Overview of the 2022 White Paper on Information andCommunications
Economics Research Office,
ICT Strategy Policy Division, Information and Communications Bureau,
Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications
1. Introduction

The Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications(MIC) has published the 2022 White Paper on Information andCommunications in Japan in July this year. [in Japanese] This is
the 50th edition since the first White Paper on Communicationsin Japan was published in 1973.
Part 1 deals with the changes in ICT and the digital economy,
including the changes in systems, services, and technologies
in the ICT sector over the past 50 years since the publicationof the first White Paper on Communications. It also discusses
the roles of ICT in the future. Part 2 describes the trends in the
ICT market and in the use of digital technologies, as well as thetrends in the ICT policies of the Ministry of Internal Affairs andCommunications. The following is an overview of the contents ofParts 1 and 2.
The latest White Paper provides new data on trends indomestic and overseas markets for equipment, devices, services,
and applications, as well as trends in the use of digital technologies
in daily life, in corporate activities, and in the public sector, both inJapan and overseas. The White Paper is presented in concise text,
with the data published on the MIC website as part of a collectionof data (Figure 1).

to view videos on mobile devices.
ICT is now widely used in various areas of social andeconomic activities. In the corporate sector, cloud technology has
enabled companies to share data and expand functions without
having to build an in-house IT system. In disaster prevention
and mitigation, sensors and drones can now be used to checkon-site damage from a remote location. In the medical field,
electrocardiogram data can now be transmitted from an
ambulance to a cloud server so that they can be viewed at thehospital even before the ambulance arrives (Figure 2). In thefield of education, the use of computers and tablets in classes
under the GIGA School Program has now become widespread.
In the agricultural sector, smart agriculture is making significant
progress, such as in crop growth management using sensor
information and pesticide spraying using drones.
■ Figure 2: New areas for ICT application■ Figure 1: Site of publication of data collection,
Example: Section 1 of Chapter 3

3. Part 1: Changes in the ICT sector over the
past 50 years

2. Part 1: Changes in the current environment
since the publication of the first WhitePaper

In the 50 years since the publication of the first White
Paper on Communications in Japan, ICT has become moresophisticated, and a variety of services have emerged. The maincommunication tool in 1973 was the subscriber telephone, andthe means of communication while on the go was the pay phone,which is now replaced by the mobile phone. In addition, various
communication tools such as e-mail and social media (SNS) are
now in wide use.
In 1973, people watched videos through analogue terrestrial
broadcasting on television. At present, satellite and cable TV
broadcasting, as well as ultra-high-resolution 4K and 8K video areavailable. Internet video streaming services can now also be used

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From 1973 to 1985, as fixed-line telephones and television
broadcasting became widespread, Nippon Telegraph andTelephone Public Corporation was privatized, introducing theprinciple of competition into the telecommunications market.
From 1985 to 1995, competition in the fixed and mobile
communications markets progressed along with the spread of
PC communications using character-based data communication.
Services in the field of broadcasting diversified with the launch of
BS and CS broadcasting.
From 1995 to 2005, signif icant progress was madein broadband and mobile communications in the field of
telecommunications. With the uptake of the Internet, it became
possible to view photos and images via the Web, and online
businesses (e-commerce malls, portal sites, etc.) became prevalent.
The number of mobile phone subscribers increased rapidly
due to the lower rates brought about by the abolition of the fee
authorization system in 1996. At the same time, however, negative
aspects of the Internet, such as the spread of illegal and harmful

■ Figure 3: C hanges in the ICT sector over the past 50 years

information, also became magnified, leading to reinforcementof institutional responses. Digitalization also made headway inthe field of broadcasting, such as through the launch of digitalterrestrial broadcasting in 2003.
Bet ween 20 05 and 2015, net works became moresophisticated, leading to the widespread adoption of FTTH for
fixed-line communications and LTE for mobile communications.
After the launch of the iPhone in Japan in 2008, smartphones
became increasingly popular, and various services such as maps,
social media, and search engines were provided as smartphone
apps, leading to the wide use of mobile devices. Further, theInternet of Things (IoT), which connects everything from cars tohome appliances to buildings and factories to the network, began
to spread.

From 2015 to the present, the network has become even moresophisticated, eventually leading to the launch of 5G services inMarch 2020. Likewise, video streaming services, the sharing
economy, drones, AI, and other ICT services have emerged,
penetrating all areas of society. Meanwhile, the COVID-19
pandemic paved the way for further advancement in the useof ICT that enables contactless and non-face-to-face lifestyles,
such as telework, online education, and online medicine. Thus,
ICT has become the “infrastructure of infrastructures” that
underpins all social and economic activities. In the midst ofthese developments, global platformers like GAFA have been
gaining more market power (Figure 4), bringing to the fore issues
pertaining to the oligopoly and handling data (see section (5)below).

