June 16, 2020 Release of Progress Report on Master Plan on Regional Development of ICT Infrastructure

The Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications (MIC) released a master plan on the regional development of ICT infrastructure in June 2019, which shows MIC’s policy on the development of mobile phone base stations, including those of the 5th-generation mobile communications system (5G), and optical fiber lines.
With consideration of a passage of one year since the formulation of the master plan, MIC has decided to release a progress report on the master plan on the regional development of ICT infrastructure, which summarizes the progress of the master plan and future initiatives.

1. Background

With the arrival of the Society 5.0 era, it has become important to solve regional issues using ICT infrastructure. With consideration of references, including the report (June 25, 2019) of the Study Group on the Ideal Development of Mobile Phone Base Stations, MIC formulated the master plan on the regional development of ICT infrastructure in June 2019. This plan aims to deploy ICT infrastructure nationwide as soon as possible by integrally and effectively utilizing development support to ICT infrastructure, including 5G, and promotive measures for 5G utilization.
This case is a summary of the progress of the master plan, as well as future developments based on new initiatives. By steadily implementing these, MIC will promptly promote the nationwide expansion of ICT infrastructure.

2. Overview of progress report

The master plan on the regional development of ICT infrastructure shows a roadmap together with necessary measures while the progress report organizes the progress of the following activities.

• 1.
  Area development in disadvantaged areas (base station development)
• 2.
  Diffusion of advanced services, including 5G
• 3.
  Measures to shield radio waves from railway/road tunnels
• 4.
  About optical fiber maintenance

The published material is in Japanese only.