March 18, 2025 Hosting of Public-Private Advisory Council on Watt-Bit Collaboration

　With the ultimate goal of developing data centers in the future, the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications (MIC) and the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) will host the Public-Private Advisory Council on Watt-Bit Collaboration. This forum provides a platform for cooperation and coordination among public and private sector stakeholders, aiming to achieve effective collaboration between the electricity and telecommunications sectors (hereinafter referred to as the "Watt-Bit Collaboration"). The Watt-Bit Collaboration will be achieved through the efficient development of electricity and telecommunications infrastructure.

1. Purpose

　The increased use of AI and the growing volume of telecommunications traffic have rapidly expanded demand for data centers. Accelerating their development has become one of Japan's most important policy issues.
　The MIC and METI have hosted several "Expert Meetings on the Development of Digital Infrastructure, including Data Centers." The resulting summary from these meetings, Interim Report 3.0 (October 2024), highlights the urgent need to consider measures for digital infrastructure development.
　These data centers require large amounts of electricity. As indicated in the "GX 2040 Vision: Revision of the Strategy for Promoting Transition to a Decarbonized Growth-Oriented Economic Structure" (approved by the Cabinet in February 2025), the rapid development of such data centers requires effective coordination between electricity and telecommunications (the Watt-Bit Collaboration). This leads to the efficient development of power and telecommunications infrastructure.
　In light of these circumstances, the Council will discuss the development of data centers, primarily from the perspective of power and telecommunications infrastructure, to promote cooperation and coordination among public and private sector stakeholders. The ultimate goal of data center development is to accelerate digital transformation (DX) through the use of AI and to simultaneously achieve growth and decarbonization.

2. Schedule

　The first meeting will be held on Friday, March 21, 2025, and subsequent meetings will be held sequentially thereafter.