Japan- Registration or Notification

Editor’s Note:

The following information is adapted from ITU Trends in Telecommunications Reform – 2004/05: Licensing in an Era of Convergence  (Geneva:  ITU, 2004) and was adapted from the Telecommunications Business Law (Law No. 86 of December 25, 1984) as amended last by Law No. 125 of 24 July 2003, available on-line at:   http://www.soumu.go.jp/joho_tsusin/eng/laws.html.

Summary

Before 1 April 2004, telecommunication carriers in Japan were categorized into two types under the Telecommunications Business Law:  “Type 1 telecommunications carriers,” which offered services using their own facilities, and “Type 2 telecommunications carriers,” which did not have their own facilities and which leased their lines.

Carriers were required to obtain permission to engage in a Type 1 business or were required to submit a registration or notification of their entry into the market to engage in a Type 2 business.

In light of heightened competition and the emergence of numerous substitute services – and also out of a desire to review the regulations for market entry and service provision -- the Telecommunications Business Law was completely reviewed in 2003 and the amended law came into force on 1 April 2004.  The amendments: 

• abolished the distinction between telecommunication circuit facilities of Type 1 and Type 2 carriers;
   
• abolished the permission system for market entry and withdrawal and introduced a registration and notification system in its place;
  
  
• abolished tariff regulation; and
  
  
• improved consumer protection rules, holding carriers more accountable for service provision and handling of complaints.

TRT-PN-M2-54