NTT DoCoMo, Japan’s largest wireless carrier, must open its network to smaller competitors such as Japan Communications, a government communications official ordered.

The announcement emerged through wire reports from Japan this week.  It’s significant because it is the first time for such intervention.

Open network access is a controversial topic around the world, given the academic questions of who owns airwaves and to what extent investors are responsible for sharing.

In Japan Communications’ case, the smaller company intends to build a hybrid cellular-handyphone network terminal and e-book devices.

Here in the United States, a similar issue currently exists regarding the FCC’s 700 MHz spectrum auction. The nationwide C-Block will have to be opened by its winners, but the definition of how “open” remains unclear.