Japan: Adopted 2020 Amendment to Telecommunications Business Act including registration requirement for certain foreign providers

Description

Adopted 2020 Amendment to Telecommunications Business Act including registration requirement for certain foreign providers

On 15 May 2020, the Japanese Parliament adopted the 2020 Amendment of the Telecommunications Business Act (Act No. 30 of 2020). The Amendment expands the scope of the Telecommunications Business Act to foreign operators providing telecommunications services in Japan from a foreign country, even if such operators are based outside Japan and do not have telecommunications facilities in the country. Foreign telecommunications providers must thus notify the Minister of Internal Affairs and Communications and must register if they operate telecommunications facilities in Japan, e.g. cellular carrier businesses. Moreover, the Amendment requests foreign telecommunications operators to designate a domestic representative or agent. Finally, foreign telecommunications providers must comply with the "secrecy of communications" provision and shall obtain user consent to access or transmit communication content and metadata in any electronic service that the Japanese Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications considers as an intermediary of two-party communications. The Act will enter into full force on 1 April 2021.

Original source

Scope

Policy Area
Authorisation, registration and licensing
Policy Instrument
Business registration requirement
Regulated Economic Activity
infrastructure provider: internet and telecom services
Implementation Level
national
Government Branch
legislature
Government Body
parliament

Complete timeline of this policy change

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2020-05-15
adopted

On 15 May 2020, the Japanese Parliament adopted the 2020 Amendment of the Telecommunications Busine…

2021-04-01
in force

On 1 April 2021, the 2020 Amendment of the Telecommunications Business Act is implemented. The Amen…

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