December 12, 2002, Vol. 13, No. 17 ISSN 1346-5317

During the forum, the IPv6 Interoperability Event was held in which Japanese telecommunications carriers and manufacturers participated.
Taking this opportunity, Director-General ISHIHARA exchanged opinions with Mr. Zhang Xinsheng, Deputy Director-General, MII Technology Department, on promotion of Japan-China cooperation concerning IPv6. The two sides recognized to continue promoting Japan-China cooperation as regards IPv6.

The outline of 2002 China NGN Forum & IPv6 Interoperability Event is as follows:
Date: November 27 through 29, 2002
Venue: China Academy of Telecommunications and Technology, MII
Organizer: MII (cosponsors: 6TNet, BII Group, IPv6 Forum, etc.)
Major speakers: Mr. Zhang Xinsheng, Deputy Director-General, MII Technology Department; Mr. Jiang Lintao, Chairman, China IP Standard Workshop; Mr. Latif Ladid, Chairman of Global IPv6 Forum; and others
Exhibitors: KDDI Corp., NTT Communications Corp., Hitachi, Ltd., NEC Corp., Fujitsu Ltd., Matsushita Graphic Communications
Presentations of applications and IPv6-ready equipment, including video conferencing, VoIP, etc., in a multivendor environment under which IPv6-ready equipment is linked with each other.

MPHPT released the results (prompt report) of the survey "overall results of Japan's communications industry (telecommunications and broadcasting)" for the third and fourth quarters (Q-III and Q-IV) of FY 2002. Fixed figures will be posted in the end of December 2002 at URL:http://www.soumu.go.jp/johotsusintokei/

1. Sales forecasts
The Sales Forecast Diffusion Index (DI: The percentage of companies saying that the sales conditions are rising compared with the second quarter, minus the percentage of companies saying that the sales conditions are declining compared with the second quarter.) shows as follows:
- Telecommunications are the upward tendencies of "16.2" for Q-III and "24.3" for Q-IV of FY2002, respectively.
- Private-sector broadcasting(except cablecasting) are the downward tendencies of "-21.9" and "-34.4."
- Cablecasting are the upward tendencies of "60.0" and "60.4." 

Table 1. Sales forecast diffusion index

Notes: 1.	Basically, index is estimated at the end of the previous quarter for each. However, indices for Q-III and Q-IV in FY2002 are estimated at the end of Q-II in FY2001.
2.	Figures of "all industries" are based on the "Short-term Economic Survey of Principal Enterprise in Japan," Bank of Japan.

Fig. 1 Trends in sales forecast diffusion index

 

2. Financial position
The Financial Position Diffusion Index (DI: The percentage of companies saying that the financial position are easy compared with the previous quarter, minus the percentage of companies saying that the financial position are tight compared with the previous quarter.) shows as follows:
- Telecommunications are the easy tendencies of "12.5" for Q-III and "2.4" for Q-IV of FY2002, respectively.
- Private-sector broadcasting(except cablecasting) are the easy tendencies of "15.6" and "9.4."
- Cablecasting are the tight tendencies of "-20.0" and "20.0."

Table 2. Financial position diffusion index

Notes: 1.	Basically, index is estimated at the end of the previous quarter for each. However, indices for Q-III and Q-IV in FY2002 are estimated at the end of Q-II in FY2001.
2.	Figures of "all industries" are based on the "Short-term Economic Survey of Principal Enterprise in Japan," Bank of Japan.

Fig. 2 Trends in financial position diffusion index

 

Outline of the survey
[The survey "overall result of Japan's communications industry"]
To grasp the business trend of communications industry (telecommunications and broadcasting), the monthly survey indicated below has been carried out on sales, etc. since 1995.

[Companies Surveyed]

 

On November 14, 2002, Mr. UTSUMI Yoshio held a lecture meeting entitled "Toward the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS)" at MIELPARQUE TOKYO, with some 200 people attending from the government, private companies, research institutes, universities, etc.

WSIS is a high-level conference on a global scale to be held in two phases, Geneva in 2003 and Tunis in 2005, with the aims of establishing a common vision of an "information society" as well as promoting understandings thereupon and of formulating a "declaration" and an "action plan" for achieving the development in a harmonized manner toward realization of this common vision. 

MPHPT and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs will convene the Asian Regional Conference to be held in Tokyo, Japan, from January 13 through 15, 2003. This Regional Conference aims to propose topics to be deliberated at WSIS and the direction of WSIS at the WSIS Second Meeting of the Preparatory Committee (PrepCom-2) to be held from 17 to 28 February 2003 in Geneva.

At the lecture meeting, Secretary-General UTSUMI explained changes in telecommunications technologies, market policy, administration, markets and desirable regulatory authorities accompanying such changes during four years after his assumption of office as Secretary-General (February 1999). Following the explanation, he stressed the significance of deepening recognitions on an information society. Mr. UTSUMI clarified the following three points as roles that WSIS shall play; namely, i) to help leaders of each country have correct recognitions and realize correct policies, ii) to bridge the digital divide, and iii) to address cyberspace problems. Then, he stated that ITU will hold WSIS under its initiative.