July 29, 2003,Vol. 14, No. 8 ISSN 1346-5317

Ms. KUBO graduated from Keio University (English and AmericanLiterature, Department of Literature, Faculty of Letters).  She joinedNHK in 1995, and co-presided popular TV programs, such as "Project X" and"Kohaku Utagassen (NHK sponsored New Year's Eve song show)."
Toward the Summit, Ms. KUBO will take part in the relatedactivities, such as domestic public awareness campaigns, meetings in thecourse of preparation and events to be held at WSIS.

[Reference]
Overview of WSIS
WSIS will be the first-ever summit in the ICT field tobe organized by the United Nations.  The outline of WSIS is as follows:
1. Aim
i) To develop a common vision and understanding concerningthe information society
ii) To develop a Declaration of Principles and a Planof Action for concerted development toward realizing this vision

2. Venues and times
The first phase of WSIS will take place in Geneva, hostedby the Government of Switzerland, from December 10 through 12, 2003. The second phase (follow-up) will take place in Tunis, hosted by the Governmentof Tunisia, from November 16 through 18, 2005.

3. Organizers
i) UN (UN General Assemblies in December 2001 and December2002 adopted Resolutions.)
ii) The International Telecommunication Union (ITU) takesthe lead role in preparations. (ITU Secretary-General is Mr. UTSUMI Yoshio.)

4. Participants
Top-level government officials, international organizations,private entities, civil society (NGOs), etc.

5. Major events
i) Regional Conferences (Asia-Pacific, Pan European,Latin America and Caribbean, African and Western Asia Regional Conferencesadopted Declarations, respectively)
The Asia-Pacific Regional Conference was convened inTokyo, Japan in January 2003, with Prime Minister KOIZUMI Junichiro andMPHPT Minister KATAYAMA Toranosuke in attendance.
ii) Third Meeting of the Preparatory Committee for theWSIS (PrepCom-3), Geneva, Switzerland (September 2003)
To finalize a draft Declaration of Principles and a draftPlan of Action

6. Summit events
In parallel with the Summit meetings, many events willbe held, such as workshops and exhibitions.
 
 
 
 

Ms. KUBO (center) andMinister KATAYAMA (left)

The World Radiocommunication Conference 2003 (WRC-03)was convened in Geneva, Switzerland, from June 9 through July 4, 2003. About 2,300 delegates from 145 Member States attended the Conference, includinga Japanese delegation consisting of about 100 members from MPHPT, telecommunicationscarriers, broadcasters and others.
At the Conference, main topics of deliberations werecommon proposals from each Region (e.g., common proposals submitted bythe Asia-Pacific Telecommunity <APT>, for which upon development ofthose proposals, Japan played a main role).
Outcomes of major agenda items are as follows:

1. Frequency allocations to radioLANs (RLAN)/wireless access systems (WAS) in the 5 GHz band
i) Frequency allocations to RLAN/WAS
Frequency allocations for the mobile service on a globalbasis were decided in the bands 5150-5250 MHz (for indoor use, currentlyavailable in Japan), 5250-5350 MHz (for indoor use, outdoor use availableon a limited basis) and 5470-5725 MHz (for indoor/outdoor use), with newlyestablished sharing conditions with currently existing radars, etc. Through these allocations, globally available frequencies increase about2.8 times.
ii) Frequency allocations to fixed wireless access(FWA) system
Based upon APT common proposal (Japan's proposal), theband 5250-5350 MHz was allocated to FWA for use in 12 countries in Region3 (Asia and Pacific).

2. Considerations upon futuredevelopment of IMT-2000 (3G) and systems beyond IMT-2000 (4G)
At WRC-03, it was decided that frequency allocationsfor the future development of 3G and 4G was the agenda item of the nextWRC (WRC-07, to be convened in 2007).
In conjunction with the basic concepts adopted at theRadiocommunication Assembly (RA-03, a conference for radiocommunicationsstandardization held from June 2 to 6, 2003), real considerations on aglobal scale upon realization of 4G mobile communications systems, whichwill have access to the ultrahigh-speed Internet (100 Mbps) will be started.
Utilizing world's top-level technologies and accumulatedindustrial power in the ICT field, Japan started the technological developmentwith the aims of establishing necessary technological elements for 4G by2005 and putting outcomes of the technological development into practicaluse by 2010, and thereby contributing to international standardizationof 4G.

