September 14, 2022 Solicitation of Companies and Organizations Eligible for Support in Formulating Plans for Installing and Using Local 5G and Other Regional Digital Infrastructure

The Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications (MIC) will provide support for the formulation of plans for installing and using regional digital infrastructure that leverages Local 5G and other wireless communications technologies, in order to upgrade and accelerate the use of digital technology in local areas. Through a contractor (PwC Consulting LLC), MIC will begin soliciting companies and organizations eligible for support and will also hold an online seminar to explain the nature of the available support.

1. Overview

MIC is working to achieve the digital transformation (DX) of society as a whole by upgrading and accelerating the use of digital technology in local areas, as well as resolving local issues and enhancing the appeal of Japan’s regions through digital implementation, in order to bring to fruition the Vision for a Digital Garden City Nation.
Targeting companies and organizations that are specifically planning or considering the installation and use of wireless communications systems such as Local 5G to resolve local issues, this project provides support for the formulation of plans for installing and using regional digital infrastructure that leverages Local 5G and other wireless communications technologies. Ahead of the provision of support, MIC will organize an online seminar to explain the mechanisms behind technologies and systems relating to Local 5G and other wireless communications systems, and also the nature of the support available for drawing up installation and usage plans.

2. Outline of online seminar

(1) Target participants

• Companies and organizations wishing to acquire knowledge concerning Local 5G and other wireless communications systems.
• Companies and organizations interested in support for formulating plans for installing and using Local 5G and other wireless communications systems.

(2) Program
Part 1: Achieving local DX with the aid of wireless communications
Part 2: Basic knowledge concerning Local 5G and other wireless communications systems
Part 3: Explanation of the nature of support available for drawing up installation and usage plans

(3) Date and time
Friday, September 30, 2022, from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.

(4) Format
The seminar will be held online using WebEx Event.

(5) Application method
Please apply via the application page on the contractor’s website no later than noon on Thursday, September 29, 2022.

3. Outline of support in formulating plans for installing and using Local 5G and other regional digital infrastructure

(1) Targets of support
Companies and organizations that are specifically planning or considering the installation and use of wireless communications systems such as Local 5G to resolve local issues.

(2) Details of support available
Consultation services focused on the following areas will be provided to companies and organizations selected from among the applicants, to support them in formulating plans for installing and using regional digital infrastructure that leverages Local 5G and other wireless communications systems. The duration of support will be around eight weeks, with up to five web conferences held during this period.

• Summary of specific ways of using wireless communications systems to resolve issues and proposal of the optimal wireless communications systems for doing so.
• Summary and clarification of the purpose of installing wireless communications systems at each company or organization, the background to this, and the vision that each company or organization aspires to achieve after installation.
• Summary of implementation points and schedule for installing and using wireless communications systems.

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  The applicants will need to carry out the work of considering and formulating the plan themselves.
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  While the support itself is free of charge, applicants are responsible for communications fees and the like associated with the provision of support. This support program does not provide any subsidies or funding for development and implementation.
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  Depending on the progress of work to formulate the installation and usage plan or if the applicant withdraws from the program, the support may end before the plan has been completed.
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  In addition to Local 5G, the wireless communications systems covered by this support program include carrier-provided 5G/4G, LTE, Wi-Fi, and LPWA.

(3) Application method
Please apply via the application page on the contractor’s website during the following phases.

• Phase 1: From 2:00 p.m. on Wednesday, September 14 to noon on Friday, October 14, 2022
• Phase 2: From 2:00 p.m. on Friday, November 4 to noon on Friday, November 18, 2022
• Phase 3: From 2:00 p.m. on Friday, December 2 to noon on Friday, December 16, 2022
• Phase 4: From 2:00 p.m. on Friday, January 13 to noon on Friday, January 27, 2023

• *
  The maximum number of companies and organizations able to receive support will be around 10 in each phase (up to a total of around 40 over the whole program). If a large number of companies and organizations apply, recipients of support will be selected with consideration for achieving a good balance between regions and between municipalities of different scales. The contractor will then contact applicants individually regarding the outcome of the selection process.
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  The published materials are in Japanese only.