Key Points of the 2019 White Paper on Information and Communications in Japan
0
5
10
15
20
25
1980
1984
1988
1992
1996
2000
2004
2008
2012
2016
(Trillion yen)
Software
Hardware
Fig. 1 Changes in ICT investment values in Japan
(Source) Created based on the “Na-tional Accounts of Japan” (Cabinet Of-�ce)
Fig. 2 Comparison of changes in ICT investment values
Japan
USUK
France
0
50
100
150
200
250
300
350
1980
1985
1990
1995
2000
2005
2010
2015
(year 1995=100)
(Source) Created based on the OECD Stats
Fig. 3 Breakdown of software introduction
Japan
Contracted development88.3%
Packaged software11.7%
Packaged software
US(reference)
Packaged software29.0%
Customized (corresponding to
contracted development)33.8%
Self-developed37.2%
(Source) United States Department of Commerce
* Household electronics, industrial electronics, and electronic parts and devices
Fig. 4 Changes in production, import and export, etc. of ICT-related equipment*
(Source) “Machinery Statistics” (Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry), “Trade Statis-tics of Japan” (Ministry of Finance)
Fig. 5 Changes in the production, imports and exports of communications equipment
0
1
2
3
4
5
1976
1980
1984
1988
1992
1996
2000
2004
2008
2012
2016
(Trillion yen)
Export
Import
Production
(Source) “Machinery Statistics” (Ministry of Econo-my, Trade and Industry), “Trade Statistics of Japan” (Ministry of Finance)
vi
Key P
oint
sPart 1
Special Theme: Evolving Digital Economy towards “Society 5.0”
Chapter 1How ICT and the Digital Economy Have Evolved (1/2)
(1) Evolving ICT Services and Changes in Companies’ Use of ICT○�Mobile phones and the Internet widely spread during the Heisei era. The spread was facilitated by regulatory
reforms such as allowing mobile operators to sell mobile devices instead to rent them (1994).○�In the Showa era, some Japanese companies became pioneers of the development of online systems in the global
market, but ICT investment remained sluggish during the Heisei era (Fig. 1 below). Growth in ICT investment in Japan was much slower than that in US and major European countries (Fig. 2 below).○�As a background factor, Japanese companies came to outsource online system development, which they considered
to be outside of their core business, from the end of the 1980s until the 1990s. As a result, a unique structure under which ICT companies called System Integrators (SIers) developed information systems mainly on a contract basis, was formed in Japan (Fig. 3 below). Accordingly, in non-manufacturing industries, in particular, companies failed to introduce ICT that accompanies business reforms in a sufficiently effective manner, and this may have made companies less positive about ICT investment.
(2) Changes in the ICT Industry○�The telecommunications business has developed signi�cantly through active competition among diverse business
entities since the telecommunications liberalization in 1985. The ICT manufacturing industry has also developed in such a manner as communications equipment manufacturers’ businesses expanded into making computers.○�The monetary values of production and exports of ICT-related equipment had continuously increased and Japan
used to be called an “Electronics-based Nation” until around 1985. However, growth in exports slowed down from 1985, and production and exports both shifted to a downward trend in the 2000s. In 2013, the import monetary value finally surpassed the export monetary value (Fig. 4 below). Looking at communications equipment, production peaked in 1997 and decreased thereafter, while imports increased sharply due to the spread of smartphones in the late 2000s (Fig. 5 below).○�As factors bringing about these changes, the following are pointed out: (i) production sites have been transferred
overseas as countermeasures against the strong yen; (ii) Japanese-made switchboards were replaced by foreign-made routers due to the spread of the Internet; (iii) the existence of stable domestic customers (telecommunications carriers) has exerted a negative e�ect on motivation to market communications equipment overseas; (iv) closed business strategies of companies have failed to achieve the bene�ts of international specialization.○�At the same time, there are not any Japanese ICT companies that have established a presence in the global market
like American digital platformers (platform companies).
