Minister for Internal Affairs and Communications:
Message of Congratulations

TAKEDA Ryota

Minister for Internal Affairs and Communications

I would like to extend my heartfelt congratulations to theITU Association of Japan (ITU-AJ) on the 50th anniversary ofits founding. Against the background of this 50-year milestone,
I have heard that the recipients of these prestigious awards
have made remarkable contributions to the development ofinformation-communications and broadcasting throughout theworld through activities of the International Telecommunication
Union (ITU). I would like to express my sincere appreciation to allaward recipients for their efforts.
Founded in September 1, 1971, the role of ITU-AJ over thelast 50 years has been to connect Japan and the world throughdiverse activities in the ITU, Asia-Pacific Telecommunity (APT),and other organizations in the fields of telecommunications andbroadcasting.
Looking back over this 50-year period, Japan has faced avariety of severe economic and social upheavals such as the 1973
oil crisis (“oil shock”), appreciation of the yen following the Plaza
Accord, collapse of the bubble economy, Asian currency crisis,2008 financial crisis (“Lehman shock”), and the Great East
Japan Earthquake of 2011. On the other hand, new services andbusinesses in a wide range of fields have appeared and expanded
during this time while social mechanisms and people’s attitudes
and behavioral patterns have undergone great changes. One of themain reasons for these changes is the evolution of information andcommunications technology (ICT) centered about the Internetand mobile phones.
The members of ITU-AJ have been key leaders of industry
providing vital social infrastructures and facilities related tocommunications and broadcasting as well as services for a widearray of industries. In this capacity, they have developed energetic
business activities and made major contributions to social andindustrial infrastructures and facilities while responding in aflexible manner to changing times.
Today, as the COVID-19 pandemic continues to prevail inJapan and throughout the world, ICT has come to be recognized
more than ever as a technology essential to human existence
and economic activities. Even regions in which digitalization
has not been progressing well are now experiencing a wave of2

New Breeze Autumn 2021

digitalization. Moreover, it has been pointed out that making
maximum use of digitalization and remote computing can bringabout change at the individual, industrial, and social levels andlead to the creation of new value. Global needs with respect todigitalization will only increase in the years to come. For example,
Japan has been providing 5G commercial services since Marchof last year and the number of contracts for 5G services has been
increasing dramatically in many countries throughout the world.
The global market for 5G services is expected to exceed 70 trillion
yen by 2025 and 150 trillion yen by 2030.
With the aim of contributing to digital transformation on a
global scale, the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications(MIC) will pursue the overseas development of 5G andinfrastructure systems such as optical submarine cables. We
also seek to promote a common recognition on an international
level with respect to the use of AI and the distribution ofdata. Furthermore, to improve our industrial competitivenessin anticipation of a post-pandemic world, we will promote thedevelopment of technologies “Beyond 5G” by bringing together
the expertise of both the public and private sectors. We will also
support the strategic acquisition of intellectual property andthe international standardization of research and development
achievements. Through these efforts, we will support the membersof ITU-AJ in the challenges they face in the global marketplaceand in their activities on international stages such as the ITU.
Against this background, the members of ITU-AJ are
expected to be active in a broad range of areas, to create newvalue, and to bring about business reform while incorporating newtechnologies and knowledge. I look forward to your further efforts
in achieving these goals under the leadership of ITU-AJ.
In closing, I would like to express my sincere respect for
the achievements made by the recipients of these awards incommemoration of the 50th anniversary of ITU-AJ. Furthermore,
to all members supporting ITU-AJ and its activities, I offer wordsof congratulations and look forward with great anticipation tofurther developments in Japan’s information-communicationsindustry. I extend my sincere congratulations on the 50thanniversary of the founding of ITU-AJ.