The Ministry of Communications is consulting on a set of measures, and providing companies with financial incentives.
The consultation: On 26 April 2019, the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications (MIC) published a draft report on measures to remove “blind areas” where mobile coverage is non existent. With the report, it has also issued a call for inputs, in order to set out measures leading to the elimination of “no-service” areas by the end of 2023.
The financial incentives: In parallel, the government is already signing agreements with mobile operators to ensure reliable network coverage is achieved in the next five years, including in remote and depopulated areas. The Asian Nikkei Review reports that two carriers (KDDI and new entrant Rakuten Mobile) have signed agreements with the government, committing to install a sufficient number of 4G sites by the end of 2024. Since this will include areas where the financial returns will not match the costs, the government will provide operators with financial incentives; the ministry aims to extend the scheme and request more funds in the 2020 budget.
Next steps: The MIC’s consultation will close on 31 May 2019. Mobile operators’ commitments will become fully operational in 2021.