Fig. 1 Changes in sales and operating pro�ts of US and Chinese digital platformers
Changes in operating profitsChanges in sales
0.0
50.0
100.0
150.0
200.0
250.0
300.0
2014 2015 2016 2017 2018
Billion dollars Billion dollars
0.0
10.0
20.0
30.0
40.0
50.0
60.0
70.0
80.0
2014 2015 2016 2017 2018
Apple
Amazon
FacebookAlibabaTencent
Baidu
Apple
Amazon
GoogleFacebook
Alibaba
Tencent
Baidu
(Source) Accounting data from respective each company
Fig. 2 Provision of tools by digital platformers that serve as a foundation for developing and
utilizing AI
PlatformsComputing capacity and a framework, etc.are provided as a set. Google, Microsoft, IBM, Amazon, etc.
ProcessorsA processor is hardware for calculations in line with a program and provides computing capacity. GPU, TPU (Google), etc.
FrameworksFunctions and algorithms for machine learning. TensorFlow(Google), Caffe(UC Berkeley), Caffe2 (Facebook)Microsoft Cognitive Toolkit(Microsoft), MXnet(Amazon), Pytorch(Facebook), etc.
ApplicationsImage recognition, voice recognition, machine translation, chatbot, etc.
Provision on open-source platforms
Provision through cloudservices or APIs
Users
Users can develop an application by using a framework or a platform.
An application enables a user to use trained models or create a trained model without creating a program.
vii
Key P
oint
sChapter 1How ICT and the Digital Economy Have Evolved (2/2)
(3) New Trends in ICT○�Digital platformers, such as GAFA (Google, Apple, Facebook, and Amazon) in the US and BAT (Baidu, Alibaba, and
Tencent) in China, enable individuals and companies to engage in activities free from constraints in terms of time, location or business size, and provide platforms to have the digital economy function on a global scale. Additionally, digital platformers have achieved growth through the snowball e�ect of increased collection and use of data over the Internet, and through the network e�ect (Fig. 1 below).○�Digital platformers have been providing various tools serving as foundations for developing and utilizing AI on
open-source platforms or through cloud services, etc. and the development and utilization of AI are becoming easier. At the same time, an ecosystem heavily dependent on these digital platformers is being formed with regard to AI (Fig. 2 below).○�Digital platformers have also been expanding their businesses in the real world and their moves in the real world
should be noted.○�Furthermore, cyber incidents may exert in�uence on the real world due to the spread of IoT, and cybersecurity will
continue to be important in this regard.
Fig. Digital transformation for responding to changes
Industries
ICTICT
Industries
Conventional informatizationand ICT use Digital transformation
ICT is a tool that assists theimprovement of efficiency andenhances the value of theestablished industries.
ICT will be the business core totransform business models by
being integrated with industries.
The cost structure of economic activities is transformed. Data becomes a source of value.
Fig. 2 Contribution to SDGs through digitalization (examples)
(Source) Materials for the “Commission on ICT Global Strategy in the Era of Digital Transformation” (Ministry of Internal A�airs and Commu-nications; 2019)
Field ICT solutions (examples) SDGs
Infrastructure
LocalinfrastructureDaily living
Medicalservices
Nursing care
Education
AgricultureFood
Urban citiesRural areas
Financialservices
• Development of IC Tinfrastructure• Promotion of development of disaster-resilient social infrastructure
• Provision of opportunities for telemedicine• Monitoringanddiagnosis,preventivecareandpredictivedetectionby utilizing sensors, etc.
• Securing of educational opportunities through remote education systems• Provision of higher-definition videos and interactive high-quality educational content
• Provision of mobility opportunities through the sophistication of self-drivingsystems and air traffic systems• Daily living support such as shopping assistance through ICT
TourismHuman
exchange
AccessibilityGender
Disaster prevention
Environment
• Provision of public services based on authentication infrastructure by utilizingbiological information• Employment matching via use of ICT
• Efficient farming by utilizing smart agricultural systems• Demand-supply management via the use of ICT
• Information collection and delivery of disaster information by utilizing satellites, drones, and sensors• Monitoring and prediction of disasters by utilizing AI and IoT, etc.
