Japan to allow TV airwaves for 5G use

Japan's communications ministry will launch a system that would allow live television broadcasts airwaves to be used for 5G ultrahigh-speed mobile communications.

Live broadcast airwaves for sports, disasters, and other events are not regularly used and can be utilized for 5G and 4G services.

A radio law revision in April last year allowed the use of live television airwaves for other purposes.

The new system, which the ministry plans to launch as early as this fiscal, could expand frequency bands for mobile phone carriers who could use the airwaves during hours when there are no live broadcasts.

The ministry will start accepting applications from businesses for airwaves use and is likely to accept only one or two companies.

Full-fledged 5G services started in Japan in March last year. As of the end of this March, the number of 5G subscriptions in Japan totaled 14.19 million.