Regulatory Compliance News

Japan Updates Radio Equipment Certification Rules for High Power 5G UE, 1.9 GHz Band Expansion, and 4.9 GHz Spectrum

Japan’s Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications (MIC) enforced a revision to the Ordinance for Enforcement of the Radio Act (Ministerial Ordinance No. 89 of 2024), updating technical rules for Specified Radio Equipment certification. The updated regulation establishes revised parameters for 5G High Power User Equipment (HPUE) across the sub-6 GHz spectrum, expanding allowable transmit capabilities while adjusting center frequency parameters for equipment compliance. In parallel, MIC updated frequency assignment structures in the 1.9 GHz band by relaxing legacy protection rules for Personal Handy-phone Systems (PHS), granting broader spectral allocations for LTE and 5G mobile communications.

Under the revised HPUE framework, maximum antenna power for 5G User Equipment operating in the "SUB6-HPUE" bands—encompassing 3.4–4.0 GHz, 4.5–4.6 GHz, and 4.8–4.9 GHz—has been increased from 23 dBm (200 mW) to 29 dBm (800 mW). To achieve certification at this higher power level across a 100 MHz bandwidth, equipment center frequencies must be specifically designated at 3950.01 MHz, 4550.01 MHz, 4849.86 MHz, 4849.98 MHz, or 4849.995 MHz, ensuring emissions remain strictly within the SUB6-HPUE boundaries. In the 1.9 GHz band, relaxation of PHS protection rules allows 5G and LTE equipment to operate at maximum output power (200 mW) over an extended range spanning up to 1970.0 MHz. To streamline regulatory processing, MIC permits an overlap between existing and expanded frequency bands during recertification applications under the same certification number, provided no other structural changes are made to the construction design.

The ordinance also formally integrates the 4.9 GHz band (4.9–5.0 GHz) into national 5G technical standards, creating distinct transition rules for existing type approvals. Pursuant to Article 4, Paragraph 3 of the Supplementary Provisions, equipment previously certified for 4.5–4.9 GHz prior to the ordinance's enforcement is deemed automatically certified for the expanded 4.5–5.0 GHz range without requiring a physical re-application, as long as its construction design remains unchanged. However, this automatic extension does not apply to devices certified under the newer 4.5–4.9 GHz HPUE rules. Manufacturers seeking to modify existing designs or enable HPUE parameters across the 4.9–5.0 GHz range must file formal recertification applications with MIC-recognized Registered Certification Bodies (RCBs) to verify compliance with updated spurious emission limits and power parameters.