ISSN 0915-3160

通巻百四十一号

No.

1Vol. 36 January 2024
Winter

Ne w Yea r Me ssage s

From the Minister for Internal Affairs and Communications,
Secretary-General of ITU, President of ITU-AJ
S pec i a l Feat u reInitiatives Aimed at the Spread of Local 5G

Local 5G to Accelerate DX — NEC UNIVERGE RV1000 Series enables systemconstruction at affordable price range —New Breeze Vol. 36 No.1 Winter

New Breeze

January 2024

C O N T E N T S

ISSN 0915-3160

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		 New Year Messages
12024 MIC Minister’s New Year’s Greeting

3

New Year’s Message

2

2024 New Year Message

		 Special Feature — Initiatives

Aimed at the Spread of Local 5G

Editorial Committee

4

Chairman: Wataru Kameyama
Members: Ministry of Internal Affairs andCommunications, Association of Radio Industries
and Businesses, Communication Line Products
Association of Japan, Fujitsu Limited, Hitachi, Ltd.,
Japan Broadcasting Corporation,
Japan Network Information Center,
KDDI CORPORATION, National Institute ofInformation and Communications Technology,
NEC Corporation, NIPPON TELEGRAPH AND
TELEPHONE CORPORATION, Oki ElectricIndustry Co., Ltd., Softbank Corp.,
Sony Group Corporation,
The Japan Commercial Broadcasters Association, and
The Telecommunication Technology Committee

Local 5G to Accelerate DX — NEC UNIVERGE RV1000 Series
enables system construction at affordable price range —		Report
8

Overview of the 2023 White Paper on Information andCommunications

		Column
12= A Serial Introduction Part 2 =Winners of ITU-AJ Encouragement Awards 2023

Publisher: Tetsuo Yamakawa
Editors:

Junichi Kishimoto
Naoko Ishida
Hayami Hirayama

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The ITU Association of Japan (ITU-AJ) was founded on September 1, 1971, tocoordinate Japanese activities in the telecommunication and broadcasting sectors
with international activities. Today, the principle activities of the ITU-AJ are tocooperate in various activities of international organizations such as the ITU and todisseminate information about them. The Association also aims to help developing
countries by supporting technical assistance, as well as by taking part in generalinternational cooperation, mainly through the Asia-Pacific Telecommunity (APT),
so as to contribute to the advance of the telecommunications and broadcasting
throughout the world.

2024 MIC Minister’s New Year’s Greeting

Takeaki Matsumoto

Minister of Internal Affairs and Communications

H

appy New Year’s to all of you. My name is Takeaki
MATSUMOTO, and I was reappointed Minister for Internal
Affairs and Communications in December, 2023.
The Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications (MIC) forms
the core of our government, supporting daily life for our citizens in many
areas, including local economies, elections, fire fighting, information andcommunications, broadcasting, the postal system, public-sector evaluation andstatistics.
As the Minister of Internal Affairs and Communications, I will put allof my effort into fulfilling my duty, working to implement our policies for all
citizens of Japan.
Enhancing information and communication infrastructure,promoting regional digital transformation
We are enhancing information and communication infrastructure to
support regional digital transformation, as part of implementing the “Vision
for a Digital Garden City Nation.”
We are completing integration of 5G networks in urban and regional
areas, completing and maintaining fiber-optic networks in remote areas,
distributing data centers regionally, and completing fiber-optic submarine
cable networks.
To enable dramatic increases in use of radio in society and the economy,
we are also studying allocation of new frequencies, and how to introduce nonterrestrial networks seamlessly.
To create solutions to regional issues using these types of digital
infrastructure, we are also implementing advanced digital technologies suchas automated driving.
To realize a society in which everyone can enjoy the benefits of digitaltransformation, we are advancing support for use of digital technologies bypopulations such as the elderly, improving literacy across all generations, andpromoting barrier-free access to information for those-with-disabilities.
We are also promoting measures dealing with abuse and defamationon the internet, to streamline provision of aid to victims through consistent
application of the “Act on the Limitation of Liability for Damages ofSpecified Telecommunications Service Providers,” promoting efforts byplatform operators to accelerate and improve transparency of efforts, andstrengthening systems for education and consultation.
We are also promoting policy conforming to changes in the environment
surrounding information and communication, including discussion in the
Information and Communications Council of how communication policy
should change with the times. We are conducting comprehensive review ofnecessary revisions to related legal systems, such as the “Telecommunications
Business Act,” and the “Act on Nippon Telegraph and Telephone
Corporation, etc.”
Regarding broadcast systems in the digital era, to provide broadcastswith reliable information in the expanding information space, we will needto promote policies that support business sustainability and fulfill the overallrole of broadcasting with expanding usage of the internet, and also promotefurther study of these issues.

