Japan: Adopted MIAC Guidelines on 2020 Amendment Act of Telecommunications Business Act

The Japanese Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications has adopted the "Guideline Concerning the Application of the Telecommunications Business Act to Foreign Corporations, etc. that Operate Telecommunications Businesses". The Guidelines provide information on the 2020 Amendment of the Telecommunications Business Act, which requests foreign operators providing telecommunications services in Japan from a foreign country to be compliant with the Telecommunications Business Act (TBA), even if such operators are based outside Japan and do not have telecommunications facilities in the country. The Guidelines outline exemplary cases in which a foreign operator is providing services to Japan from abroad, namely when services are provided in Japanese, payment methods include Japanese yen and advertisements are conducted in Japan.