• Access to diverse types of information and multilingual translation systems byutilizing AI
• Mission-critical task systems for financial services• Micropayment and cashless infrastructure using blockchain technology
• Provision of telework employment opportunities• Labor substitution and assistance for the disabled by utilizing robots and AI
Fig. 1 Changes in labor share worldwide (1991-2014)
(Source) “Why Is Labor Receiving a Smaller Share of Global Income?” (Dao, M.C., et al.; 2017)
Technology Global value chain participation
High skill Middle skill Low skill
Financial integration Skill supply and other composition shiftsActual change
Middle-skill AEs
viii
Key P
oint
s Chapter 2Requirements for Achieving the Full Bene�ts of “Society 5.0” (1/2)
(1) Characteristics of the Digital Economy and Digital Transformation○�In the digital economy, data are sources that create value, and ICT transforms the cost structure, which is the basis
for economic activities.○�Markets are expanding to enable activities which are free from time and location constraints, and at the same
time, markets are being divided more finely with the emergence of niche markets that overcome business size constraints.○�New cost structures being developed by ICT requires a transformation of companies.○�Traditional players in all industries now need to position ICT as their business core, and transform their business
models through integration with ICT (digital transformation) so that they can properly respond to these changes.
(2) The Society to be Created through Evolution of the Digital Economy○�Since the �nancial crisis of 2007-2008, developed countries have all been facing sluggish GDP growth, and some
came to express techno-pessimism, which are doubts about the e�ects of ICT on economic growth.○�In addition, as free services and the sharing economy expanded, the e�ectiveness of GDP as an economic indicator
and techniques to better capture economic activities have come under discussion.○�There is also a view that ICT particularly affects the employment and labor share of middle-skilled workers in
advanced economies (Fig. 1 below), and leads to the creation of domestic social inequality.○�However, in the case of signi�cant technologies developed in the past (such as electricity), complementary reforms
were required for generating e�ects, and there were time lags.○�This also applies to ICT, and complementary reforms will be essential to realize “Society 5.0”, the society ahead the
evolution of the digital economy. Moreover, such reforms will enable ICT to contribute toward overcoming social issues further than economic development, such as contribution toward SDGs in fields of medicine, education, agriculture, etc. (Fig. 2 below).
Fig. 2 Status of telework
(Source) “2018 Communications Usage Trend Survey” (Ministry of Internal A�airs and Communications; 2019)
Introduction by companies
Teleworking by individuals
Introduced19.1%Plan to introduce7.2%
Did teleworking 8.5%Want to try5.2%Slightly want to try 10.8%
Fig. 2 Expansion of human abilities by ICT
Expansionof existence
Expansionof cognition
ICT-controlled machines thatenhance physical functions
Enable on-site work fromdistant locations
Strengthen visual and hearingsenses by using ICT
Strengthen comprehensionand learning processesthrough cooperation betweenAl and humans
Expansionof senses
Expansionof the body
Fig. 1 Problem solution in local regions using 5G technology
EducationDisaster responses
Agriculture, forestry and fisheries,and construction industries
Plants
Daily living
Shopping assistance by utilizingdrones and self-driving systems
Medical services
Remote diagnosis and surgerysupport
Smart agriculture andconstruction work utilizing data
Remote classesEfficient plant control
based on dataRescue and relief activities through
prompt damage evaluation
Fig. 1 Change of the positioning of ICTConventional positioning of
ICT in Japan
Enhance business efficiencyDefensive ICT
Create new valueOffensive ICT
Back-office tasksProvide value within the organization
Front-office tasksProvide value to customers
Cost centerDo not directly generate profits
Profit centerDirectly generate profits
CDOCIO
New positioning of ICT in the data,IoT, AI, and 5G-oriented era
ICT company +User company (information
system department)
User company(business department) +
User company (information system department) +
ICT company
ix
Key P
oint
sChapter 2Requirements for Achieving the Full Bene�ts of “Society 5.0” (2/2)
(3) Required Reforms in Japan○�In order to proceed with digital transformation, companies must place importance on ICT, which they have
traditionally outsourced as matters outside of their core businesses, and position it at the very center of their businesses. Companies’ business departments, in addition to information system departments, are required to play more signi�cant roles (Fig. 1 below). ICT-related human resources need to be developed and secured, not only by ICT companies, but also by user companies.○�Upon changing business models, companies should get rid of their conventional closed business strategies and work
on open innovation in cooperation with start-up ventures, etc.○�It is necessary to promote work-style reforms, such as the introduction of telework, which is better suited to a
digital economy that is free from time and location constraints (Fig. 2 below).