■ Figure 4: GAFA sales trends(Source)Prepared using data from Statista

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4. Part 1: The Roles of ICT in the futureThis part summarizes the roles of ICT in the future, as Japan
continues to face various social and economic issues.
● Improvement of labor productivity and labor
participation rate
Amid concerns of labor shortage due to a shrinking
working-age population, labor productivity should be enhanced
by improving work speed, accuracy, and the efficiency of work
processes using AI. In addition, telework and other work
arrangements will enable diverse and flexible working styles,
leading to improvement in the labor participation rate.
● Regional revitalization
With concerns over shrinking regional economies due to thedeclining birthrate and aging population in the regions, the useof ICT should expand the trading area of regional companies
beyond the constraints of time, place, and scale. Telework andother measures will also make it possible to work in a way that is
not constrained by location. Residents can enjoy the same services
as those in cities, such as through Internet shopping, online
medicine, and online education, likely leading to an increase in thenumber of residents in the regions.
● Collection and dissemination of information in the eventof disasters
Natural disasters are becoming more severe and frequent;
but the use of ICT, such as sensors and drones, should enabledisaster prevention and mitigation through the quick and efficientcollection and provision of disaster-related information.
● Maintenance and management of social infrastructures
The aging of social infrastructures is progressing rapidly, e.g.,
the proportion of highway bridges that are more than 50 years
old is seen to increase from 25% in 2018 to 63% in 2033. The
use of ICT in monitoring and analysis operations should enableprolonging the life of social infrastructures and reducing costs formaintenance and management over the long term.
● Contribution to the realization of a green society
While global warming is predicted to worsen, Internet traffic
is increasing along with the digitalization of society and economy,
further increasing the power consumption by ICT equipment.
Contributions to the realization of a green society are expected
through “Green of ICT,” i.e., the use of new technologies toreduce the power consumption of ICT equipment, as well as
through “Green by ICT,” i.e., the use of ICT to improve work
efficiency and reduce the movement of people and goods in society
as a whole.

5. Part 1: Responding to emerging social
issues
Certain issues have already become apparent with the spreadof ICT in social and economic activities. The White Paper
highlights three of these issues and summarizes the current
initiatives to addresses them.

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● Responding to risks associated with changes in theinternational environment
In the midst of the race for technological supremacy between
the United States and China, the global situation is becoming
more complex as countries around the world are implementing
initiatives with an awareness of the relationship between economic
activity and security (economic security), mainly in the high-tech
sector, as a real-world policy theme.
Under these circumstances, it is important for Japan tostrengthen telecommunication networks and the supply chain
for ICT-related equipment and components and to ensure thestable supply of ICT services. In May 2022, Japan enacted theEconomic Security Promotion Act centered on four pillars:(1) ensuring stable supply of key products, (2) ensuring stableprovision of essential infrastructure services, (3) enhancing
development of advanced critical technologies, and (4) nondisclosure of selected patent applications. Likewise, in June 2022,
the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications formulated
a new technology strategy to accelerate research and development
through intensive national investment in the development ofworld-leading advanced technologies, such as all-optical network
technology, non-terrestrial network technology, and secure
virtualization and integrated network technology.
● Data governance
Data analysis has become widespread, and global platformers
are collecting, analyzing, and utilizing user data, raising concerns
about the oligopoly and handling of data. Specifically, there is
growing concern that certain companies will use data to control
people’s behavior and preferences.
In response to the increasing economic value of data, in June
2021, the Cabinet of Japan approved the “Comprehensive Data
Strategy” for the effective and appropriate use of data. In addition,
in June 2022, the revised Telecommunications Business Act wasenacted to require telecommunications carriers, which have asignificant impact on the interests of users, to formulate and reportrules on the handling of information that they acquire from users.
● Measures against illegal and harmful information
With the spread of social media, video streaming, andother Internet services, the distribution of illegal and harmful
information, including defamatory statements and contents that
infringe on intellectual property rights, and false information has
become a problem.
Japan, therefore, has implemented institutional measures
such as the revision of the Provider Liability limitation Act (theamended Act was enacted in April 2021), which includes thecreation of a new judicial process (non-contentious case proceduresystem) for the disclosure of sender information. Moreover,various stakeholders in the private sector are promoting different
initiatives to improve user ICT literacy, establish consultation
desks, and promote fact-checking.