3. Frequency allocations forsound broadcasting satellite via Quasi-Zenith satellites
In order to realize communications/broadcasting (soundbroadcasting) and radionavigation services through the Quasi-Zenith satellitesystem that is developed by Japan's industry-academia-government jointR&D efforts, the 2.6 GHz band (2605-2630 MHz) was allocated to thebroadcasting-satellite service (BSS (sound)).  In addition, it wasdecided that a multilateral coordination method for radionavigation-satellitesystems was introduced and power flux density limit values for the fixedsatellite service were relaxed.
The Quasi-Zenith satellite system enables communications/broadcastingand radionavigation services at near-zenith of Japan.  This will acceleraterealization of services to be received from a satellite that is alwaysnear-zenith (high-elevation angle) without being blocked by buildings,etc and suitable for mobile usage.

4. Identification of frequenciesfor public protection and disaster relief (PPDR)
A new Resolution was adopted that identified the frequencybands/ranges listed below to achieve regionally harmonized spectrum forpublic protection and disaster relief solutions. (Japan proposed the band440Ð470 MHz.)
Region 1 (Europe and Africa): 380-470 MHz
Region 2 (Americas): 746-806 MHz, 806-869 MHz and 4940-4990MHz
Region 3 (Asia and Pacific): 406.1Ð430 MHz, 440Ð470 MHz,806-824/851-869 MHz, 4940-4990 MHz and 5850-5925 MHz
Through these identifications, interoperability and interworkingbetween communications systems for PPDR will be facilitated on an internationalbasis.  Thus, it is anticipated that harmonization in PPDR activitiesin each region will be promoted.

5. Global allocation for Interneton board aircraft (14-14.5 GHz)
The band 14-14.5 GHz was allocated to the aeronauticalmobile satellite service (aircraft to satellite) for enabling aircraftpassengers and crew to have access to the Internet.  Through use ofthe band, seamless use of the Internet will be enabled in an aircraft ona global basis.

6. Revision of the Rule for promotingGlobal Precipitation Measurement (GPM)
For realizing the global precipitation measurement, Japan,the U.S. and etc. have been carrying out R&D on the GPM.  It consistsof one main (primary) satellite that can implement more detailed measurementand eight sub (constellation) satellites that carry out global precipitationmeasurement about every three hour. 
At this conference, radar transmission power values wereclearly specified for enabling stable operations of the precipitation measurementradar in the band 35.5-35.6 GHz that is to be mounted on the GPM primarysatellite.  This radar is under joint study by Japan and the U.S.

7. Realignment of allocationsfor the amateur, amateur-satellite and broadcasting services around 7 MHzband
In Regions 1 and 3, additional allocations for the amateurservices from 2009 of the band 7100-7200 kHz in addition to the currentlyallocated band 7000-7100 kHz was approved based upon a joint proposal ofJapan and the Republic of Korea (in line with the additional allocation,the broadcasting service in the same band will shift the 100 kHz upperside with the same bandwidth).  Through the realignment, the frequencyband in the 7 MHz band for the amateur service will be widened two timesthe current frequency band (in Region 2, the band 7000-7300 kHz was allocatedfor the amateur service).

Since September 2002, MPHPT has been holding a "StudyGroup on Methods for Evaluating Competition in the Telecommunications Fieldsas IP Evolves" (Chair: Dr. SAITO Tadao, Professor Emeritus, the Universityof Tokyo) in order to deliberate upon methods for evaluating competitionin the telecommunications field.  The Study Group recently finalizedits report and MPHPT announced the report on July 14, 2003.

1. Progress of deliberationsto date
The Study Group has been holding meetings 14 times includingits first meeting on September 5, 2002, for deliberating upon i) definitionof user service markets in the telecommunications business field, and ii)methods, etc. for evaluating competition in the defined markets, consideringchanges in business models accompanying evolution of IP/broadband introduction.
Upon compilation of the report of this Study Group, MPHPTpublished a draft report in May 2003, and invited opinions on the draftfrom stakeholders.
This report was finalized taking into consideration suchopinions, etc. from stakeholders.

2. Schedule
MPHPT will, paying due respect to proposals describedin this report, take necessary preparatory measures for steadily implementingevaluation of competition.