Regarding use of the internet by NHK, we are taking necessary measures
including preparing systems and conducting studies toward suitable broadcast
content production environments.
Promoting advanced initiatives to enhance competitiveness andcooperation internationally
Amid rapidly changing international conditions, we plan to ensure
economic security in the information and communications and postal
domains, strengthening international competitiveness and promoting deeper
international cooperation.
Last year, the Internet Governance Forum was held in October, and theG7 leaders held a Digital and Tech ministers’ meeting in December, compilingthe “Hiroshima AI Process Comprehensive Policy Framework,” which was thefirst international policy framework on generative AI. Expansion of results ofthe Hiroshima AI Process in international society will promote international
cooperation in implementation of reliable AI and the implementation andmaintenance of a free and open internet.
We are also working strategically on forming international rules withorganizations such as the Universal Postal Union (UPU), the International
Telecommunications Union (ITU), and the Asia-Pacific Telecommunity(APT), which have many directors appointed from Japan.
We are promoting overseas expansion of our technologies, systems andservices in MIC-related fields: in digital infrastructure such as 5G andOpen RAN and also broadcast content, postal services, fire fighting, andadministrative consulting. These technologies excel in safety, reliability andsecurity.
Regarding “Beyond 5G,” which is the next-generation informationand communications infrastructure, we are utilizing National Institute ofInformation and Communications Technology (NICT) funding to support
R&D and international standardization of all-photonics networks, including
implementation in society and expansion outside of Japan.
We are also working on data-related issues and promoting R&D on
important advanced technologies such as AI, space development, and quantum
communication.
We are promoting cyber-security measures such as HR training and data
analysis to account for recent increasing risk of damage due to cyber attacks.
In particular, based on revisions to the NICT Act established in an
extraordinary session of the Diet last year, we continue to promote and expand
NICT’s survey of vulnerable IoT devices, and contribute to further measures
to strengthen IoT device security in collaboration with a wide range ofcommunications operators, manufacturers and other related-parties.
MIC is also working to accelerate policies related to economic measures.
In public relations, we are also working to promote a deeper understandingof MIC policies.
Conclusion
Please allow me to conclude my New Year’s greeting by wishing you all
health and much happiness in the coming year!

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2024 New Year Message

Doreen Bogdan-Martin
ITU Secretary-GeneralI

send my greetings and best wishes to all members of the
ITU Association of Japan for a joyful and prosperous year
ahead. I also wish to express my gratitude for your diligent
efforts in our many successful collaborations throughout the past
year.
Together we are making progress on our shared goals ofsustainable digital transformation and universal connectivity. And
I believe we are poised for even greater achievements in these areas
in 2024.
We have much to celebrate, from the successful AI for Good
Summit in July to our inaugural SDG Digital event in September
ahead of the UN General Assembly meetings, where we outlined
a digital-driven action plan to accelerate the UN Sustainable
Development Goals.
Japan has shown exceptional leadership on the global stage,
promoting digital progress through its G7 presidency.
Technology was a central theme at the 49th G7 Summit heldin Hiroshima in May. I was pleased to see the initiation of theHiroshima Artificial Intelligence (AI) Process to set common
rules for governing AI and to foster its ethical development.
On October 30, G7 leaders affirmed their commitment to
the Hiroshima AI Process in a statement welcoming the guiding
principles and code of conduct. They pledged to manage risks
from generative AI models to protect individuals, civil society,and rule of law principles, with the goal of shaping an inclusive
governance for artificial intelligence.
Both ITU and the G7 are dedicated to creating a more
equitable, secure, and sustainable digital world for generations tocome. The groundbreaking work under the G7 Hiroshima AI
Process will benefit all the Member States ITU serves as the UN
agency for digital technologies.
I also commend Japan for hosting the Internet Governance
Forum this year in October.
In his opening IGF address, Prime Minister Fumio Kishidahighlighted the transformative potential of generative AI. I share
his enthusiasm for the positive impact AI can have on our shareddigital future and support his call for a balanced approach between
seizing AI’s opportunities and mitigating its risks.
We must also keep in mind that joining the AI revolution
requires being part of the broader digital revolution in the firstplace.
2.6 billion people are still offline across the world, with manyof them living in the Global South.

