December 15, 2023 Public Solicitation for Advanced Wireless Environment Promotion Project under Supplementary Budget for FY2023

The Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications (MIC) and the Communications and Information Network Association of Japan (CIAJ), the executive organization for the fiscal 2023 Advanced Wireless Environment Promotion Project, have decided to solicit subsidy project proposals for the Advanced Wireless Environment Promotion Project publicly under a fiscal 2023 supplementary budget from Friday, December 15 through Monday, January 15, 2024.

1. Overview

The fiscal 2023 supplementary budget for the Project for Promotion of Advanced Wireless Environment Development expands support for the development of transmission line facilities, etc., which are a prerequisite for high-speed, large-capacity wireless communications in remote island areas where the installation of submarine cables, etc., requires a large amount of money.
In addition, when local governments in disadvantaged areas upgrade public optical fiber, etc., with a view to transitioning to the private sector, a portion of the costs will be subsidized.
As in the initial budget for fiscal 2023, the public solicitation will be divided into two categories: direct subsidies to prefectures, municipalities, and third-sector corporations and indirect subsidies to telecommunications carriers through the implementing organization.

2. Public solicitation for directly subsidized project proposals

(1) Implementing entities
Prefectures, municipalities, and third-sector corporations

(2) Application period
From Friday, December 15, 2023, and no later than noon on Monday, January 15, 2024 *In the event of a large number of applications, the subsidy amount may be adjusted within the budget, and we may request the execution of the plans under the initial budget for fiscal 2023 or the initial budget for fiscal 2024.

(3) Application method
Prepare the necessary documents in accordance with the “Subsidy Grant Guidelines for Projects to Support Radio System Dissemination” and the “Implementation Manual for Project on Promoting Advanced Radio Environment Improvements,” as posted at the URL specified in 4 (1).
I. Application to the Regional Bureau of Telecommunications (or the Okinawa Office of Telecommunications), whichever has jurisdiction over the applicant’s location Submit the electronic data of the application documents to the Regional Bureau of Telecommunications or Okinawa Office of Telecommunications, whichever has jurisdiction over the applicant’s location, by email or a large-capacity file transfer system designated by MIC.
II. Submission through the grant application system (JGrants) Access the J-Grants site (https://www.jgrants-portal.go.jp/) and apply.

(4) Future schedule
After reviewing the submitted documents, etc., an informal announcement and grant decision will be made by the end of fiscal 2023.

3. Public solicitation for indirectly subsidized project proposals

In the supplementary budget, the execution of indirect subsidy project plans will continue to be handled by the Communications and Information Network Association of Japan (CIAJ). This executive organization executed the initial budget for fiscal 2023.

(1) Implementing entities
Telecommunications carriers (excluding prefectures, municipalities, and third-sector corporations)

(2) Submission deadline
From Friday, December 15, 2023, and no later than noon on Monday, January 15, 2024
*In the event of a large number of applications, the subsidy amount may be adjusted within the budget, and we may request the execution of the plans under the initial budget for fiscal 2023 or the initial budget for fiscal 2024.

(3) Application method
Visit the Communications and Information Network Association of Japan’s website at https://www.ciaj.or.jp/broadband0502/.

(4) Future schedule
After reviewing the submitted documents, etc., an informal announcement and grant decision will be made by the end of fiscal 2023.

4. Others

(1) URL for related materials
https://www.soumu.go.jp/main_sosiki/joho_tsusin/broadband/index.html *The Subsidy Grant Guidelines for Projects to Support Radio System Dissemination and other information on this website may change in the future.

(2) Project of Maintenance and Management of Leased Line Facilities for Transmission to Remote Islands
This public solicitation for direct subsidies related to the fiscal 2023 supplementary budget does not apply to the Project of Maintenance And Management of Leased Line Facilities for Transmission to Remote Islands," which provides partial subsidies for the cost of maintenance of optical fibers in remote islands.

*The published materials are in Japanese only.