The Japan-Finland Policy Dialogue and IT Symposium Held

At the meeting, exchange of opinions on "telecommunications policy and regulations," "IT policy," "Internet security," "development in the mobile communications field" and "digitalization of broadcasting" was made and the both sides agreed to further establish closer ties between the two countries.
In addition to the dialogue, on November 1, 2002, a Japan-Finland IT Symposium was held at a conference hall, Mita Kaigisyo, in Tokyo.
Results of these are as follows:

I. Policy Dialogue
[Finnish participants]
Mr. Pursiainen Harri, Director-General, Communications Department, and the Finnish Ministry of Transport and Communications; and others

[Policy Dialogue]
1. Telecommunications policy and regulations
The two countries exchanged opinions on the Final Report of the "Special Department for Desirable Pro-Competitive Policies in the Telecommunications Business Field for Promoting the IT Revolution" of the Telecommunications Council and the implementation status of the Finnish policies under the new EU Directives, and agreed to further cooperate on promotion of competition.

2. IT policy
The two countries exchanged information on Japan's "e-Japan Priority Policy Program - 2002" and Finnish IT policy in line with the "e-Europe 2005," both sides agreed to cooperate on and exchange information on opinions for developing policy measures concerning e-governments and e-commerce toward realization of information societies through use IT.

3. Internet security
Both sides exchanged information on consumer protection on the Internet, such as countermeasures against posting of illegal information on websites and unsolicited e-mails to mobile telephones in Japan. Then, the two agreed to establish collaborative ties toward secure use of the Internet and e-commerce for the future.

4. Development in the mobile communications field
Information exchanges were made between Japan and Finland on the current status of 3G and measures for 4G mobile communications systems, both sides agreed to exchange opinions on R&D and standardization thereof while promoting further cooperative ties between the private/public sector in the two countries.

5. Digitalization of broadcasting
The two countries exchanged opinions on policies and the current status concerning the digitalization of broadcasting in Japan and Finland, and agreed to further exchange information from now on.

The Japan-Finland Policy Dialogue

II. Japan-Finland IT symposium
[Results]
1. Outline
i) Theme: "Mobile business partners" (followed by the "Japan-Finland Joint Announcement on Mobile Internet" of Mr. KATAYAMA Toranosuke, Minister for Public Management, Home Affairs, Posts and Telecommunications, and Mr. Olli-Pekka Heinonen, Finnish Minister of Transport and Communications, on November 15, 2001)

ii) Participants
Finnish side: Mr. Erkki Virtanen, Permanent Secretary, Finnish Ministry of Trade and Industry (closing remarks) and Mr. Pursiainen Harri, Director-General, Communications Department, and the Finnish Ministry of Transport and Communications (keynote address)
For reference: the number of audiences was about 350 including telecommunications carriers, mobile telephone manufacturers, content providers, etc. in the two countries.)

2. Panel discussion
i) Development of mobile Internet
Discussions were made on the point that because the i-mode allows access to pre-selected content according to each provider, this feature may not be treated as the ordinary Internet.
NTT DoCoMo explained that its goal is a win-win model under which all stakeholders (network operators, content providers, platform operators and manufacturers) may benefit on an equal basis, accordingly, inconvenience to some extents is allowed. Some said that GPRS is technically insufficient, however, there is a space to improve GPRS as a global standard, on the other hand, others appreciated that NTT DoCoMo's billing model facilitates participation of content providers in the i-mode.
In conclusion, the following points were recognized: i) there are local characters country-by-country in history, regulations, etc., ii) with regard to roaming, coexistence of global standards and localities upon developing business models shall be considered through localized service provision and standardization, and iii) common platforms may be constructed provided that standardization and interoperability are ensured and each software suitable for applications is easily downloaded.

ii) Relationship between PCs and mobile telephones
At present, addition of mobile functions to PCs and vice versa is in progress. Discussions were made on whether content and software will be installed on PCs.
Some said that reflecting use of content and software by mobile telephones, PCs will in some cases employ such content and software which have not been used by PCs. It was concluded that flexibility of mobile telephones will accelerate trends toward fusion of PCs and mobile telephones.

iii) Convergence of communications and broadcasting
Discussions were conducted on whether competitive relationships will emerge among the mobile Internet and Internet use by PCs as well as digital TV, and whether coexistence among them will be allowed.
Some said that coexistence between the mobile Internet and Internet use by PCs will be achieved thanks to differences in mobility. As a conclusion, it is recognized that TV per se is a media for unilaterally transmitting information to unspecified many audiences, however, provided that digital TV with interactive functions fully penetrates into the society, potentials of digital TV will come into bloom.

iv) Others
Regarding 4G mobile communications, relationship with wireless LANs was discussed. In this aspect, some said that the 4G technology is still at R&D stage, however, 4G may subsume wireless LANs.
At the Q&A session, discussions were made on demand forecast for mobile telephones with camera in the European market and effects of electromagnetic waves on human bodies, etc. Vigorous deliberations on a range of themes lasted beyond the closing time of the Panel Discussion.

The Japan-Finland IT Symposium