(4) Opportunities for Local Regions/New Relationships between Humans and ICT
○�In the digital economy, the use of ICT has the potential to diversify business partners, expand trade areas, enable people to receive orders from distant locations, and make up for labor shortages using machines, etc. This will provide opportunities for local regions.○�In order to take advantage of these opportunities, developing ICT infrastructure and making e�orts to better utilize
data are important. In particular, if 5G technology, which will be the infrastructure of IoT, is utilized in all �elds, such as those relating to people’s daily lives, industries, medical services, and disaster response measures, it is expected to contribute to the solution of various problems faced by respective local regions (Fig. 1 below).○�In recent years, unique and niche appeals, strengths, and brands of local regions are being rediscovered by foreign
countries and have created new markets by attracting people. Local regions may be able to ful�l their potential by exploring new business partners while further brushing up their strengths.○�New ICT, such as AI, should be accepted as a tool that increases what humans can do by expanding various human
abilities (enhancing functions of limbs, visual and hearing senses, comprehension and learning abilities, etc.), not as a substitute for humans that deprives them of employment opportunities.
Figure: Domestic production values of major industries (based on nominal domestic production) (2017)
Nominal domesticproduction value of
all industries(2017)
1,003.7 trillion yen
Nominal domesticproduction value of
all industries(2017)
1,003.7 trillion yen
Nominal domesticproduction value of
all industries(2017)
1,003.7 trillion yen
Construction68.36.8%
Construction68.36.8%
Businessservices
62.56.2%
Businessservices
62.56.2%
Businessservices
62.56.2%
Transportationequipment
57.95.8%
Transportationequipment
57.95.8%
Transportationequipment
57.95.8%
Personalservices
52.05.2%
Personalservices
52.05.2%
Personalservices
52.05.2%
ICTindustry
97.59.7%
ICTindustry
97.59.7%
ICTindustry
97.59.7%
Commerce97.19.7%
Commerce97.19.7%
Commerce97.19.7%
Real estate74.57.4%
Real estate74.57.4%
Real estate74.57.4%
Otherindustries
423.142.2%
Otherindustries
423.142.2%
Otherindustries
423.142.2% Medical,
healthand welfare
70.97.1%
Medical,health
and welfare70.97.1%
(Unit: trillion yen)
Figure: ICT industry sales
Telecommunications(372)
17.526135.2%
Telecommunications(372)
17.526135.2%
Software (2,878)15.487031.1%
Software (2,878)15.487031.1%
Internet-relatedservices (667)
3.31896.7%
Private broadcasting (373)2.34434.7%
Newspaperpublishers (127)
1.37202.8%
Publishers, exceptnewspapers (353)
1.03612.1%
Video picture informationproduction and
distribution (438)0.87941.8%
Cablecasting (216)0.50021.0%
Commercial art andgraphic design (171)
0.36670.7%
Audio programproducers (101)
0.15080.3%
Services incidential to videoinformation, sound information,
character information productionand distribution (170)
0.13330.3%
Miscellaneous ICTbusinesses
0.19810.4%
Data processingand informationservices (1,794)
6.436612.9%
Data processingand informationservices (1,794)
6.436612.9%
Sales in the ICTindustriesFY 2017
49.7496 trillion yen
(Unit: trillion yen)
Figure: Real GDP of major industries (2017)
Real GDP ofall industries
(2017)488.2 trillion yen
ICTindustry
46.39.5%
ICTindustry
46.39.5%
ICTindustry
46.39.5%
Commerce60.0
12.3%
Commerce60.0
12.3%
Commerce60.0
12.3%
Real estate60.1
12.3%
Real estate60.1
12.3%
Real estate60.1
12.3%
Medical,health
and welfare39.28.0%
Medical,health
and welfare39.28.0%
Medical,health
and welfare39.28.0%
Construction29.76.1%
Construction29.76.1%
Construction29.76.1%
Businessservices
38.77.9%
Businessservices
38.77.9%
Businessservices
38.77.9%
Transportationequipment
10.52.2%
Transportationequipment
10.52.2%
Transportationequipment
10.52.2%
Personalservices
26.95.5%
Personalservices
26.95.5%
Personalservices
26.95.5%
Otherindustries
176.836.2%
Otherindustries
176.836.2%
Otherindustries
176.836.2%
(Unit: trillion yen)
(Notes) *1 Figures in parentheses are the number of companies.*2 “Miscellaneous ICT businesses“ refers to enterprises that selected “other“ as the primary business in the breakdown of sales attributable to
ICT business operations.
