December 2, 2020 Appeal for Proposals to Ensure the Quality of Internet Services in New Daily Lives

The Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications (MIC) organized an Internet Traffic Study Group (chaired by HAYASHI Hideya, Professor, Graduate School of Law, Nagoya University) on December 1, 2020. This group is expected to discuss and study various issues on the Internet route from an overall perspective to ensure the quality of Internet services that people are becoming more dependent on in their new daily lives.
To contribute to the discussion of the Internet Traffic Study Group, MIC will make an appeal for proposals from Thursday, December 2 through Wednesday, December 23, 2020, for various issues on the Internet route and countermeasures.

1. Purpose

Fixed Internet traffic has increased significantly as a result of an increase in people’s time spent at home due to the prevention of the spread of novel coronavirus infection. Furthermore, it is expected to increase further as the utilization of digital applications, e.g., telework, distance learning, and online live content, continues. Under these circumstances, it is important to alleviate congestion on the entire Internet and ensure communication quality without regional disparities for the broadband services that support them.
In light of these circumstances, MIC recently organized the Internet Traffic Study Group (hereafter referred to as the “Study Group”) to ensure the quality of Internet services that people are becoming more dependent on in their new daily lives. From an overall perspective, the Study Group has just begun discussions to clarify issues on the Internet traffic route.
In this appeal for proposals, to contribute to the Study Group’s discussion, MIC has decided to make this appeal for proposals on various issues on the Internet route and countermeasures broadly from telecommunications carriers, content businesses, general users, etc.

2. Appeal outline and submission style

1. Appeal outline

Propose various Internet traffic issues and possible concrete measures for the Internet traffic that people are becoming more dependent on in their new daily lives.

2. Submission period

From Thursday, December 3, and no later than Wednesday, December 23, 2020 (Opinions submitted by mail must also arrive no later than the deadline date).