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Several countries — especially developing and least developed
countries — are struggling to build capacity to respond to thechallenges posed by AI while striving to seize digital opportunities
whenever and wherever possible.
To better understand each country’s ‘AI readiness,’ ITU is
surveying its 193 Member States for a comprehensive overview.
We also plan to integrate AI capacity support into our digitaltransformation offerings in collaboration with partners
like UNDP, particularly in countries with low technologicalcapabilities.
ITU will continue to contribute to global AI governance,in particular in the key area of technical standards, which is aprerequisite for effective implementation of safeguards.
With only a few years left to deliver on the UN Sustainable
Development Goals by 2030, success hinges on our ability tomake progress on strategic objectives, as outlined in the SDG
Digital Acceleration Agenda launched by ITU and UNDP at theSDG Digital event in September.
As the UN Secretary-General said, the SDGs aren’t just a listof goals. They carry the hopes, dreams, rights and expectations ofpeople everywhere.
One number captures the significance of this moment morethan any other: 70% of the SDG targets directly benefit fromdigital technologies.
Where do we go from here? I have always believed strategic
partnerships and diverse financing can help advance a rangeof objectives. That is why ITU was proud to announce newcommitments from private sector, finance bodies, international
and philanthropic foundations at SDG Digital.
These include new commitments to our Partner2Connect
Digital Coalition, which now aims to mobilize 100 billion USD
in pledges by 2026. I thank entities in Japan for their pledges
worth 2.72 million USD supporting innovative projects to expand
connectivity and accelerate digital transformation globally. And I
encourage others to follow their example.
I would like to congratulate Seizo Onoe-san for a successful
first year in his leadership of ITU’s Standardization Bureau.
Digital technologies are on top of the global agenda. As welook forward to the next year’s Summit of the Future in September
and Japan hosting Expo 2025, I believe we have a once-in-ageneration opportunity to shape the digital world we want — one
that empowers everyone, everywhere.
Happy New Year!

New Year’s Message

Tetsuo Yamakawa

President
The ITU Association of JapanB

est wishes to all in this New Year!
Russia’s invasion of Ukraine which began in 2022 hascontinued to expand in 2023 and with the outbreak of
the Palestinian conflict, the concepts of peace and harmony arebeing questioned deeply. With continuing economic uncertainty
and regional disputes, it will be critical to focus our wisdom andcooperative abilities to face these difficult conditions in order torestore stability in the world.
Last year, the ITU-AJ participated in meetings of theInternational Telecommunications Union (ITU) and the Asia-PacificTelecommunity (APT), including the APT General Assembly (GA16) and the APT Management Committee Meeting (MC-47), heldin Bangkok Thailand from November 6 to 11. There, Masanori
Kondo was re-elected to the position of APT Secretary General, aposition he has held for three years. We celebrate this achievement
and hope for the best in his efforts in the coming three years. The
ITU Radiocommunication Assembly 2023 (RA-23) and the ITUWorld Radiocommunication Conference 2023 (WRC-23) werealso held in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, from November 13 to
December 15, and three vice-chair candidates from Japan wereselected at the RA. The ITU-AJ also provided administrative supportin Dubai for these meetings.
The Mobile World Congress (MWC) was an ICT event heldin Barcelona Spain from February 27 to March 2, including a Japan
Pavilion presented by 11 Japanese companies. The ITU-AJ supported
international expansion of Japanese ICT enterprises through exhibits
in the pavilion. Another notable event was CEATEC, which washeld at Makuhari Messe from October 17 to 20, where Ukraine
exhibited and presented lectures for the first time.
Wit h i n t he I T U-AJ, we held ou r a n nua l “ World
Telecommunication and Information Society” Ceremony on May
17 at the Keio Plaza Hotel, which was also streamed online. At
the ceremony, Yoshio MIYADERA (Japan Radio Co. Ltd.), whodrove and supported standardization of marine radio communication
technologies at international organizations including ITU and IMO,
received a MIC Minister’s Award. The Starlink team from SpaceX
also received a Special Achievement Award, with a keynote speech
given by Lauren Dreyer, who came to Japan to receive the award
representing SpaceX. A further 14 individuals and one organization
received Accomplishment Awards, and 15 individuals and one
organization received Encouragement Awards. We offer our heartfelt
congratulations to all of these recipients.

For training, the APT training office held a network planningcourse aimed at eliminating the digital divide from October 11 to 20,
inviting nine participants from nine countries. This was the first faceto-face training course in four years since COVID-19 began.
Themes of diversity and inclusion have also gained prominence
recently. As ICT technologies continue to advance, I hope Japan will
also expand “Diversity and Inclusion” by developing and expanding
services related to 5G, beyond 5G (6G), Local 5G and AI.
With the ITU this year, the World Telecommunication
Standardization Assembly 2024 (WTSA-24) will be held from
October 15 to 24 in New Delhi, India. While we hope to invite theassembly back to Japan soon, the ITU-AJ will continue to collaborate
with relevant parties on ITU and APT assemblies and events,
adapting to requirements with flexibility based on our past experience.
Within the ITU-AJ, we will continue operation of our Japan
Platform for Driving Digital Development (JPD3), which began in
2020. In February, we plan to hold a new type of course for humanresource development at British Hills in Fukushima, to improve skills
in international negotiation. By also publishing the online monthly,“ITU Journal,” and the English quarterly, “New Breeze,” inviting
experts to speak at research conferences, and holding informational
meetings that gather a cross-section of people involved in ITU-related
businesses, the ITU-AJ will continue collaboration so that it can bea platform for interaction among the ITU, the Japanese government,
and each of the supporting members.
I wish you all a sincere Happy New Year and good health in the
coming year.
■ APT General Assembly, Election of Masanori Kondo as
Secretary General

