September 24, 2003

Ministry of Public Management,
Home Affairs,
Posts and Telecommunications



MPHPT to hold Conference on Evaluating the State of Competition in the Telecommunications Field



The MPHPT, in cooperation with the Telecommunications Carriers Association and the Telecom Service Association, will hold a Conference on Evaluating Competition in the Telecommunications Field on October 22 (Wed), 2003.

1. Details:
The MPHPT set up the study group on methods for evaluating the state of competition in the telecommunications field as IP evolves in September 2002 with the aim of investigating methods for evaluating the state of competition in telecommunications services, and a report was compiled in July 2003. The MPHPT has taken this report into consideration and is currently promoting the necessary preparations for implementing a steady evaluation of the state of competition.

2. Conference Goal:
The MPHPT is planning to announce in the first half of October a basic approach and details for implementing an analysis and evaluation of the state of competition in the telecommunications business field. As the contents can be a reference for the future telecommunications policy, the MPHPT plans to invite comments from the public as an opportunity to hear the opinions of a broad range of telecommunications business operators and well-informed people, both from Japan and overseas, at the time of the announcement, and so decided to hold this conference during the period of the invitation to comment.

3. Date and Place:
Date: October 22 (Wed), 2003, 10 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Place: Auditorium, Mita Kaigisho (2-1-8, Mita, Minato-ku, Tokyo)

4. Organizers:
Main Organizers: MPHPT
Cooperation from: Telecommunications Carriers Association, Telecom
Service Association

5. Program:
See attached sheet.

6. Participants:
Telecommunications business operators, general public

7. Fee and Applications
Fee: Free
Applications: Applications should include name, place of work and division (only for those who belong to a company or a organization), contact information (email address or telephone number) and should be sent by email to the following address: telecom-review@soumu.go.jp
Furthermore, numbers will be limited to 200 and applications no longer accepted after that number is reached.

For details refer to the Japanese web site
http://www.soumu.go.jp/s-news/2003/030924_2.html

For further information about this press release, please contact:

International Policy Division, International Affairs Department
Telecommunications Bureau
Ministry of Public Management, Home Affairs,
Posts and Telecommunications
Tel: (03) 5253-5920 Fax: (03) 5253-5924
feedback_e-telecom@soumu.go.jp







CONFERENCE PROGRAM


Morning: 10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.


(1) Opening greetings

(2 ) Keynote Presentation
  Mr. ARITOMI, Director-General of the Telecommunications Bureau, MPHPT

(3 ) Current state of competition review in the United Kingdom
  Mr. Peter CULHAM, Chief Economist and Board Member of OFTEL (Office of Telecommunications), UK

(4) Introduction of draft basic approach and details for implementing an evaluation of the state of competition
  Mr. OHASHI, Director of Fair Competition Promotion Office, MPHPT


Afternoon: 1:30 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.


(5) Panel discussions

Part 1: Inter-Government Panel Discussion (1:30 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.)
  Coordinator: Mr. Toshihiko HAYASHI, Chairman, Stanford Japan Center
  UK: Mr. Peter CULHAM, Chief Economist and Board Member of OFTEL
  EU: Mr. Pearse O'DONOHUE, Administrator, Unit B2, Information Society Directorate-General
  MPHPT: MR. SUZUKI, Director of International Economic Affairs Division
           MR. OHASHI, Director of Fair Competition Promotion Office

Break

PART 2: Business Operator Panel Discussion (3:30 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.)
  Moderator: Ms. Kazuko OHTANI, General Manager, Legal Affairs Department, The Japan Research Institute, Limited
  Telecommunications business operators, etc: About 10 companies
  MPHPT: Mr. TAKEUCHI, Director of Telecommunications Policy Division
           Mr. OHASHI, Director of Fair Competition Promotion Office