6. Part 2: Trends in the ICT market and indigital utilization

ICT includes terminals and equipment that serve as pointsof contact for users, networks provided by telecommunications
carriers and broadcasters, cloud and data centers, content andservices such as video and music distribution, as well as security
and AI services (Figure 5). The following is an overview of thetrends in the ICT market and in digital utilization● Usage status of radio waves
・The number of radio stations in Japan increased 2.3 times from
120.99 million stations at the end of FY2010 to 277.11 million
stations at the end of FY2020.
・As of the end of FY2020, the 5G infrastructure deployment
rate was 16.5%, and the number of 5G base stations wasapproximately 210,000.

● Overview of Japan’s ICT Industry (2020)
・Nominal GDP of the information and telecommunicationsindustry was 51.0 trillion yen (down 2.5% year-on-year).
・Value of exports of ICT goods and services (nominal value) was
10.6 trillion yen (13.7% of total exports), and value of imports(nominal value) was 16.8 trillion yen (18.4% of total imports).

● Terminals, equipment, etc.
・In 2021, production value of network equipment in Japan was
774.3 billion yen (down 0.5% year-on-year), and shipment valueof semiconductors was 741.2 billion yen (up 29.6% year-on-year).
・Value of Japan’s exports of ICT equipment in 2020 was 6.0871
trillion yen, and value of imports was 9.5804 trillion yen,pointing to an excess of imports at 3.4932 trillion yen.

●Telecommunications business・Net sales of the Japanese telecommunications industry in
FY2020 were 15.2405 trillion yen (up 2.5% year-on-year).
・T he COVID-19 pandemic has led to the rapid increase ofInternet traffic in Japan.

● Services and applications
・The data center service market scale in Japan in 2021 was 1.7341
trillion yen (up 11.6% year-on-year)*1.
・The public cloud service market scale in Japan in 2021 was
1.5879 trillion yen (up 28.5% year-on-year)*2.

●Broadcasting and content
・Net sales for all Japanese broadcasters in FY2020 were 3.5522
trillion yen (down 8.1% year-on-year)
・In Japan, Internet advertising (2.7052 trillion yen) surpassed thefour major types of advertising media (2.4538 trillion yen) for
the first time in 2021.

● Cybersecurity
・The volume of cyber-attack-related communications reported on
NICTER in 2021 was approximately 518 billion packets (down
9.2% year-on-year).
・In 2020, foreign-affiliated companies accounted for more than
50% of the total sales of domestic information security products
by vendor*3.

■ Figure 5: Market structure surrounding ICT by layer＊ 1 to 3 Source: IDC Japan

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● Digital utilization (daily life, corporate activities, public
sector)・In 2021, 74.3% of individuals owned smartphones (up 5 points
year-on-year).
・The Internet usage rate was over 90% for all age groups between
13 and 59, with the usage rate decreasing at age 60 and higher.
● Postal service and correspondence delivery service
・C onsolidated financial results of Japan Post Holdings for
FY2021 reported ordinary revenues of approximately 11.3
trillion yen (down 3.9% year-on-year) and net income of 501.6
billion yen (up 19.9% year-on-year).

7. Part 2: Trends in ICT Policies of the Ministryof Internal Affairs and Communications

The Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications is
implementing cross-cutting initiatives within the ministry as wellas initiatives in various policy areas (telecommunications, radio
waves, broadcasting, etc.) as part of its ICT policies, and the statusof such efforts is described in the White Paper. The following isan overview of these cross-cutting initiatives.
● Initiatives to promote the Realization of the Vision for a
Digital Garden City Nation
To promote regional revitalization through digital

implementation, in November 2021, Japan established the Council
for the Realization of the Vision for a Digital Garden City
Nation, with the Prime Minister as Chair. In November 2021,
the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications establishedthe Headquarters for the Promotion of the Vision for a Digital
Garden City Nation, headed by the Minister of Internal Affairs
and Communications. Initiatives are being promoted around thethree pillars of “digital infrastructure development,” “fosteringand securing digital human resources/ ensuring that no one is left
behind” and “digital implementation to resolve regional issues.”(Figure 6).
● Inquiry on information and communications policy witha view to 2030
The Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications sent
an inquiry to the Information and Communications Council on
the “state of information and communications policy with a viewto 2030.” In response, the Council conducted an investigative
study aimed at realizing Society 5.0 and ensuring economic
security. The Council’s report (June 2022) outlines the directionsof initiatives to ensure strategic autonomy and to acquire strategic
indispensability of the information and telecommunicationsindustry. It also presents the eight areas to focus on, such as the (1)uptake, sophistication, and overseas expansion of 5G, and (2) andexpansion of broadband services.

■ Figure 6: Towards the realization of the Vision for a Digital Garden City Nation

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