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Local 5G to Accelerate DX— NEC UNIVERGE RV1000 Series enables system construction at affordable
price range —Koichiro Fujimoto

Executive Professional, Technology Evangelist
Digital Network Business Division, NEC Corporation

1. Introduction

With the spread of digital transformation (DX), Local
5G, which enables private use of 5G next-generation wirelesstechnology, has gained wide attention. Radio waves have thus
far been allocated for use only by telecommunication carriers
with the appropriate technological capabilities. The Japanese
government, however, has decided that it is necessary to attract
private investments and create social value in order to makeeffective use of radio resources, and has thus engaged new industry
players.
However, due to the complexity of the technology, thesystem cost has remained high, preventing the widespread useof radio resources. To solve this problem, NEC delved into thefundamental question about what makes a Local 5G system easy
for companies and municipalities to use. From this research, it
developed a new Local 5G system called the NEC UNIVERGE
RV1000 series, which enables system construction at an affordable
price range. Here, I will discuss the current state of Local 5G,
which is vital in accelerating DX, the features of the new productseries, and its potential to promote the uptake of Local 5G.

2. The birth of Local 5G aimed at
democratizing radio use

Following the computerization of information, theuse of digital data has accelerated since the late 1990s alongwith the spread of the Internet, and the use of digital data has
become commonplace both in corporate activities and in ourdaily lives. However, apart from the hotspot usage of Wi-Fi
and similar technologies, the unrestricted use of data using
wireless technology is mainly through public network systems
provided by telecommunications carriers via smartphones andother mobile devices. For example, companies and municipalities
have been unable to build their own wireless networks to meettheir specific needs. The capital investment for mobile phone
networks of telecommunication carriers, which had developed as
an advanced tool originally intended for mobile communication
between people, has been planned based on population density.
Therefore, even today, base stations have not been sufficiently
installed in uninhabited areas including mountainous and coastal
regions. Likewise, radio signals cannot penetrate and be used inlarge and closed spaces such as factories of private companies,
making it practically difficult to use them for business purposesin such locations. Also, even if equipment can be installed, as

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long as the network is public, it is provided under technicalspecifications in accordance with its service stipulations. Thus, it
is difficult to provide network functions tailored to use as a private
network, for example, in accordance with the needed applications
for communication, transmission speed, and type and number ofterminals.
In particular, in terms of network characteristics tailoredto communication needs, it is imperative to go beyond thetechnical specifications of 4G/LTE, which has developed as amobile phone network. We therefore compiled the ITU Vision
Recommendations as technical guidelines that ITU-R should
aim for in pursuing the standardization of 5G, in accordance withthe generational shift that is said to occur once every 10 years(Figure 1). In particular, the three characteristics of 5G; namely,“ultra-high speed,” “ultra-low latency,” and “massive connectivity,”
have been defined as three different scenarios, and the story drawn
is to achieve the three in parallel. 5G specifications have beenformulated through 3GPP in accordance with this story. However,a common misconception is that these three scenarios are achievedat the same time. In reality, instead of providing all the featureswith one wireless resource, the idea is to create a scenario andallocate wireless resources for each desired service. In other words,
the technical scenario for implementing 5G should coincide withthe technical specifications in the three directions.
Along with progress in the 3GPP specifications, Japan started
5G field trials in 2017 through the Ministry of Internal Affairs
and Communications (MIC) 5G Comprehensive Demonstration
Tests. Initially, demonstrations were carried out mainly bytelecommunications carriers and related manufacturers withthe technical know-how in mobile communications. Later on,
the tests developed into problem-solving type demonstrations
aimed at social implementation and were carried out under theleadership of players from various industries and municipalities.
As a result of the MIC demonstrations and the progress indiscussions of 5G use cases by experts from industry, government,
and academia, expectations have grown significantly for its
use outside of residential areas, including in construction sites,
farms, forests, and private factory buildings. Fortunately, as
aforementioned, 5G can be applied in multiple technical scenarios,
paving the way for discussions of the allocation of wirelessresources other than the public networks used for smartphones
for general consumers. MIC defined the term “Local 5G” topromote the democratization of radio use. And, in December■ Figure 1: ITU Vision Recommendations: Objectives and Framework for 5G Development

2018, the Local 5G Study Group of the New-generation Mobile
Communications System Subcommittee under the Information
and Communications Council started discussions on its
standardization. In December 2019, millimeter-wave (28 GHzband) Local 5G was institutionalized, and a new wireless field
called “Local 5G” was officially established. Further, in December
2020, Local 5G (4.6 GHz to 4.9 GHz) in the Sub-6 band, a userfriendly, low frequency band, was institutionalized and launched
into full-scale use, leading to its applications in a wider range ofuse cases.

