March 5, 2025 Implementation of Anti-disaster Drills for Securing Communication Services in Times of Large-scale Disasters (Okinawa Prefecture)

　The Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications (MIC), local governments, telecommunications carriers, power companies, and other entities will conduct joint drills to enhance and strengthen a system for early restoration of telecommunications services in the event of a large-scale natural disaster.

1. Background and objectives

　In recent years, large-scale natural disasters, such as typhoons, earthquakes and torrential rains, have caused extensive damage to fixed-line and mobile phone telecommunications services.
　Telecommunications services are a vital infrastructure for activities such as saving lives and supporting evacuees during large-scale natural disasters. Promptly assessing the extent of the damage and carrying out emergency restoration work are crucial.
　To restore telecommunications services as quickly as possible, it is essential to promptly secure power and fuel and clear the roads leading to damaged telecommunications facilities. This requires collaboration among power companies, fuel suppliers, and road administrators. Unfortunately, this collaboration does not function as effectively as it should.
　To address these issues, the MIC, local governments, telecommunications carriers, power companies and other entities will collaborate to conduct a joint drill simulating the initial response.

2. Overview of drills

A. Implementation area and date and time
　Okinawa, Japan – Friday, March 7, 2025, at 1:00 p.m.

B. Anticipated damage
　The following situation is assumed: Telecommunications services are disrupted by widespread power outages in the prefecture due to a major earthquake. To restore disrupted mobile phone base stations and other facilities as quickly as possible, the MIC, local governments, telecommunications carriers, power companies and other entities will conduct a joint drill.

C. Participating organizations (tentative)
　The MIC (headquarters and Okinawa Office of Telecommunications), Okinawa Prefecture, Nippon Telegraph and Telephone West Corporation, NTT Docomo, Okinawa Cellular Telephone Company, SoftBank Corp., Rakuten Mobile, Inc., the Okinawa Electric Power Company, Incorporated.

3. Drill content

　It is assumed that liaison members are dispatched from the MIC (headquarters and Okinawa Office of Telecommunications) and telecommunications carriers to the Disaster Countermeasures Headquarters set up in each expected disaster area.
　The content of the drills to be conducted this time will be deliberated and determined by the participants, including experts, based on the following activities typically performed by dispatched liaison members during disasters: holding communication-related liaison and coordination meetings, collecting and sharing information on damage to telecommunications services, securing power and fuel to restore mobile phone base stations and telecommunications buildings as quickly as possible, identifying issues related to clearing downed trees and considering countermeasures, and coordinating activities with relevant the organizations.