November 15, 2005

"Symposium Commemorating Vicennial of Telecommunications Liberalization" to Be Convened
-- Review the Past, Study the Present and Foresee the Future --

This year marks the twentieth year since the Japanese telecommunications market was liberalized through the introduction of competition for the first time. Commemorating its vicennial, MIC will convene a symposium jointly with The Asahi Shimbun Co. on December 13, 2005.

1. Purpose of the Symposium
The telecommunications liberalization by the regulatory reform of 1985 has drastically improved the convenience of communications through diversified and lowered services by promoting competition, resulting in the astonishing development of the communications market. On the other hand, many unprecedented phenomena have been surfacing one after another, such as the widespread use of mobile telephones, penetration of the Internet, developments in e-mail and e-commerce, cost reductions through IP introduction and a large-scale restructuring of telecommunications carriers. These events were not predicted at the time of the liberalization.
At the Symposium, participants and panelists, who were at the scene of the liberalization, will review the past, study the present and foresee the future through panel discussions.

2. Date and venue
Date: 13:00 - 17:00, December 13, 2005
Venue: Yurakucho Asahi Hall (Yurakucho Marion Bldg., 11th Floor)
http://www.asahi-hall.jp/yurakucho/

3. Organizer, etc.
Organizer: MIC
Co-organizer: The Asahi Shimbun Co.
Sponsoring bodies: Telecommunications Carriers Association, Telecommunications Advancement Foundation, Telecom Service Association, NTT Corp., KDDI Corp. and Japan Telecom Co., Ltd.

For details refer to the Japanese web site
http://www.soumu.go.jp/s-news/2005/051115_2.html
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For further information about this press release, please fill in the inquiry form and submit it to MIC on the website
http://www.soumu.go.jp/joho_tsusin/eng/contact.html
International Policy Division,
International Affairs Department
Telecommunications Bureau, MIC
TEL: +81 3 5253 5920 / FAX: +81 3 5253 5924