Main Data on Information and Communications in Japan
06-Mar-06
Information and Communication Economy Office, Information and Communications Policy Bureau
Item Latest Figure Point in Time Population Ratio Household Ratio Y-toY Change Figure in the Same Period of the Preceding Year Point in Time Source Notes International Ranking Point in Time Source
- Subscriber Phones
[Telecommunications Users] Number of telephone service subscribers: 3rd 2004 ITU
Number of telephone service subscribers 51.63 million End of March, 2005 40.4 %  102.5 %  100.1 % 51.59 million End of March, 2004 MIC press release (June 8,2005) Total number of NTT East and NTT West, JAPAN TELECOM, TOKYO Communications Network, J-COM Kanto & Tokyo and MCI World Com. Population ratio: 34th 2004 ITU
Number of ISDN lines 7.98 million End of March, 2005 6.2 %  15.8 %  92.5 % 8.63 million End of March, 2004 MIC press release (June 8,2005) Total number of subscribers to NTT East and NTT West and nine power-company-affiliated new common carriers (NCCs)
- Broadband
[Internet Users]   Fee: 1st (lowest price) 2004 ITU
Number of Internet users 79.48 million End of Dec., 2004 62.2 %  157.8 %  102.8 % 77.30 million End of Dec., 2003 MIC press release (May 10, 2005) 2004 Survey of Trends of Communications Usage No. of broadband subscribers: 3rd 2004 ITU
Number of subscribers to Internet services through mobile phone 80.09 million End of Dec. 2005 62.7 %  159.0 %  106.7 % 75.03 million End of Dec. 2004  MIC press release (March 3, 2006) Total number of subscribers to cellurar phones and PHS terminals.  Population ratio: 12th 2004 ITU
Total number ofbroadband subscribers 22.37 million End of Dec. 2005 17.5 %  44.4 %  119.9 % 18.66 million End of Dec. 2004  MIC press release (March 3, 2006) Total number of subscribers to Internet services through CATV networks, DSL, FTTH and FWA - Mobile Phones
Number of subscribers to Internet services through CATV 3.23 million End of Dec. 2005 2.5 %  6.4 %  112.3 % 2.87 million End of Dec. 2004  MIC press release (March 3, 2006) *Figures are calculated according to the Regulations on Telecommunications Business Reports. Number of mobile phone subscribers: 3rd 2004 ITU
Number of DSL service subscribers 14.48 million End of Dec. 2005 11.3 %  28.7 %  108.7 % 13.33 million End of Dec. 2004  MIC press release (March 3, 2006) * Same as above Population ratio: 43rd 2004 ITU
Number of FTTH service subscribers 4.64 million End of Dec. 2005 3.6 %  9.2 %  190.7 % 2.43 million End of Dec. 2004  MIC press release (March 3, 2006) * Same as above Internet compatibility ratio: 1st End of Sep., 2004 White Papers on IT
Number of FWA service subscribers 0.02 million End of Dec. 2005 0.0 % 0.0 % 76.5 0.03 million End of Dec. 2004  MIC press release (March 3, 2006) * Same as above
[Mobile Device Users] - Broadcasting
Number of mobile phone subscribers 90.43 million End of Jan. 2006 70.8 %  179.5 %  105.4 % 85.77 million End of Jan. 2005 Number of subscribers by carrier Number of BS broadcasting service subscribers: 3rd 2002 ITU
Number of subscribers to services for third-generation mobile phones 45.58 million End of Jan. 2006 34.9 %  88.5 %  165.4 % 26.96 million End of Jan. 2005 Number of subscribers by carrier Number of CATV broadcasting service subscribers: 4th 2002 ITU
Number of PHS subscribers 4.62 million End of Jan. 2006 3.6 %  9.2 %  102.5 % 4.50 million End of Jan. 2005 Number of subscribers by carrier Note: Internet compatibility ratio is the ratio of mobile Internet subscribers to mobile phone subscribers.
Number of pager subscribers 0.52 million End of Jan. 2006 0.4 %  1.0 %  77.8 % 0.67 million End of Jan. 2005 Number of subscribers by carrier
  Item Point in Time Source
[Broadcasting Service Users] - Information and communications industry, etc.
