Japan's Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications (MIC) has proposed giving experimental drone radio stations on the 5.8GHz band another year. Under a draft amendment, the usable period for the stations would run to 31 March 2028 instead of 31 March 2027.
What the draft changes
The draft amends MIC Notice No. 43 of 2026, which sets the frequency ranges and conditions for "specified experimental stations" under Article 7, item 5 of the Radio Act Enforcement Regulations. It would take effect on 1 April 2027, the day after the current period ends.
The power limits in the draft are unchanged. The ministry's table shows nationwide use at 1W or less of equivalent isotropically radiated power on 5755MHz to 5795MHz. The limit is 25mW or less on 5795MHz to 5815MHz, and 25mW or less at Yokosuka Research Park in Kanagawa and the airspace above it.
| Band | Area | Power limit | Current end date | Proposed end date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5755MHz to 5795MHz | Nationwide | 1W or less | 31 March 2027 | 31 March 2028 |
| 5755MHz to 5795MHz | Yokosuka Research Park and airspace above | 25mW or less | 31 March 2027 | 31 March 2028 |
| 5795MHz to 5815MHz | Nationwide | 25mW or less | 31 March 2027 | 31 March 2028 |
Test areas out and in
The draft deletes five named areas from the notice's list: two in Ibaraki Prefecture (a park site in Koga, and Yachiyo town), two in Kyoto city (Kita and Kamigyo wards) and Fukuoka Drone Park. The draft gives no reason for the deletions.
It adds two areas: the Shitara Dam social experiment area in Shitara town, Aichi Prefecture, and an airfield in Saga city. Each is defined by coordinates in the draft.
Why 5.8GHz is handled carefully
The ministry says drone radio stations on 5.8GHz are widely used in the US and Europe, and that Japan is expected to allocate frequencies in step with them. The band is also partly used by ETC, the electronic toll collection system, so the ministry has built the experimental regime around sharing conditions with ETC and similar radio stations.
The regime began in November 2024 with Notice No. 352 of 2024. Notice No. 43 of 2026 later extended the usable period and added areas. Between 11 July and 10 August 2026 the ministry surveyed which areas want to run experimental stations. It received proposals from two parties, and both areas can share with ETC and other stations and can be added to the notice, according to the ministry's results.
How to comment
The comment period, run under the Administrative Procedure Act, opens on 24 October 2026 and closes on 24 November 2026. Comments must arrive by the deadline (postal submissions count if postmarked by that day) and must be written in Japanese. They can be sent through e-Gov, by email or by post to the MIC Radio Policy Division. Comments over 1,000 characters need a summary. The ministry says it cannot reply to individual comments.