x
Key P
oint
sPart 2
Basic Data and Policy Directions
Chapter 3Basic Data on the ICT Field
■ICT industry trends○�The ICT industry’s nominal domestic production value in 2017 was 97.5 trillion yen, accounting for 9.7 percent of all
industries and making it the largest industry in the country.○�With regard to the real GDP of Japan’s major industries in 2017, the real GDP of the ICT industry accounted for 9.5%
of that for all industries, following the commerce and real estate industries.
■Research and development of the ICT industry○�The ICT industry spent 3.7117 trillion yen on research in FY2017, accounting for 26.9% of all corporate research
spending. The ICT industry employed 171,235 researchers, or 34.3% of all corporate researchers in Japan.
■State of ICT business operations○�The number of companies engaged in ICT business stood at 5,467, and their sales amount for FY2017 was 49.7496
trillion yen.
0
20
40
60
80
100(%)
72.6 73.0 75.378.0 78.2 79.1 79.5
82.8 82.8 83.0 83.5 80.9 79.8
2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018(year)
Figure: Changes in the internet penetration rate among the population
Fixed-line telephones 90.9 91.2 85.8 83.8 79.3 79.1 75.7 75.6 72.2 70.6FAX 53.5 57.1 43.8 45.0 41.5 46.4 41.8 42.0 38.1 35.3Mobile devices (overall) 95.6 96.3 93.2 94.5 94.5 94.8 94.6 95.8 94.7 94.8Smartphones 9.7 29.3 49.5 62.6 64.2 72.0 71.8 75.1Computers 85.9 87.2 83.4 77.4 75.8 81.7 78.0 76.8 73.0 72.5Tablets 7.2-
- -
--- - - - -
8.5 15.3 21.9 26.3 33.3 34.4 36.4Wearable devices 0.5 0.9 1.1 1.9
20.8 25.9 23.3 24.5 29.5 38.3 33.0 33.7 31.4 31.4
22.0 27.3 17.0 20.1 21.4 23.8 18.4 17.3 15.3 13.8
5.5 7.6 3.5 6.2 12.7 8.8 7.6 8.1 9.0 2.1
64.534.095.779.274.040.12.5
30.9
14.2
6.9
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
100(%)
2008(n=4,515)
2009(n=4,547)
2010(n=22,271)
2011(n=16,530)
2012(n=20,418)
2013(n=15,599)
2014(n=16,529)
2015(n=14,765)
2016(n=17,040)
2017(n=16,117)
2018(n=16,255)
Other Internet enabled appliances(smart appliances)
Internet-enabled portable music players
Internet-enabled home game consoles
Ow
ners
hip
rate
Figure: Changes in ownership rates for ICT devices (households)
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
45(million) (million)
FWACATVDSLFTTH BWA LTE
0.81 2.30 5.31 7.4619.47
35.1447.89
58.23
0.03 2.30
20.37
46.41
67.78
87.47
102.94
120.73
66.24
136.64
0
20
40
60
80
100
120
140
2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018
20.22 22.30 23.86 25.34 26.68 27.97 29.46 30.60
8.20 6.70 5.42 4.47 3.75 3.20 2.51 2.155.67 5.91 6.01 6.22 6.43 6.73 6.85 6.880.01 0.01 0.01 0.01 0.01 0.01 0.01 0.0034.10 34.93 35.31 36.04 36.86 37.91 38.82 39.64
31.66
1.73
6.860.00
40.25
2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018(end of FY) (end of FY)
【Fixed-line broadband services】 【Mobile ultra-high-speed broadband services】Figure: Changes in broadband service subscriptions
xi
Key P
oint
s
■Internet usage trends○�The internet usage rate in 2018 was 79.8%. As for the
state of ownership of ICT devices among households, the ownership rate for smartphones reached 79.2%, exceeding that for computers (74.0%).