Number of subscribers to NHK's terrestrial broadcasting services 25.56 million End of March, 2005 20.0 %  50.7 %  97.8 % 26.15 million End of March 2004 Surveyed by MIC Trends in the number of subscribers to NHK's broadcasting services: Total number of ordinary and color TV contracts Market size: 126,000 billion 2003 White Papers on IT
Number of BS broadcasting service subscribers 14.88 million End of Dec. 2005 11.7 %  29.5 %  100.3 % 14.83 million End of Dec. 2004 Number of satellite broadcasting service subscribers Total number of subscribers to NHK's and WOWOW's broadcasting services (analog and digital) Number of employees: 3.60 million 2003 White Papers on IT
Number of BS digital broadcasting service subscribers 13.10 million End of Jan. 2006 10.3 %  26.0 %  165.9 % 7.90 million End of Jan. 2005 Propagation of BS digital broadcasting Total number of BS digital receivers shipped and number of household subscribers to CATV (including digital-analog conversion) Investment in computerization: 23,400 billion yen 2003 White Papers on IT
Number of CS digital broadcasting service subscribers 3.48 million End of Jan. 2006 2.7 %  6.9 %  106.1 % 3.28 million End of Jan. 2005 Number of satellite broadcasting service subscribers Number of SKY Perfec TV subscribers E-commerce: 2004 The Ministry of Economy, Trade, and Industry
Number of household subscribers to CATV  17.88 million End of March, 2005 -  35.5 %  108.1 % 16.54 million End of March, 2004 Surveyed by MIC Only CATV broadcasters who broadcast their own programs are included. B2C: 5,600 billion yen, B2B: 102,700 billion
 
[Number of Telecommunications Carriers and Broadcasters] - Enterprises
Number of registered telecommunications carriers 314 As of Feb. 1, 2006 - -  100.6 %  312 As of Feb. 1, 2005 Change in the number of telecommunications carriers Internet usage rate Dec., 2004 Survey on Communications Usage Trends
Number of notified telecommunications carriers 13,359 As of Feb. 1, 2006 - -  105.5 %  12,666 As of Feb. 1, 2005 Change in the number of telecommunications carriers Enterprises: 98 %, business offices: 82 %
Number of terrestrial broadcasters 375 End of March, 2005 - -  103.0 %  364 End of March, 2004 Surveyed by MIC  NHK and the University of the Air are included.
Number of satellite broadcasters 133 End of March, 2005 - -  97.8 %  136 End of March, 2004 Surveyed by MIC  NHK and the University of the Air are included. Enterprises which perform e-commerce Dec., 2004 Survey on Communications Usage Trends
Number of CATV broadcasters 548 End of March, 2005 - -  96.0 %  571 End of March, 2004 Surveyed by MIC Only CATV broadcasters with authorized equipment who broadcast their own programs are included. B2B: 28 %, B2C: 13 %
Number of broadcasting carriers for the use of telecommunications  56 End of March, 2005 - - 121.7 %  46 End of March, 2004 Surveyed by MIC
[Market Size] (unit: yen) Enterprise communications network preparedness rate Dec., 2004 Survey on Communications Usage Trends
Communications industry as a whole 19567.3 billion FY2004 - -  99.6 % 19638.6 billion FY2003 Total of figures below FY2004 are estimated figures Intranet (Local Area Network)
: 90 %, Extranet (Wide Area Network):59 %
Telecommunications business 15916.9 billion FY2004 - -  98.6 % 16140.3 billion FY2003 MIC press release (August 3, 2005) For registered telecommunications carriers, all carriers are included in the survey.
For notified telecommunications carriers, carriers with 30 million yen or more in capital are included in the survey (41.6% response rate).
Telework Population: 2.86 million July, 2002 Actual Condition Survey on Telework Population, etc.
Commercial broadcasting 2690.3 billion FY2004 - -  104.5 % 2574.4 billion FY2003 MIC press release (August 3, 2005) All broadcasters are included in the survey (85.1% response rate).  
CATV broadcasting 281.5 billion FY2004 - -  110.6 % 254.5 billion FY2003 MIC press release (August 3, 2005) Broadcasters with 10,000 or more drop terminals are included in the survey (76.5% response rate). - Administration and Education
NHK 678.5 billion FY2004 - -  101.4 % 669.4 billion FY2003 MIC press release (August 3, 2005) Going on-line for application, etc.: 96 % March, 2005 Surveyed by MIC
Community public network preparedness rate: July, 2004 White Papers on IT
[Capital Investment] (unit: yen) Local governments: 64.6 %
Communications Industry as a whole 3044.8 billion FY2005 - -  108.8 % 2799.3 billion FY2004 Total of figures below The figure for FY2005 is a planned budget. The figure for FY2004 is an amended estimate. Public scholl Internet connection rate: Sep., 2005 Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology
Telecommunications business 2694.8 billion FY2005 - -  107.4 % 2509.9 billion FY2004 MIC press release (Feb. 17, 2006) For registered telecommunications carriers, all carriers are included in the survey.
For notified telecommunications carriers, carriers with 30 million yen or more in capital are included in the survey (39.5% response rate).
Schools: 84.0 %
Commercial broadcasting 203.4 billion FY2005 - -  136.1 % 149.5 billion FY2004 MIC press release (Feb. 17, 2006) All broadcasters were included in the survey (73.5% response rate). - Contents Security
CATV broadcasting 67.7 billion FY2005 - -  67.3 % 59.6 billion FY2004 MIC press release (Feb. 17, 2006) Broadcasters with 10,000 or more drop terminals were included in the survey (68.9% response rate).
NHK 78.9 billion FY2005 - -  125.2 % 80.3 billion FY2004 MIC press release (Feb. 17, 2006) Information and communications of enterprises Dec., 2004 Survey on Communications Usage Trends
Network damage rate: 78 %
Notes:
1: Population ratios were calculated by dividing the latest figures by 127.71 million, the estimated population of Japan in 2005 according to Population Projections for Japan (the Most Possible Projection), released by the National Institute of Population and Social Security Research.
2: Household ratios were calculated by dividing the latest figures by 50.38 million, the number of households in Japan in 2005 according to the Basic Resident Register as of March 31, 2005.
3: The registered telecommunications carriers in the Number of Telecommunications Carriers and Broadcasters are carriers who are registered under Article 9 of the Telecommunications Business Law and notified telecommunications carriers are carriers that submitted a notification based on the first clause in Article 16 of the same law.