March 6, 2024 Subsidies have been granted for the following FY2023 supplementary budget projects: the "Digital Infrastructure Improvement Project for Social Implementation of Autonomous Driving" and the "Project for Strengthening Digital Infrastructure through Multi-Routing of International Submarine Cables."

 The Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications (MIC) has decided to grant subsidies for FY2023 supplementary budget projects to the Communications and Information Network Association of Japan Communications and Information Network Association of Japan (CIAJ). The supplementary budget projects include the "Digital Infrastructure Improvement Project for Social Implementation of Autonomous Driving" and the "Project for Strengthening Digital Infrastructure through Multi-Routing of International Submarine Cables."

1. Overview

 MIC will implement the following projects under the FY2023 supplementary budget.

1. Digital Infrastructure Improvement Project for Social Implementation of Autonomous Driving

 This project promotes the development of digital infrastructure (communication environments) necessary for the social implementation of Level 4* autonomous driving on highways (e.g., support for merge and divergence and remote monitoring), based on the interim report of the Council for Comprehensive Nationwide Development of Digital Lifelines.

• *
  Fully autonomous driving under specified conditions (the system performs all driving tasks under specified conditions, such as on highways)

2. Project for Strengthening Digital Infrastructure through Multi-Routing of International Submarine Cables

 This project provides support for the multi-routing of international submarine cables to increase the resilience of Japan's telecommunications network and enhance its function as a hub for international data distribution.

 These projects involve expanding the existing digital infrastructure development fund (the specified telecommunications equipment development promotion fund) and providing subsidies to private businesses that develop digital infrastructure through this fund.
 We are pleased to announce that we have decided to provide subsidies to a subsidized entity (the corporation establishing the fund), which will manage the fund for these projects.

2. Subsidized entity (the corporation establishing the fund)

 On February 16, 2024, we received an application from the Communications and Information Network Association of Japan (CIAJ), a subsidized entity that manages the existing digital infrastructure development fund (the specified telecommunications equipment development promotion fund) The content of the application was reviewed by an evaluation committee consisting of outside experts, and a decision was made to grant subsidies.

3. Public solicitation for indirectly subsidized entities

 A public solicitation of indirectly subsidized entities (private businesses, etc.) that implement the projects will be conducted by the Communications and Information Network Association of Japan (CIAJ) as soon as they are ready.