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Liaison and Coordination with International Institutions

1.Purpose of Liaison and Coordination with International Institutions

The number of radio stations in Japan 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, the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications established the Liaison and Coordination with International Institutions program in FY2008 so as to promote the adoption as international standards of highly efficient frequency utilization technologies suited to Japan’s radio wave environment, and contribute to the alleviation of spectrum congestion in Japan.

2.Outline of Liaison and Coordination with International Institutions

Spectrum user fees are being used to fund research and development and technical examination services with the aim of introducing technologies that contribute to more efficient use of radio waves in Japan, but even if such technologies are introduced, it will be impossible to designate them as the technological standard in Japan unless they are aligned with international standards.

On the other hand, if technologies have been designated as the international standard, they must be adopted in Japan as well for the sake of alignment with international norms even if they are inadequate from the perspective of efficient frequency utilization. If such is the case, it will be impossible to use frequencies efficiently and the spectrum congestion problem will be exacerbated.

To address this situation, the Liaison and Coordination with International Institutions program is being implemented so as to deal proactively and strategically with international institutions and promote the adoption as the international standard of highly efficient frequency utilization technologies capable of alleviating the spectrum congestion situation in Japan.

3.List of Cases of Liaison and Coordination with International Institutions

Liaison and
Coordination
Case Name
Outline
(1) Liaison and coordination with international institutions aimed at promoting adoption of mobile communications technology employing the 700MHz band as the international standard Survey of trends in the International Organization for Standardization and liaison and coordination with relevant parties, aimed at international standardization of communications protocols, frequencies, etc., including vehicle-to-vehicle and road-to-vehicle communications technology employing 700MHz band frequencies which support safe driving, and ITS system technologies such as millimeter wave high-resolution radar technology employing the 79GHz band
(2) Liaison and coordination with international institutions aimed at promoting adoption of IMT-Advanced wireless interface technology as the international standard Tracking of trends and liaison and coordination with the International Organization for Standardization and relevant nations, etc., aimed at achieving reflection in international standards of Japanese IMT-Advanced related technologies such as IMT-Advanced radio interfaces enabling efficient frequency utilization, so as to realize high-speed, large-capacity global mobile communications systems
(3) Promotion of VHF-band data communications as the international standard for mobile maritime communications Survey of trends in the ITU-R, IMO (International Maritime Organization), and IALA (International Association of Lighthouse Authorities), and liaison and coordination with relevant parties, aimed at achieving international standardization of VHF-band mobile maritime data transmission protocol proposed by Japan, which can enable diverse mobile maritime data transmissions and contribute to the elimination of VHF-band frequency crowding
(4) Promotion of international standardization related to radio noise affecting digital radio communications Survey on measurement and analysis of radio noise, tracking of trends, and liaison and coordination with the International Organization for Standardization and relevant nations, etc., aimed at achieving reflection of radio noise properties specific to Japan, and measurement methods employing APD (Amplitude Probability Distribution), in ITU-R recommendations on radio noise referred to during deliberations on radio interference
(5) Liaison and coordination with international institutions aimed at promoting adoption of millimeter and sub-millimeter waveband radio transmission technology as the international standard Tracking of trends and liaison and coordination with the International Organization for Standardization and relevant nations, etc., aimed at achieving formulation of international standards for high-frequency band magnetic wave propagation modeling and large-capacity transmission systems incorporating Japanese fixed millimeter wave band transmission technologies
(6) Liaison and coordination with international institutions aimed at promoting adoption of PLB beacon control technology for Cospas-Sarsat as the international standard Tracking of trends and liaison and coordination with the International Organization for Standardization and relevant nations, etc., aimed at delivering Japanese proposals and achieving reflection in international standards of beacon control technology capable of reducing frequency occupancy through suppression of unnecessary PLB (Personal Locator Beacon) signals

Assessment system for appropriate implementation of liaison and coordination initiatives aimed at promoting standardization

In light of the fact that liaison and coordination initiatives aimed at promoting standardization 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 assesses liaison and coordination initiatives aimed at promoting standardization as follows:

  1. Assessment of the degree of necessity for international standardization initiatives and the feasibility thereof implemented or plans and proposals for new initiatives at the budget request stage (Preliminary assessment)
  2. Assessment of the status of international standardization initiatives and the efficiency or lack thereof of implementation plans for the upcoming fiscal year (Ongoing assessment)
  3. Assessment of results obtained during implementation of international standardization initiatives, performed after the initiatives are completed (Final assessment)

(In FY2010 there were no completed initiatives, and as a result no final assessments. Final assessments are to be performed beginning next fiscal year)

The specific points evaluated in each assessment are as follows.

<Preliminary assessment>
  • Are international standardization initiatives necessary?
  • Are there rational grounds for promoting international standardization of the technology in question?
  • Is there an appropriate framework for implementation in place?
  • Is the budget amount appropriate?
  • With the above taken into account, is the initiative judged to be beneficial overall?
<Ongoing assessment>
  • To what extent was the objective achieved for the fiscal year in question?
  • Is there an appropriate implementation plan and framework for the next fiscal year?
  • With the above taken into account, is the initiative judged to be properly implemented overall?
<Final assessment>
  • To what degree were the desired results determined beforehand obtained?
  • Was there an appropriate framework for implementation?
  • Were funds used in an effective manner?
  • Has the technology in question already been reflected in international standards, or is it likely to be?
  • With the above taken into account, is the initiative judged to be beneficial overall?

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

Name Institution and position
Kiyomichi Araki Tokyo Institute of Technology Graduate School Professor
Michiko Kuroda Tokyo University of Technology Professor
Yasuo Suzuki Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology Professor
Yoshiaki Nemoto Tohoku University Chairman
Masaharu Hata Okayama University Graduate School Professor
Mitsutoshi Hatori The University of Tokyo Professor Emeritus
Kazuhiko Honjo The University of Electro-Communications Professor

(Note) Meeting members as of FY2010

Division in Charge:International Frequency Policy Office