3. The challenge of utilizing technology
designed for telecommunication carriers
for the general public

As mentioned in the preceding paragraph, Local 5G wasinstitutionalized in Japan as 5G that can be used not only bytelecommunications carriers but also by companies andmunicipalities to meet various needs. For example, Local 5G
radio waves can be used in factories within buildings as a private,wireless on-premises network. In addition, unlike for Wi-Fi andother wireless signals that do not require a license as an exception
for weak radio waves, by allocating 5G radio waves as a licensing
station, Local 5G enables emitting stable radio waves that cover alarge area of the premises.
However, using wireless technologies in Japan requires
operating them in accordance with the rules established by MIC.
Even for Local 5G, a license is needed after technical verification
based on the purpose of use. Also, emission of radio waves for

operations must be performed by licensed radio engineers, andeach user entity must assign nationally certified radio engineers
within the organization to obtain a Local 5G license.
Moreover, 5G systems are equipped with mechanisms
for terminal authentication as intended originally for mobile
communications, as well as mechanisms to enable mobility overa wide area. Therefore, the systems are relatively large, thereby
requiring significant capital investments.
NEC has developed a Local 5G system that uses thetechnologies it has developed for base stations designed
for telecommunications carriers, an area for which it has anaccumulation of technical strengths and know-how. Leveraging
this technology as an innovator, NEC has been promoting value
creation through Local 5G via co-creation with companies
carrying out advanced initiatives in major construction
and manufacturing industries. Even in the early stages, thesecompanies were able to make relatively large investments to secure
human resources, improve efficiency, and solve pressing safety
and environmental issues. These initiatives have been going on
for more than five years, and significant progress has been madetoward practical use of the system.

4. Changes in use cases and breakthroughs in
Local 5G adoption

In FY2020, MIC conducted Development Demonstrations
for Realizing Local 5G Services to Solve Local Issues. In thefollowing year, dropping the “local” in “local issues,” it continued
the initiative as Development Demonstrations for Realizing

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Local 5G Services to Solve Issues to promote the utilization of
Local 5G as a social implementation aimed at solving “issues” invarious companies and municipalities. Local 5G is anticipated to
be used in many areas of society, including in primary industries,
medical care, disaster prevention, sports, and local communities.
However, as mentioned in the preceding section, Local 5G
systems are still admittedly expensive and technically difficult
to deploy. Meanwhile, along with a growing understanding of
its features and benefits in comparison with Wi-Fi and otherwireless technologies, corporate use cases for relatively general IT
applications, such as use in offices and business activities, must
be expanded also for general businesses. We have received much
feedback that there is a need for a system that is easy to deploy andwidely affordable in order to expand use cases and make Local 5G
a viable option for those companies. It has become clear that there
is a need for transformation, including the characteristics of theequipment used and the cost aspects, to make a breakthrough inachieving changes in use cases and for the uptake of Local 5G in awide range of new applications.

5. Development of base stations to make thebenefits of Local 5G more accessible

In response to these changes in usage scenes and market
needs, from around the second half of FY2019, NEC has
concluded that it is crucial to plan and develop a widely affordable
Local 5G system that meets market needs, starting with theconcept creation, in order to enable many users to enjoy thebenefits of Local 5G in anticipation of its uptake. To fully leverage
the strengths of wireless technology, NEC carried out studies bytapping members who have technical expertise in the developmentof equipment designed for telecommunications carriers, as well as
engineers who have experience and knowledge on networks of user
companies and municipalities.
Discussions were held on a wide range of topics, including theidentification of the functions necessary to construct closed private
networks from the vast functions of 5G standard technologies
and the proposal of the optimal system size and architecture.
In addition, communication performance, quality, size, ease of
installation, cost, environmental performance, maintenance andoperation, and the selection of detailed components were also
tackled. These comprehensive studies resulted in the developmentof the NEC UNIVERGE RV1000 series (Figure 2), whichenables the construction of a Local 5G system at an affordable
price range. Both RV1200 for the Sub6 band and RV1300 for the
millimeter-wave band were commercialized and announced in
January 2022 and were widely welcomed by various quarters.
The RV1000 series includes all-in-one compact base stations
that house the Local 5G base station radio unit (RU) and control
units (CU/DU) in a single enclosure. In addition to reducing unit
cost, it reduces the overall system implementation cost, as wellas the period and labor needed for construction and installation.
Its compact size and light weight also improve f lexibility of■ Figure 2: Widely Affordable Local 5G System: NEC UNIVERGE RV1000 Series

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installation in various locations and significantly reduce power
consumption. In particular, RV1200, which supports the Sub6
band, is compatible with all standardized frequencies (4.6
GHz to 4.9 GHz). While equipped with all functions as a basestation, it is housed in a small case weighing only 3 kg anddownsized to A4 paper-size. Its IP66-compliant high dustproof
and waterproof performance enables installation both indoors
and outdoors. In addition, it can cater to users who want to startsmall. After verifying the possibility of Local 5G use with a single
base station, users can then scale out seamlessly to a large-scale
system with more than 100 units simply by adding base stations.
These features make it possible to take advantage of the highquality communication properties of Local 5G in a wide range ofenvironments while enabling installation with similar ease as WiFi access points. Thus, the RV1000 series models have enabled us
to meet the recent market needs while proactively developing andproposing practical use cases that take advantage of the benefits ofLocal 5G going forward.

