Triggers to enhance competitiveness and growth
Strengthening international competitiveness in the ICT industry that carries Japan’s future with it
Japan’s technology and products in next-generation mobile phones, optical communications and information consumer products are all very highly evaluated. But at present, Japan’s global competitiveness in mobile phones, personal computer related products as well as software related products is unfortunately low.
Taking into consideration the final report from the panel, MIC has formulated the ICT International Competitiveness Enhancement Program which includes the concrete suggestions below so as to bring about a strengthening of the international competitiveness of the ICT industry.
Coming to you from Japan! The Specified Ubiquitous Districts will become a world model
Information and communications products and services will not expand unless real people in the real world can experience for themselves how useful they are. So, research and development themselves cannot produce that sensation. But, since much of ICT must use public infrastructure such as radio frequencies and communications networks, it is difficult to experience them at the general regional society level. Specified Ubiquitous Districts will address that topic. Let’s take a look at what a Specified Ubiquitous District is and what will happen there.
Aiming for the establishment of a model that can be developed internationally based on a Japanese initiative in which world-leading ICT services are developed and tested.
New safe and secure services will be developed through the fusion and coordination of fixed telephones, mobile communications, contents, applications and the like, and multiple services will become available through one terminal.
It will be not just MIC, but also relevant ministries and agencies, that will put in place the environment to promote the use of ICT in the Specified Ubiquitous Districts.
MIC will put in place an environment in which the radio frequencies that are not being used by mobile phones and the like can be used effectively as long as they do not cause interference. MIC will also investigate the expansion of the secondary radio frequency system.
MIC is moving towards creating specified districts with certain characteristics (Specified Ubiquitous Sister Districts) in other countries as well, and is working towards international cooperation.
The keys to the basic strategies for strengthening international competitiveness
In order for Japan’s ICT industry to strengthen its competitiveness in global markets, there is a need to develop a number of measures in an ongoing way. In addition to establishing Specified Ubiquitous Districts, other measures include the establishment of the Conference for ICT International Competitiveness, the promotion of Japan Initiative Project, the development and putting in place of platforms and the strategic development of technology overseas exchanges.
The Conference for ICT International Competitiveness was set up in order for the private sector to strengthen the international competitiveness of the ICT industry in an ongoing fashion.
Focused promotion of the Japan Initiative Project in order to strengthen international competitiveness in the ICT industry, making use of the fields in which Japan is strong.
MIC will cooperate with relevant ministries and agencies on general and organizational development that is both integrated and united in international coordination for research and development, international standardization, intellectual property strategy, and an economic development, and will develop these strategically.
In order to build world-leading integrated platforms that are cheap, will be accepted by global markets and are easy to use, making use of Japan’s technological strengths, a basic policy regarding the development and putting in place of platforms will be developed in the course of the current fiscal year, and will be applied strategically.
Promoting core strategies in important fields
Next-generation IP networks, wireless, contents, digital broadcasting. It can be said that, in these important ICT fields, Japan has put in place globally top-level technology, products and environment. However, in many cases, this applies only domestically. The overseas corporations that hold large shares in global markets have developed strategies to maintain their competitiveness both in their domestic markets and globally. What should Japan do? Here are some of the strategies that were compiled by the Panel on ICT International Competitiveness.
In the field of IP networks, Japan’s goal is to be equipped with a globally state-of-the-art network environment and related communications services, and to be a world market leader in this. In moving towards the realization of this goal in concrete terms, Japan is promoting an approach for the rapid construction of a next-generation IP network infrastructure overseas, especially in Asia, as well as implementing strategic responses to international standardization, the promotion of research and development for the next generation, and a more active exchange of personnel with overseas.
Approximately three quarters of the international market for mobile phones is in the hands of just 4 corporations from Northern Europe, North America and Korea, and it is a fact that the share of Japanese manufacturers is very small. It is vital, in the new generation of mobile phones, to improve international competitiveness based on Japan’s high technology levels, as well as to develop international markets not just by exporting mobile terminals but through integrated value that brings in services and solutions.
Even though it produces high-quality video programming, Japan has low recognition levels and it is a fact that overseas distribution is inadequate. In the future, along with activating vision-based marketing of contents worldwide, areas such as the further strengthening of the contents themselves, the opening up of sales networks, and the training of personnel required for overseas development must be boosted.
The "one-segment" technology and services that enable reception of digital broadcasting on mobile phones are revolutionary on a global level. High-level technologies have also become established for broadcasting high-definition images. In the future, even more expendable technologies and formats will be developed and it will be necessary to promote international cooperation in strategic R&D and standardization concerning ultra-high definition broadcasting for which there are expectations as the next generation of broadcasting.
