Result of 26th AIC Conference at Hanoi
Regarding the "future wireless Internet," the theme of the meeting, participants from Japan introduced the current status of the third-generation (3G) mobile communications systems (IMT-2000), whose service was launched as of the end of September 2001 in Japan, the R&D status and future schedules for 4G mobile communications systems and simplified wireless system for access to the Internet, all these presentations attracting much attention. While countries made presentations on the next-generation mobile communications systems and broadband Internet access, countries participating agreed to coordinate international joint experiments utilizing the Asia-Pacific Information Infrastructure (APII) testbed for widespread use of IPv6. Japan proposed to conduct the international joint experiments with other AIC member states using the ultrahigh-speed Internet satellite which Japan is to launch in 2005, and invited specific R&D themes from member states. The satellite Internet, a satellite communications system with wide-area coverage, simultaneous multiple address and disaster-tolerant features, through realization of ultrahigh speed and high performance, will be made available as an ultrahigh-speed satellite Internet access networks in Japan and the Asia-Pacific region, complementing terrestrial networks. Under the international joint project, R&D on satellite-borne systems and optimum transmission systems, and joint research among countries in the Asia-Pacific region utilizing R&D satellite as a testbed will be carried out in order to standardize communications protocols for the ultrahigh-speed satellite Internet. The 27th AIC Conference is scheduled to be held in Thailand in May 2002, whose themes will be chosen from service solution business models, IPv6, satellite projects, etc. that offer promises over the next several years. For more information on AIC, visit: http://www.aic.or.jp
"Basic Approach for Assessment of the Possibility
of Hindrance to Securing of Fair Competition in Telecommunications
Business" Published
MPHPT, in regard to the "Basic Approach
for Assessment of the Possibility of Hindrance to Securing of Fair
Competition in Telecommunications Business etc. in Relation to Approval
for Expanding Business Scope of NTT East and NTT West" (Guidelines
for Securing of Fair Competition in Relation to Approval for Expanding
Business Scope of NTT East and NTT West) announced in the proposal
of October 30, 2001, have made a decision based on comments received
from all directions.
Participants from ITU-Workshop Visit MPHPT On November 20, 2001, as part of a joint workshop held in Tokyo by Waseda University and the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), 16 senior government officials in charge of IT policy from 14 countries in the Asia-Pacific region visited MPHPT. With the support of MPHPT, the first ITU-Workshop was held for the purpose of helping to develop human resources among public administrators and company executives in the IT field in the Asia-Pacific region. As part of the event, and with cooperation from Japanese industry, academia and government, several visits and lectures were arranged related to such areas as IT policy, state-of-the-art technology, Internet applications, electronic commerce and development of third-generation mobile communications systems. During their visit to MPHPT, the participants paid a courtesy call on Vice-Minister Kaoru Kanazawa and discussed MPHPT's IT policy and cooperation between Japan and countries in the Asia-Pacific region. Later, they learned more about Japan's basic guidelines for the development of IT, as well as the ongoing construction of one of the world's most advanced information and telecommunications networks. In addition, the visitors were able to discuss with MPHPT staff important issues such as network security, the development of IT human resources, and the promotion of electronic commerce and electronic government. Japan's involvement in ITU activities was also covered, such as its leadership and support for the ITU's study group promoting the development of new telecommunication technologies for rural applications. The participants expressed great interest in a wide range of areas, and contributed valuable information from their own countries while also learning more about the status of IT in Japan.
FY2000 Japan's Communications
Usage Trends in Traffic Surveyed This material compiles and analyses reports on subscriber telephone, ISDN, mobile telephone, PHS and international calls in FY2000 (from April 1, 2000 to March 31, 2001), submitted by each Type I telecommunications carrier at the end of June 2001 (for international calls, the end of September 2001), based on the Rules for Reporting on Telecommunications Business. 1. Introduction 2) History of the survey 3) Carriers surveyed
2. Summary of FY2000 survey 1) In the report as of the end of FY2000, the total number of subscribers to mobile communications (mobile telephone plus PHS) has surpassed that of fixed communications (subscriber telephone plus ISDN). In preliminary figures as of the end of October 2001, the number of mobile telephone subscribers has exceeded that of fixed communications.
2) Since the end of FY1999, the number of subscribers
to Internet access service using mobile telephone terminal as of
the end of FY2000 has increased almost fivefold, the preliminary
figure as of the end of October 2001 had grown by some six times,
and the communications traffic (estimated) has grown by about eleven
times. 3) While the share of fixed-to-fixed in total calls
is decreasing, the share of mobile-to-mobile has increased by more
than 20%. 4) The share of subscriber telephone-to-fixed was
below 50% in total call duration and below 40% in total calls. 5) In fixed communications, the growth rate of
call duration is bigger than that of calls, which means that transition
from conventional voice telephony to data communications and the
Internet is taking place.
Introduction of Airborne Collision
Avoidance System (ACAS) for Small Airplanes On November 26, 2001, MPHPT received a partial report from the Telecommunications Council (Chair: Mr. Yoshihisa Akiyama) on "technical conditions for radio facilities of airborne collision avoidance system" in response to Inquiry No. 10 "on technical problems of aeronautic radio communications." The outline is as follows: The airborne collision avoidance system (ACAS), an airborne system for monitoring proximity traffic (nearby airplanes) and providing location information thereof, etc., to flight crews when judged to be dangerous, is classified into two categories: "ACAS I," which provides location information on nearby aircraft, and, "ACAS II," which gives vertical flight commands in cases of airborne collision threats, in addition to the location information. In Japan, ACAS II is being introduced mainly on passenger airliners (with installation of the system being mandated under the Aviation Law). On the other hand, the use of ACAS on small aircraft without such an obligation has not been diffused because the existing ACAS units are so expensive as equipment installed on small aircraft, etc. However, consecutive small airplane accidents accelerated demands for introducing traffic advisory system (TAS) for small aircraft, which have been introduced rapidly in the U.S. and Europe. Under these circumstances, the Telecommunications Council has been deliberating on "technical conditions for radio facilities of airborne collision avoidance system," taking into consideration the revisions of international standards, etc. of ACAS I and ACAS II, and has submitted the report thereon.
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