) Meeting members as of FY2010