6. Expectations for the spread of Local 5G

Modern society is facing various social issues such as thedeclining birthrate and aging population, environmental issues,and the COVID-19 pandemic that started three years ago in
2020. In particular, COVID-19 has brought about the needfor remote communication and contactless business activities,
which highlighted the delay in the use of digital technology inJapan. Therefore, accelerating DX is imperative, and there ishigh anticipation for the spread of Local 5G as the infrastructure
for DX. Japan has established a Digital Agency. Further, underthe “Digital Garden City” Initiative launched in 2021, theJapanese government has listed “early deployment of 5G” as animportant goal for digital infrastructure development. As a digital
infrastructure to realize a sustainable society and solve local issues,
the implementation of Local 5G is a top priority as one of themost important issues the government is aiming to address.
At NEC, we believe that it is of considerable significanceto be able to respond to these social issues. We will thus aim to
implement a variety of use cases by providing a Local 5G system
under a new concept at the right timing in response to the need forestablishing the relevant social infrastructure in the future. As asocial value innovator, our goal is to contribute to the utilization of
DX in all sectors to create a prosperous society by continuing ouractivities in collaboration with relevant stakeholders.

Cover Art
Yuigahama, from Famous
Views of Tokaido Road

Ikkaisai Yoshitoshi (1839-1892)
Source: National Diet Library,NDL Image Bank(https://rnavi.ndl.go.jp/imagebank/)

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Overview of the 2023 White Paper on Information andCommunications
Economic Research Office
ICT Strategy Policy Division
Information and Communications Bureau
Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications
The focus of this White Paper on Information andCommunications is “Toward Realizing the Resilient and Sound
Data Flow Society for the New Era.” It gives an overview of the
progress of data flow, which accompanied the advancement oftelecommunications infrastructure in Japan, and analyzes thecurrent situation, challenges, and new trends in data flow anduse. It also surveys initiatives toward a data flow society where
everyone can enjoy the benefits of diverse services using data.

to generate innovative businesses and markets. Currently, various
services provided by platform providers have penetrated deeply
into our lives, making everyday life significantly more convenient.
At the same time, through the provision of a variety ofservices, platform providers have been acquiring and accumulatinga huge amount of data, including attribute data, such as
names, usernames, IP addresses, and data on purchasing andcommunication behaviors and various other activities.

Part 1. T he Current status and Issues of Data
Distribution and Utilization
Chapter 1. T he Continuing Acceleration of Data
Distribution and Data Utilization

2.Concerns about transparency and appropriateness of dataacquisition and utilization by Platform Providers
According to the results of the survey, the percentage of
respondents who were “aware” (the sum of “well aware” and“somewhat aware”) of providing personal data when using services
and applications was the highest in the United States (90.5%),
against about 40% (42.2%) in Japan. Regarding whether or notthey felt anxious about providing personal data, the highest
percentage of respondents who answered they were “concerned”(the sum of “very concerned” and “somewhat concerned”) was
66.5% in Germany, with 58.4% in Japan.

1. The explosive increase in data distribution
With the advancement of telecommunications infrastructure
and the spread and diversification of digital services, thevolume of data distribution on networks in Japan has increased
exponentially. Since the COVID-19 pandemic, digitalization has
progressed, which has enabled us to live without physical contact
and work without face-to-face interaction. As of November
2022, the total download traffic of fixed-line broadband service
subscribers increased by 23.7% year on year, and that of mobile
communications subscribers as of September 2022 increased by
23.4% year on year. Globally, the volumes of data traffic and data
distributed especially through mobile terminals have increased
significantly and are expected in increase further.
2.The awareness of companies regarding the provision andutilization of data
While Japanese companies’ utilization of data is processing,
the rate of their utilization is low compared to other countries.
The result of a survey of companies showed that 52.8% of Japanesecompanies have been “using” personal data, against 81.9% of U.S.
companies.
Many Japanese companies cited “lack of methods for utilizingdata” and “unclear cost-effectiveness and lack of human resources
for handling data (processing and analysis, etc.)” as challenges and
impediments to date usage.

Chapter 2. C oncentration of Data among
Platform Providers
1. Data Acquisition and Storage by Platform Providers
As information and communication technology advanced,
and massive amounts of data are being generated and distributed,
platform providers have grown rapidly as innovators that continue

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■ Figure 1: Awareness and concerns about providing
personal data

(Source) Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications (MIC, 2023),"Survey Research on Advancement of ICT Infrastructure andFlow of Digital Data and Information"

Also, for all the four countries surveyed ( Japan, U.S.,
Germany, and China), “provider’s assurance of sufficient security”
was the most important consideration for users in providing
personal data to platform providers.

