Japan to Ban Discrimination against Smartphone Firms

September 4, 2018

Tokyo- Japanese communications minister Seiko Noda said Tuesday she plans to ban mobile phone carriers from giving discriminatory treatment to unaffiliated low-cost smartphone service providers.

Such low-cost providers suspect that the major mobile phone companies treat their affiliated smartphone service operators favorably in terms of data speed when leasing their mobile communications networks to smartphone firms.

The minister aims to keep the competitive environment fair and increase the number of low-cost smartphone users, so that price competition will increase in the industry.

At a press conference, Noda expressed hope that the mobile phone giants will "always think about user-friendliness since they use radio waves, a national asset."

The government will revise enforcement regulations for the telecommunications business law at an early date so that the mobile phone carriers will clearly pledge not to give discriminatory treatment regarding data speeds in the terms and conditions on the use of their networks.

During a hearing, a panel set up by the communications ministry received complaints alleging that mobile phone carriers offer faster speeds to affiliated smartphone service providers than to unaffiliated companies.

The carriers have denied giving such discriminatory treatment. Jiji Press