Looking ahead to the introduction of the active tag system using 433MHz band-- Partial report from the Information and Communications Council --
Background
In recent years, work has been ongoing to put in place and develop usage of active tag system using 433 MHz frequency band (referred to below as the active tag system using 433MHz band) on an international level, in order to bring about smooth and efficient international distribution.
It is expected that use of the active tag system using 433MHz band will lead to the speed up of management and operation of containers information particularly in the distribution field.
MIC received a partial report from the Information and Communications council, in anticipation of the introduction of the active tag system using 433MHz band, concerning technical requirements for the active tag system using 433MHz band.
This is expected to bring about the realization of smooth and efficient international distribution in the future.
Outline of partial report
Outline of the active tag system using 433MHz band
-An active tag system is made up of active tags that can exchange information using the energy in built-in batteries, and interrogators that can switch the tags on and off, and read and write information.
-The active tag system using 433MHz band is used at all levels of shipment and delivery, transport, and export and import of goods in international distribution, and is useful in keeping track electronically of whether containers are opened or closed, and of their exact location.
Outline of investigation results
The main technical requirements for the active tag system using 433MHz band are as follows.
The active tag system using 433MHz band:
Devices that transmit information used for operations management of international transport goods (transport use equipment such as cargo, containers, palettes or other equipment used in international transport)
Interrogators using 433MHz band:
Wireless equipments that are mainly installed in ports, airports, factories or warehouses, and used to switch active tags on and off and transmit information data
Active tags using 433MHz band:
Wireless devices that are attached to international transport goods, and transmit information concerning the status of the international transport goods
Future plans
MIC will take this partial report into consideration, and plans to move ahead rapidly with formulating technical requirements concerning the active tag system using 433MHz band.
Outline of report on economic trends in the ICT industry (first quarter of 2006)
Points on trends in the information and communications technology (ICT) industry
The ICT industry is showing gradual expansion overall, driven by the increase in demand for information and communications. However, there are signs that inventories of electronic components and devices are beginning to build up.
NB: The upward arrows indicate an increase or an upward trend, and the downward arrows indicate a decline or a downward trend
Figure 1: Change in ICT related mining and manufacturing indices
Figure 2: Change in ICT related service sector activity indices
Figure 3: Graph of inventory cycle (electronic components and devices industry)
Comparative points of trends in the 13th and 14th cycles
The business cycle which started in January 2002 (the 14th cycle) shows a mutually balanced growth between the ICT industry and non-ICT industries
NB:
13th cycle: January 1999 to January 2002
14th cycle: From January 2002
13th cycle showed growth from 1Q of 1999 to 4Q of 2000
14h cycle showed growth from 1Q of 2002 to 4Q of 2005
Source: METI "Indices of All Industry Activity," "Indices of Industrial Production" and "Indices of Tertiary Industry Activity"
Information and communications-related production goods (e.g. electronic components and devices.) are one of the major fluctuation factors of the ICT industry
NB:
13th cycle: January 1999 to January 2002
14th cycle: From January 2002
13th cycle showed growth from 1Q of 1999 to 4Q of 2000
14h cycle showed growth from 1Q of 2002 to 4Q of 2005
Source: METI "Indices of Industrial Production"
The fluctuation factors of end consumer goods have shifted from information related consumer goods (e.g. the Internet and mobile phones) to consumer electronics equipment (e.g. LCD TV)
Source: METI "Indices of Industrial Production"
Conclusion
(1) The presence of the ICT industry has continued to increase even after the bursting of the IT bubble, and its effect on the Japanese economy as a whole is increasingly growing.
(2) The traction of the ICT industry in the current business recovery phase (the 14th cycle) is equal to that seen in the 13th cycle which was known as the IT bubble.
(3) Since the growth of non-ICT related industries in the 14the cycle is much higher than that in the 13th cycle, the presence of the ICT industry appears lower in the 14th cycle than that in the 13th cycle. Put in a different way, the current recovery is not being driven only by the ICT industry, but by a good balance between the ICT industry and non-ICT industries.
(4) The reasons for the growth of the ICT industry in the 13th cycle were increased information-related investment by corporations as well as the penetration of the Internet and mobile phones in households. In the 14th cycle, the growth in demand for digital home appliance is the driving force. There are some changes in the information and communications-related demand between 13th cycle and 14th cycle.
(5) Regarding information and communications-related consumer goods, the increase was mainly driven by information related goods such as personal computers and mobile phones in the 13th cycle, and by consumer-use electronics equipment including digital home appliance such as digital cameras, car navigation and LCD TVs in the 14th cycle.
(6) There is a downward trend of the growth of information and communications related capital goods in the 14th cycle because the growth of information-related capital goods slowed down. This is largely because imported products including personal computers and related equipment was substituted for domestic products.
(7) The growth in ICT related production goods was high in both cycles as the driving force for the growth of ICT related production. In the 14th cycle, in addition to the continuing supply of components and devices for personal computers and mobile phones, the increase in demand for digital home appliance accelerated the growth.
(8) The breakdown of the ICT related service industry activity index shows a lower contribution by the communications industry because the penetration of mobile phones reached the ceiling, while a greater contribution by information related equipment leases and rentals as corporations shifted purchasing of information related equipment to leasing. In addition, there is a shift of information-related demand by business from telecommunications infrastructure and terminals to system maintenance and management.
MIC receives report from the Information and Communications Council concerning technical conditions for the improvement of narrow-band CS digital broadcasting system
Background
CS broadcasting that uses the 27 MHz bandwidth (narrow-band CS digital broadcasting) is experiencing a growing need for multi-channel services for HDTV broadcasting, as it is being affected by the move to HDTV in BS and digital terrestrial broadcasting and the rapid penetration of high-definition, large and flat screen TVs. At the same time, the introduction of the latest digital broadcasting technologies is desirable in order to promote the development of a better level of CS digital broadcasting. Under these circumstances, the Telecommunications Technology Sub-Council of the Information and Communications Council has been investigating the technical conditions for the improvement of narrow-band CS digital broadcasting system and has submitted its report to MIC today.
Outline of report
The outline of the report is as shown below. This report takes into consideration the results of the invitation to comment that was implemented by the council from June 5 to July 5, 2006.
Future plans
MIC will take this report into consideration and plans to promptly move ahead with the regulation of technical standard for the improvement of narrow-band CS digital broadcasting system.
Technical conditions for DVB-S.2 transmission system
