MIC to Legislate Sim-Lock Free in Japan
Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications to enforce sim-lock free regulations in Japan from fiscal 2015 http://bit.ly/1xfhPL3
Machine Translation
The 20th, the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications began to consider measures that the user of the cellular phone to make it easier to transfer the mobile phone company. I encourage the release to not only connected to the communication network of its own, such as mobile phone giant NTT DoCoMo is a lock to the terminal of the “SIM lock”. The aim is also a review of business practices and can not be canceled for two years at new contract once. And lead to reduction of communication charge to promote competition by increasing the new entrants, to remain high.
I was launched on the same date a working group of experts to discuss business practices and SIM lock. I put together a proposed revision to the prospect summer. If vertical period of time the user from buying a terminal, such as a proposal to require the release of the SIM lock on the mobile company has emerged. to consider the revision of the Telecommunications Business Law in the ordinary Diet session of 2015 and the formulation of guidelines for industry. It is expected that the new regulations also apply to 2015.
That the mobile phone to communicate with the SIM card inserted to distinguish the user, but the major terminal is locked so as not to react only to the SIM card of their own in many cases. For example, iPhone of Apple (iPhone) has locked in both DoCoMo, KDDI, Softbank. Because it is necessary to buy a new terminal also expensive To switch the mobile company, transfer is less likely to occur. It is customary to unlock user be obtained in South Korea and Europe. The United States that has a lock also agreed to 13 year-end mobile industry the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), it has become possible to principle released from this year.