(in Japanese) https://www.phileweb.com/review/column/202604/17/2998.html
AM Radio Stations to Go Off the Air One After Another — What Will the “Vacant Lot of Radio Waves” Be Used For?
Published: April 17, 2026, 06:40
By Shinobu Unakami
On March 30, 2026, NHK reorganized its three operating radio services (Radio 1, Radio 2, and FM) into two: “NHK AM” and “NHK FM.” Radio 2 has been taken off the air, and some of its programs have been transferred to either “NHK AM” or “NHK FM.”
The restructuring of radio stations centered on the shutdown of AM broadcasting is not limited to NHK. Of Japan’s 47 AM radio stations, 44 have announced plans to cease AM broadcasting by the autumn of 2028 and transition to FM broadcasting. This “FM conversion” is driven by factors such as the spread of wideband FM (Wide FM) and the aging of broadcasting equipment. Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications, which oversees radio broadcasting, has also introduced special measures allowing the suspension of AM station operations, supporting a smooth transition.
In Japan’s AM broadcasting, the frequency band from 531 to 1602 kHz is used in practice. As AM stations go off the air, most of this band will become unused, creating what could be described as “vacant lot.” While Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications and the Japan Commercial Broadcasters Association have not yet announced concrete plans for utilizing this “vacant lot,” several ideas have been proposed. These include using it as disaster-prevention infrastructure during emergencies, or repurposing it for agriculture and IoT communications by taking advantage of the medium-wave band’s ability to reach long distances.
However, the medium-wave band traditionally used by AM stations is susceptible to noise from household electronics such as LED lighting and switching power supplies, making it less suitable for today’s urban environments. Taking this into account, it is also possible that the band may simply be preserved as “vacant lot” while being reserved for potential use in emergencies.
Akiyoshi Teraoka to WOR iog (2026-04-17)