The MIC also works to promote the digitalization of television, with which we are familiar for acquiring information. Digital broadcasting was launched in three major urban areas (Tokyo, Nagoya and Osaka) in December 2003, and extended to all prefectures by December 2006. Digital broadcasting makes our lives more convenient and rich by offering data broadcasting that affords the real-time availability of information, as well as programs with high image/sound quality and one-segment broadcasting with mobile phones (Fig. B). The digitalization of television enables the use of ITS as well as radio waves for assuring safety and reliability. Analog broadcasting now on the air will terminate in July 2011. The MIC will work on measures to ensure a smooth transition to digital broadcasting, thereby creating an intelligence infrastructure for making our lives more convenient, as well as assuring safety and peace of mind in society.
Concerning cable television, digitalization has deliberately and appropriately been promoted so that all cable television facilities can handle digitalization at the earliest possible time before terrestrial analog broadcasting is terminated.
Concerning satellite broadcasting, BS analog broadcasting (the same as terrestrial analog broadcasting) will terminate on July 24, 2011, followed by the launch of new BS digital broadcasting. To ensure a smooth transition, the Information and Communications Bureau works on disseminating and publicizing the termination of analog broadcasting, as well as the development of related systems.
[Promotion of the Japanese broadcast system to overseas]
Efforts for promotion of the digital broadcasting system developed in Japan (ISDB-T) to be adopted in the countries in Southeast Asian and South America have been underway since the late 1990s; as a result, in June 2006 the decision to adopt a system based on the Japanese ISDB-T system was made in Brazil and services began in December 2007. Taking this as a foothold, an active approach will be taken for expanded dissemination in other South American countries.

Higher expectations have been raised for ICT as a powerful measure to address various social problems including contracting economic growth, environment-related issues, and the emergence of a full-scale aging society with a declining birthrate. Given Japan's globally advanced broadband environment, how to effectively use such infrastructure is an important issue being urgently addressed.
[Local revitalization in terms of advanced use of ICT]
It is important to ensure that all citizens in all regions of Japan can fully utilize ICT in the future. The MIC works on revitalization of regions by promoting establishment of the "Local Government ICT Platform" which will form the basis of linking applications and model of consigned projects geared toward solving various issues in each region by ICT, etc.
[Promotion of content distribution]
Broadcasting content plays an extremely important role in the content market-an important growing industry that supports economic growth as well as cultural aspects.
The MIC promotes various measures for market expansion by examining how the rules governing production, use and distribution should be, and promoting distribution by using IP networks.
[Development of advanced ICT human resources]
Corporations lack human resources able to add higher value to products by ICT. The MIC is therefore promoting the training of advanced ICT human resources by such means as developing practical teaching materials for learning the techniques and skills needed to address challenges through support and projects designed to train human resources.
[Promoting information security measures] (Fig. C)
As social and economic activities become increasingly dependent on information and communications networks, the Information and Communications Bureau is comprehensively promoting measures for information security including the elimination of computer viruses and unauthorized access, conducting research and development, developing human resources, and strengthening international cooperation between related organizations.

According to the Law concerning Postal Privatization established in October 2005, Japan Post was dissolved on October 1, 2007, thereby launching postal privatization.
The postal services rendered thus far by the public corporation have been taken over by: (1) Japan Post Service Co., Ltd., (2) Japan Post Bank Co., Ltd., (3) Japan Post Insurance Co., Ltd., (4) Japan Post Network Co., Ltd. serving as the contact for those corporations, (5) Japan Post Holdings Co., Ltd., a holding company for those four business corporations, and (6) Management Organization for Postal Savings and Postal Life Insurance, an incorporated administrative agency that manages the savings and insurance policies rendered before privatization.
The Postal Services Policy Planning Department has thus far done the following: (1) established Japan Post Holdings, which makes preparations and plans for privatization; (2) established and revised laws related to the new corporations; (3) instructed Japan Post Holdings to prepare an implementation plan that sets forth how to transfer the public corporation's affairs, assets, employees and other resources to the privatized corporations; and (4) examined its appropriateness, thereby having made steady preparations for privatization.
The privatization of postal services makes their management more voluntary, creative and efficient, and promotes fair and free competition toward providing varied high-quality services, thereby increasing civic convenience and activating the economy. Toward realizing these principles of privatization, the Postal Services Policy Planning Department works to make the postal privatization launched in October 2007 a success.