10.2
9.0
12.9
23.9
43.2
73.8
0 20 40 60 80
Other
New business/management
Business continuity
For the optimization of projects
To improve customer services
To raise job performance andimproving business
2018 (n=256)
(%)
Figure: Purpose behind collecting and analyzing digital data
Introduced12.1%
Not introduced63.2%
I don't know16.2%
2018 (n=2,095)
Introduced of planning to in the future
20.6%
Not introduced, but planning to
in the future8.5%
Figure: Current state of the introduc-tion of IoT/AI systems and services
○�12.1% of enterprises introduced IoT/AI systems, and it reaches 20% by including enterprises which are planning to introduce.
■�Introduction and usage of IoT/AI systems and services by enterprises
■Telecommunication services○�The number of subscriptions to fixed-line broadband services at the end of FY2018 stood at 40.25 million.
Subscriptions to mobile ultra-high-speed broadband services broke down into 136.64 million for 3.9G and 4G (LTE) services and 66.24 million for BWA services.
Figure: Changes in and breakdown of the market size (aggregate sales) of Japan’s broadcasting industry
Satellite-based broadcasters NHKTerrestrial-based broadcasters Cable TV broadcasters
38,356 39,698 40,152 40,422 41,17839,689
38,254 39,089 39,115 38,915 39,307 38,759 39,152 39,312 39,337
0
5,000
10,000
15,000
20,000
25,000
30,000
35,000
40,000
45,000
2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017(FY)
(100 million yen)
Figure: Breakdown of Japan’s content market (2017)
Video contentsegment
6.7766 trillion yen57.4%Audio-based
content segment0.7503 trillion yen
6.4%
Text basedcontent segment4.2830 trillion yen
36.3%
Movies766.66.5% Videos
433.03.7%
Terrestrial TVprograms2,812.423.8%
Satellite and cable TVbroadcast programs903.57.7%
Game software1,579.513.4%
OriginalInternetvideos281.52.4%
Music541.44.6%
Radio programs200.71.7%
Original Internetaudio-based content
8.2 0.1%
Newspaper articles1,541.1
13.0%
Comics426.73.6%
Magazines926.27.8%
Books835.37.1%
Database information247.22.1%
Original Internetcontent306.6 2.6%
total contentmarket
11.8099 trillion yen
(Unit: billion yen)
Figure: Export value of Japanese broadcast content
10.4313.78
18.25
28.85
39.3544.45
2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 20170
10
20
30
40
50(billion yen)
(FY)
Figure: Changes in the number of radio stations
(Notes) *1 “Land mobile station” refers to a radio station that is operated either while in motion on land or while stationary in an unspeci�ed location (such as mobile phones).
*2 “Convenience station” refers to a radio station used for simple radio communications.
2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 20182017other
Base stations
Convenience stations *2Amateur stations
Land mobile stations *1
Percentage of land mobile stations
0
(million stations)
0
20
40
60
80
100
(End of FY)
(%)
(%)
97.9 97.9 97.9 98.1 98.2 98.2 98.3 98.4 98.4 98.5 98.6 98.7 98.6 98.6
50.00
100.00
150.00
200.00
250.00
300.00
0.41
0.62
0.66
0.53
100.59
97.9
0.49
1.25
1.18
0.43
231.09
98.6
0.55
1.32
1.25
0.41
247.48
98.6
0.49
0.73
1.12
0.43
214.57
98.7
0.55
0.70
1.05
0.44
197.11
98.6
0.50
0.71
0.97
0.44
174.93
98.5
0.50
0.68
0.90
0.44
154.72
98.4
0.46
0.63
0.84
0.44
143.88
98.4
0.43
0.58
0.77
0.44
132.66
98.3
0.46
0.54
0.74
0.45
118.79
98.2
0.48
0.41
0.72
0.47
114.48
98.2
0.49
0.41
0.70
0.49
109.93
98.1
0.49
0.63
0.68
0.51
105.73
97.9
0.36
0.62
0.65
0.56
102.12
97.9
(Notes) *1 Export value of broadcast content: program broadcast rights, Internet distribution rights, video and DVD rights, format and restaging rights, merchandising rights, and similar rights.
