June 23, 2020 Establishment of Space ICT Promotion Initiative Forum

  The National Institute of Information and Communications Technology (NICT, headed by Hideyuki Tokuda, President) in collaboration with Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA, headed by Hiroshi Yamakawa, President) will establish the Space ICT Promotion Initiative Forum (tentative name) on July 1. It will be a community where related companies, institutions, user companies, etc. related to space ICT will gather and discuss comprehensively towards the multifaceted development of space communications technology and its coordination with advanced ground communications technology.

1. Purpose of establishment

In recent years, satellite communications have become more sophisticated and active worldwide because of the digitization of communications and broadcasting satellites, an expansion of space business, the entry of enterprises from different industries, planning of satellite constellation with many small satellites, and so on. ICT in space is about to progress to new stage.
In terms of terrestrial wireless communication, the 5th generation mobile communication system (5G) was fully put into practical use in 2020 in Japan, and countries around the world have begun the research and development of so-called Beyond 5G. Around 2030, ultra-high-speed, large-capacity, high-performance wireless communication will be expanded three-dimensionally to realize an advanced information communications network that will seamlessly connect all land and oceans, the sky, and outer space.
With consideration of the fact that multifaceted development of space-related communication technology is now in progress, it is necessary to expand the cooperation between all companies and organizations concerned, including future user companies. It is significant to form a community in which such stakeholders will widely participate and discuss the direction of Japan’s initiatives, by sharing information on the latest trends, arranging future areas of cooperation and competition, and examining strategies.
With the above in mind, NICT and JAXA have decided to establish the Space ICT Promotion Initiative Forum (tentative name) as a collaborative body of affiliated companies and organizations, including user companies, with the support of MIC and other ministries and agencies concerned.

2. Forum overview

1. Expected members

Space-related organizations, satellite manufacturers, equipment manufacturers, venture companies, satellite communications companies, terrestrial communications-related companies, universities, user companies, companies in different industries, and others

2. Secretariat

Conducted by NICT and JAXA with the cooperation of relevant parties.

3. Assumed activities

• Exchange of information and opinions regarding the latest technological trends in Japan and overseas
• Promotion of cooperation in different fields, study and arrangement of areas of cooperation and competition
• Sharing trends of international standardization, study of issues, and personnel dispatch
• Study and proposal on the direction, strategy, research, demonstration planning of technology development of future communications broadcasting satellites
• Consideration and proposal on the promotion of utilizing communications broadcasting satellites and market acquisition strategy
• Promotion of cooperation between participating organizations and companies and exchange with overseas related organizations
• Cultivation of human resources who will be responsible for ICT and other technologies related to future outer space