Japan to Oblige Mobile Carriers to Unlock Used Smartphones from Sept. 2019

August 29, 2018

Tokyo- Japan's communications ministry said Tuesday that it will oblige mobile phone carriers in the nation to remove subscriber identity module, or SIM, locks from September 2019.

The ministry revised the same day its guidelines on terms for offering mobile phone services and purchases of handsets.

It aims to help smartphone users reduce their costs by increasing opportunities for them to sign contracts with low-cost service providers.

SIM locks, designed to make smartphones purchased from one carrier unable to operate on networks of others, have been used by three major domestic mobile phone carriers--NTT Docomo Inc., KDDI Corp. and Softbank Group Corp.--as a tool to prevent customers from switching to rivals.

The ministry earlier planned to make the SIM lock removal for used smartphones mandatory from July 2019, but delayed the step by two months to give mobile carriers more time to prepare for the move.

The ministry began to oblige mobile phone operators to accept customers' requests for removing SIM locks for all new smartphone models launched in May 2015 and later.

The three major carriers now meet such requests a certain period after purchase. But they do not remove SIM locks for used smartphones, which may include stolen handsets.

The revised guidelines also ban carriers from issuing instructions to mobile phone retailers that could lead to discounts of handset prices. Jiji Press