December 3, 2004

Ministry of Internal Affairs and
Communications


Forecast of state of telecommunications industry - Results of October 2004 Survey in the Overall Status of Japan's Communications Industry (flash report) -




The diffusion index* is seeing a weakening in the positive trend in the telecommunications business and private sector broadcasting business but the cable television business continues to show a major upward trend.

The business survey index* is showing a virtually flat trend for the telecommunications business. In the broadcasting business, private sector broadcasting is seeing a weakening in the positive trend. The cable television business continues to show an upward trend, and is strong in comparison to the all industry base.

*Diffusion index (DI) = The percentage of business operators forecasting an increase minus the percentage of business operators forecasting a decrease
*Business survey (BSI) = The percentage of business operators forecasting that it will go up minus the percentage of business operators forecasting that it will go down

The MIC recently compiled its forecast (flash report) on the status of telecommunications industry in the third and fourth quarters of fiscal 2004 based on the Survey in the Overall Status of Japan's Communications Industry (statistics approved by MIC Minister) conducted in April 2004.

During January 2005, MIC plans to post final values including sales on the Internet, in Japanese, on the Information and Communications Statistics Database ()

For details refer to the Japanese web site
http://www.soumu.go.jp/s-news/2004/041203_3.html

For further information about this press release, please contact:

International Policy Division, International Affairs Department
Telecommunications Bureau
Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications
Tel: (03) 5253-5920 Fax: (03) 5253-5924

Or visit
http://www.soumu.go.jp/joho_tsusin/eng/contact.html to fill in the inquiry form.