July 3, 2020 Release of Master Plan 2.0 on the Regional Development of ICT Infrastructure

Following a document entitled Progress Report on the Master Plan on the Regional Development of ICT Infrastructure, which was released on June 16, 2020, the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications (MIC) revised its Master Plan on the Regional Development of ICT Infrastructure (formulated in June 2019). Accordingly, MIC has released Master Plan 2.0 on the Regional Development of ICT Infrastructure.
Master Plan 2.0 specifies new initiatives and states that Japan should significantly advance the goal of nationwide deployment of 5G base stations and optical fibers.

1. Background

With the arrival of the Society 5.0 era, it has become essential 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 current 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, hopefully by the end of fiscal 2023.
To report the progress of development so far and future development with consideration of new initiatives to be taken, MIC released Progress Report on the Master Plan on the Regional Development of ICT Infrastructure on June 16 of this year, which was approximately one year after the formulation of Master Plan.
As reported in this progress report, new efforts have made it possible to significantly advance the nationwide deployment of 5G base stations and optical fibers. With consideration of these factors and to reflect these, MIC revised the current Master Plan and formulated Master Plan 2.0 on the Regional Development of ICT Infrastructure by revising
MIC will promptly promote the nationwide deployment of ICT infrastructure by steadily implementing Master Plan 2.0 on the Regional Development of ICT Infrastructure.

2. Outline of Master Plan 2.0

Master Plan 2.0 on the Regional Development of ICT Infrastructure shows a revised roadmap and necessary measures. It reflects the contents of the progress report as installation of mobile phone base station in commercially challenging areas. Furthermore, it specifies the diffusion and deployment of advanced services, including 5G, radio wave shielding measures for railways and road tunnels, and optical fiber maintenance.

Contact

For further information about this press release, please fill in the inquiry form and submit it to MIC on the website
https://www.soumu.go.jp/common/english_opinions.html

International Policy Division, Global Strategy Bureau, MIC

TEL: +81 3 5253 5920

FAX: +81 3 5253 5924