Chapter 3. Spread of Disinformation and
Misinformation on the Internet
1. The current status(1) The spread of the attention economy
Amid the vast amount of information circulating on theInternet, to attract more attention and clicks from users, some
platforms generate articles with sensational and provocative titles
and content that are not based on facts but solely on speculation.
This so-called “attention economy” is structured in a way that
promotes the spread of disinformation and misinformation and thefueling of controversy on the Internet.
(2) Filter bubbles and echo chambers
By continuing to receive information distributed byalgorithms, users tend to only gain information of their own
interest. This is called a “filter bubble” that surrounds users with afilm of information. Many thoughts and opinions similar to theirown are concentrated inside this bubble, and opposing thoughts
and opinions are eliminated (filtered out), making it difficult to
notice the latter’s existence. Also, as a result of communication
with users of similar interests, such as in social media, users
receive only opinions similar to their own. This leads to the socalled “echo chamber,” where only specific opinions and ideas areamplified. By repeatedly hearing similar opinions, they tend tobelieve that they are correct and cannot be mistaken.

misinformation created for the purpose of earning advertising
revenue is circulating and being spread and amplified by bots.
Recently, there have been cases where fake images andvideos created using deepfake technology have spread either
unintentionally or intentionally. Already, anyone can easily makefake images simply by typing in a few words using AI, raisingconcerns about the democratization of deepfake technology.
2. Consumer awareness of the characteristics of social media
and other platform services
The percentage of respondents who replied that they were“aware” (the sum of “well aware” and “more or less aware”) ofsocial media’s tendency to expose users disproportionately toopinions and thoughts similar to their own was less than 40%(38.1%) in Japan, while 70% to 80% in the three countries otherthan Japan. Looking at Japan by age group, the proportion of
respondents in their 50s and in their 60s and above who repliedthat they were “aware” was lower than that of other age groups.
■ Figure 2: Awareness of social media’s tendency to
expose users disproportionately to opinions
and thoughts similar to their own(Source) MIC (2023), “Survey Research on Advancement of ICTInfrastructure and Flow of Digital Data and Information”(3) The distribution of illegal and harmful information
The number of consultations received at the Illegal andHarmful Information Consultation Center, which is operated
through MIC consignment, continues to remain high, with 5,745
received in FY2022.
Also, according to a questionnaire survey＊1 conducted onsocial media users, about half (50.9%) of respondents said they had
seen defamatory posts on the Internet (slander).
(4) The spread of disinformation and misinformation
A characteristic of social media platform services isthat any user can easily transmit (post) information, and thatdisinformation and misleading information is easily disseminated.
This is considered to be one of the reasons why people frequently
come into contact with disinformation on social media. Also, withthe spread of the attention economy, much disinformation and

3. Digital literacy
Improving digital literacy is very important in order to prevent
users from being misled by illegal and harmful information,
disinformation and misinformation. A survey on the actual
situation of disinformation and misinformation in Japan＊2 showedthat the higher their media literacy, the more likely users are to＊1 D ocument 2 from the 40th session of the MIC Platform Service Study Group, “Questionnaire survey on the distribution of illegal and harmful information on the Internet” by
Mitsubishi Research Institute (MRI).
＊2 I nternational University of Japan GLOCOM, “Innovation Nippon: Understanding the Actual Situation of disinformation and Misinformation in Japan and Examining Social Responses”

New Breeze Winter 2024

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recognize disinformation or misinformation, and the less likely
they are to spread such information.
4. The promotion of fact-checking
In regard to fact-checking, an activity aimed at verifying theauthenticity of information, the percentage of respondents in Japan
who answered they were “aware” (total of “aware of the meaningand specifics,” “somewhat aware of the meaning and specifics,”
and “heard of the term”) was the lowest (46.5%) among thesurveyed countries. Although the awareness of fact-checking inJapan is increasing, it is still low compared to other countries.
■ Figure 3: Level of awareness of fact-checking(Source) MIC, “2021 Survey on Awareness about False Information in
Japan and Abroad”

Part 2: Toward realizing a resilient and sounddata flow society for the new era
Chapter 1: New trends in data flow and use
The implementation of 5G networks that enable ultra-highspeed, ultra-high-capacity data flow and the further advancementof cross-reality (XR) technology and AI are creating new trends
in the approaches to data distribution and management and in theservices that utilize data.
1. Web3
While issues associated with excessive concentration of data
among platform providers have become apparent, Web3 is gaining
attention as a new approach to data management and distribution.
Web3 is considered “decentralized” because it builds a new digital
economic ecosystem where independent users directly interconnect
on a decentralized network based on blockchain technology,
without relying on a specific platform.
This kind of Web3 environment reduces transaction costs andenables co-creating, storing, and exchanging all kinds of value
across borders and platforms. It therefore has the potential tocreate a significant social impact, such as through the constructionof new business models in the cultural and economic domains,
investment and economic revitalization, and the promotion of theresolution of social issues.