*2 Calculated based on questionnaire responses by NHK, main commercial broadcast stations, producers, sub-main com-mercial broadcast stations in Osaka, local stations and satel-lite broadcasting stations.
*3 Calculations for FY 2016 and later include digital gaming rights.
xii
Key P
oint
s
■Broadcasting services and content market○�The sales amount of Japanese broadcasters in FY2017 was 3.9337 trillion yen.○�Japan’s content market was valued at 11.8099 trillion yen, nearly 60% of which was attributable to video content,
about 36% to text-based content, and 6% to audio-based content.○�The export value of Japanese broadcast content was 44.45 billion yen in FY2017.
■Radio spectrum usage○�The number of radio stations in Japan has been on an increasing trend, and the number of radio stations at the end
of FY2018 was 251.01 million (a 7.1% increase over the previous year), including 247.48 million mobile phones and other land mobile stations (a 7.1% increase over the previous year) which accounted for a high 98.6% of all radio stations.
■Promotion of Comprehensive Strategies○ In June 2019, the government enacted the Growth Strategy Action Plan, by Cabinet decision. MIC has held the
Roundtable Meeting on ICT Global Strategy for the Digital Transformation Age since December 2018 and announced the ICT Global Strategy in May 2019.
■Developments in Telecommunication Policy○ MIC conducted a comprehensive review of competition rules and related topics in the telecommunications �eld,
which included approaches to maintaining communication infrastructure, approaches to network neutrality, approaches to addressing issues with IT platform services, and approaches to ensuring competitive environments and consumer protection rules in the mobile market. MIC also took measures for ensuring the safety and reliability of telecommunications infrastructure and enhancing online safety and security.
■Developments in Radio Policy○ MIC took measures for 5G implementation; promotion of effective radio spectrum use; realization of Public
Safety LTE (PS-LTE) networks; approaches to the build-out of base stations; and establishment of radio usage environments.
■Developments in Broadcasting Policy○ MIC promoted exports of broadcasting content; promoted 4K and 8K broadcasting; promoted development of
broadcast services; and took measures to strengthen the disaster resilience of broadcast networks.
■Promoting Cybersecurity Policy○ MIC conducted examinations of action plans for cybersecurity and developed cybersecurity policy.
■Promoting ICT Use and Application○ MIC took measures for the realization of a symbiotic society; promoted telework; promoted ICT application in
education, medicine, and other �elds; developed policies for local development using ICT infrastructure; and took measures to create environments where everyone can enjoy convenience through ICT.
■Promoting ICT Research and Development○ MIC developed R&D strategies; enhanced R&D to realize cutting-edge ICT in all aspects of society; took measures for
the deployment of the results of research into multilingual voice-based translation technologies; and conducted R&D into next-generation AI technologies.
■Promoting International Strategies for ICT○ MIC worked to spread the Japanese standard for terrestrial digital TV (ISDB-T) worldwide; deploy ICT systems (such
as disaster-prevention systems) in Asia and Central and South American countries; and promote various forms of contributions and cooperation at multilateral and bilateral venues. Furthermore, MIC co-hosted the G20 Ibaraki-Tsukuba Ministerial Meeting on Trade and Digital Economy with MOFA and METI in June 2019.
■Promoting Public Administration and Disaster Prevention through ICT○ MIC promotes e-government and informatization in the �eld of government disaster-resilience.
■Developments in Postal Service Administration○ MIC focuses on assisting the deployment of postal systems mainly in developing countries using Japan’s outstanding
knowledge of postal operations.
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Key P
oint
sChapter 4ICT Policy Directions
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