July 5, 2004, Vol.15, No. 6 ISSN 1346-5317

i) Need for technological development and practical applicationfor strengthening networks;
ii) Need for efforts/technological development concerning traffic controland quality assurance; and
iii) Need for verification, etc. of technological measures for distributingtraffic.

MPHPT will, based on this report, implement necessary measures forR&D and verification experiments; and continue to consider a varietyof problems, etc. of constructing the next generation IP-based infrastructures.

Points of the Study Group Report
 

Current status of IP-based infrastructures		Problems of IP-based infrastructures		Strengthening of IP-based infrastructures (the next-generation backbone circuits)
1.  Router, etc. Concern about the situation that the traffic would become greater than the processing capacity of the router, etc.(a problem that would appear for the first time in Japan where broadband platforms are the most widespread in the world)	When considering a traffic increase in the future;	1. Technological development and practical applications of ultrahigh-speed routers, etc. are not scheduled.	In order to correct unbalanced situation;	1. Development on photonic network technologies
2. Fiber-optic cables for backbone circuits ¥ The ratio of dark fibers to the total fibers is maintained constantly at about 60%. ¥ Investment amounts have been declining since their peak in 1996. (Carriers are using existing fiber-optic cables laid before the widespread use of broadband platforms.)		2. Fiber-optic cables are demanded to meet the widespread use of broadband services in the future.		2. Strengthening of fiber-optic cables for backbone circuits ¥ Development on photonic network technologies ¥ Utilization of non-commercial networks
3. Pattern of traffic generation Traffic generated from particular users (peer-to-peer type file exchange) occupies large part of the total traffic on backbone circuits.		3-1. Depending upon modes of usage, flat rates are not fair. 3-2. Effectiveness of network use as a whole is not high. 3-3. Quality assurance among multiple providers is not offered.		3-1. Consideration of new charge systems  E.g., Collection of additional charges when traffic exceeds a given volume (measures to be taken by service providers) 3-2. Establishment of traffic engineering It is appropriate to optimize efficiency of network use as a whole through control of traffic flow. 3-3. Development of quality assurance technologies among multiple providers
4. Traffic concentration in Tokyo		4. Problems derived from traffic concentration in Tokyo i) Vulnerability against disaster, etc. ii) Overload on communications facilities in Tokyo iii) Communications delay in rural areas		4. It is necessary to distribute traffic exchange point. Development of backbone construction technologies to distribute traffic, etc.
5. Fault chain Fault chains occur due to errors of routing information, etc.		5. Credibility of routing information is a problem.		5. It is essential to improve credibility of routing information.

On March 30, 2004, the "Study Group on Advanced Use of ElectronicTags in the Age of Ubiquitous Networks" of MPHPT compiled the "guidelinesfor privacy protection in the use of RFID tags in its approach to advancedRFID applications" (final report).  On March 16, 2004, the Ministryof Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) developed the "guidelines to protectprivacy concerning RFID tags."
Subsequently, MPHPT and METI have been conducting negotiations on developmentof common guidelines.
Recently, the two ministries reached a conclusion as the common "guidelinesfor privacy protection with regard to RFID tags."
RFID tags consisting of IC chips and antennae are embedded in products,etc.; the tags are then used to record ID information, etc. of said products,etc.
Through the use of radio frequencies, RFID tags have unique featuresthat enable to read information recorded in RFID tags from a distance. Thus, there are risks that attributes of personal belongings, ID numbers,etc. and, in cases where RFID tags contain personal information, the personalinformation would be read without consent and without being realized bythe person concerned.
In response to such concern, the two ministries considered that itis vital to enable the society to smoothly accept RFID tags through implementationof appropriate measures from the viewpoint of protecting privacy of consumers. MPHPT and METI jointly compiled a basic concept within the scope of consensusamong stakeholders, including service providers and consumer groups, subsequentlydeveloped the guidelines.
The two ministries will carry out awareness campaigns on the guidelinestoward relevant organizations, consumers, etc.