Promotion Measures for "International TV Broadcasting for Foreigners" (Report from the Telecommunications Council)
Background of consultation
Along with the evolving globalization, the declining birthrate, and the aging society, it is urgent and indispensable for Japan to strengthen its soft power, as well as to transmit information for foreign countries and people to understand Japan’s history, culture, and social circumstances better.
In Japan, Japan Broadcasting Corporation (NHK) has served as the sole international broadcaster, but its international broadcasting is not necessarily sufficient due to the increasingly complex international situation and NHK’s financial difficulty. There has been mounting demand for the power to transmit and disseminate information to be reinforced and solidified.
Meanwhile, in Europe, the United States, China, and Korea, government-supported efforts to enhance global transmission and distribution of their visual information have been made aggressively in line with their national strategies.
Under these circumstances, the Telecommunications Council has deliberated on international TV broadcasting for foreigners and the measures to promote it, since August 1, 2006, by focusing on the following points:
- Concrete direction to take in enhancing international TV broadcasting
- Operating body and financial resources for international TV broadcasting
Outline of report
Future Plans
MIC plans to promote the enhancement of new international TV broadcasting for foreigners while taking this report into consideration.
Development of Technological Strategies Focusing on Enhancement of ICT International Competitiveness (for FY2008 Policy-Making)
Background
Based on the final report from the Panel on ICT International Competitiveness (April 2007), the ICT International Competitiveness Enhancement Program was developed in May 2007. Part of the above program, the ICT R&D Enhancement Program, is intended to clarify the most important R&D subjects for FY2008 around this summer.
In response, MIC announces Technological Strategies Focusing on Enhancement of ICT International Competitiveness (for FY2008 policy-making) that it has developed. MIC will therefore reflect the strategies in considering research and development policies in the ICT field for FY2008.
Technological Strategies Focusing on Enhancement of ICT International Competitiveness (for FY2008 policy-making) Outline Edition
Background
The ICT International Competitiveness Enhancement Program (May 2007), which was formulated based on the final report from the Panel on ICT International Competitiveness (April 2007,) is made up of one basic program and several individual programs for specific topics.
The ICT R&D Enhancement Program, which is one of the individual programs, requests MIC to clarify important R&D subjects for FY2008 around this summer, from the perspective of strengthening Japan’s international competitiveness.
OutlineBased on the final report from the Panel on ICT International Competitiveness, this document specifies the most important R&D subjects extracted mainly from the three (3) major fields and promotion measures for enhancing Japan’s international competitiveness by making the most of such R&D activities and their results.
ο Selection of the most important R&D subjects
(1) For extracting the most important subjects, we first selected the following 18 technologies as important R&D subjects from the perspective of their necessity and importance in future societies as infrastructure technologies and of their importance in basic research full of uniqueness and creativity.
• Next-generation network
- New-generation network architecture technology
- Ubiquitous platform technology
- Next-generation IP network technology
- Photonic network technology
- Technology for creating new ICT paradigm
• Wireless communications
- Ultra-high speed wireless access technology
- Cognitive wireless technology
- Terminal platforms
- ITS (Intelligent Transportation System) technology
- Technology for developing radio frequency resources
• Digital broadcasting
- Ultra-high definition imaging technology
- IP broadcasting technology
• Other fields
- Vocal language translation technology
- Ultra-realistic communications technology
- Brain information communications technology
- Network robots
- Emergency information communications systems
- Information security
(2) Of these 18 subjects, the most important subjects were selected from the perspective of the necessity of financial support and governmental initiative for promoting R&D activities urgently and intensively. The points that were considered for selection are shown below.
<Points considered in selecting the most important subjects>
- Technologies in which Japan has competitiveness
- Infrastructure technologies that are expected to create huge markets in the future
- R&D that is highly risky from the perspective of required financial resources and length of time
- R&D where coordination among industry, academia, government and other sectors is vital for promotion
As a result, the 7 subjects shown below were selected as the most important subjects.
• Next-generation network
- New-generation network architecture technology
- Ubiquitous platform technology
• Wireless communications
- Cognitive wireless technology
- Terminal platforms
• Digital broadcasting
- Ultra-high definition imaging technology
• Other fields
- Vocal language translation technology
- Ultra-realistic communications technology
ο Promotion measures
For promoting R&D activities, it is important to plan to strengthen the coordination among industry, academia and the government even at the first step of the R&D for international expansion in the future and to enhance coordination and cooperation with other countries strategically. Specifically, it is necessary to consider the following points.
• Coordination among industry, academia and the government at the first step of R&D for international expansion in the future
- Formulation and implementation of joint strategic program by industry, academia and the government
- Promotion of verification tests coordinated jointly by industry, academia and the government
- Establishment and enhancement of R&D sites and human resources development
• Strategic coordination and cooperation with other countries
- Strengthening of international coordination at the first step of R&D
- Strengthening of coordination with other countries in Asia
- Improving an environment for inviting researchers from other countries