The MIC-ITU Symposium on Disaster Communications

1.Background and objectives of the symposium

  In the one year since the Great East Japan Earthquake struck on March 11, 2011, MIC has been actively pursuing initiatives to construct disaster-resistant ICT networks while moving ahead with post-earthquake restoration and rebuilding efforts.
  On the other hand, in view of the natural disasters that have stuck other parts of the Asia Pacific region in recent years, interest in the experience of Japan has been increasing.
  Given this context, we specifically chose Sendai to hold this symposium with the participation of overseas ICT regulatory agencies and other organizations. The symposium’s objectives are twofold: to share with overseas organizations the knowledge and lessons Japan has learned in the ICT field from the Great East Japan Earthquake and the reconstruction process, and to provide an understanding of the state of post-earthquake reconstruction in the area.

2.Symposium overview

(1) Date
     Friday, March 16, 2012
(2) Location
     Sendai International Center, Aobayama, Aoba-ku, Sendai, Miyagi Prefecture, Japan
(3) Hosted by MIC and ITU
     Supported by Miyagi Prefecture, the City of Sendai, Tohoku ICT Panel, and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)
(4) Attendees
     Overseas ICT regulatory agencies, telecommunication and broadcasting operators, Miyagi Prefecture, the City of Sendai, academic organizations, etc.
(5) Main program of the symposium
     Planning programs include presentations centered on responses to the Great East Japan Earthquake, restoration, and rebuilding, and screenings of videos on reconstruction in the disaster areas