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2. Metaverse and digital twins(1) Metaverse
With the advancement of communication networks and XR
technologies, attention has focused on the “metaverse,” whichenables the transmission, experience, and sharing of new values
linked to the real world and virtual space.
Metaverse is gaining recognition in Japan. Various services arebeing provided in the entertainment field such as music events andshopping on the metaverse. In addition, attempts have been madeto utilize metaverse spaces for providing learning and employment
opportunities, as well as for community building in which realcities and virtual spaces are linked.
For example, the University of Tokyo launched the Metaverse
School of Engineering in October 2022 to “offer an education in
the field of engineering utilizing digital technology with a focus
on realizing a society where the latest information and practicalengineering skills to fulfill personal goals become available to all.”(2) Digital Twins
A digital twin is a technology that builds a digital
representation of a physical entity in a virtual space based on data
gathered from the real world. It is expected to provide benefits
such as optimized production, improved operational efficiency,
reduced time and costs, and the ability to perform simulations notpossible in the real world.
Digital twins began to be used mainly by users in the
manufacturing industry, such as in the aviation industry andmanufacturing lines, and are now being used in a wide range offields, including national land planning, urban planning, anddisaster prevention.
In the field of disaster prevention, since 2019, Shizuoka
Prefecture has been promoting the Virtual Shizuoka initiative,
which acquires three-dimensional information, such as on
topography and buildings throughout the prefecture, as
point cloud data and releases it as open data. The prefectural
government compares and analyzes information from Virtual
Shizuoka and aerial photographs taken in the past with 3D datameasured by drones at points where landslides occurred during
disasters. In the landslide disaster in Atami City that occurredin July 2021, data were used for early assessment of damage andprevention of secondary disasters.
3. Generative AI(1) Trends in generative AI
Generative AI technology, which is used for the purposeof generating and creating information, an area traditionallydominated by humans, has been rapidly developing.
OpenAI announced GPT-3, a large-scale language modelwith 175 billion parameters, in May 2020, ChatGPT chatbot
based on GPT 3.5 in November 2022, and GPT-4 in March2023. In 2022, prompt-based image generation AI (also called
text-to-image AI), which generates images with text entered byusers, was launched, enabling the use of AI to draw images forhumans. Other generative AI for a variety of other purposes havebeen released, including AI that creates program source code andAI that composes music from text, under human instructions.
(2) Discussions on generative AI
The negative aspects of generative AI, however, are becoming
apparent, such as the unintentional or intentional spread of
fake images and videos created using it, causing violation of theinterests and rights of others and social disruption. With image
generation AI readily available, anyone can easily create andspread high-quality fake images. Also, it has been pointed outthat it may be causing infringement of intellectual property rights
and an economic impact on artists, illustrators, and other content
creators.
In addition to stipulating the terms and conditions for use by
the companies that provide AI services, it is necessary to ensurethat these terms and conditions are properly conveyed to users andto encourage the ethical use of services based on those stipulations.
Also, in regard to multilateral cooperation on the handlingof generative AI, discussions were held at the G7 Digital andTechnology Ministers’ Meeting held in Takasaki City, Gunma
Prefecture, in April 2023 on the “Promotion of responsible AI
and AI governance.” Through the G7 Digital and Technology
Ministerial Declaration adopted at the meeting, an agreement wasreached on an action plan to promote global interoperability of AI

governance and to hold a forum for discussion of generative AI assoon as possible.
Furthermore, at the G7 Summit held in Hiroshima City in
May of the same year, Heads of States shared a recognition of theimportance of international discussions on AI governance and of
the interoperability of AI governance. A summit level agreement
was reached to establish the Hiroshima AI Process by the end of
the year to discuss generative AI.

Chapter 2: Toward realizing a diverse data flow
society
As we have seen, with the advancement of communication
infrastructures and the spread of smartphones, various digital
services utilizing data have become indispensable to our lives. New
forms of data utilization, such as the metaverse and digital twins,
are attracting attention and are expected to contribute to resolving
various social and economic issues in Japan, including regional
revitalization, disaster prevention, and the realization of diverse
work styles.
In order to promote the safe and appropriate distribution ofdata and realize a society in which everyone can enjoy the benefitsof data utilization, it is important to promote initiatives centeredon the following four axes: (1) resilient telecommunications
networks supporting data distribution; (2) early realization of
Beyond 5G supporting ultra-high-speed, ultra-large-capacity data
distribution; (3) contributions to standardization and developmentof international rules, and (4) realization of a diverse and soundinformation space.

■ Figure 4: Crucial initiatives toward realizing a society where everyone can enjoy the benefits of data utilization

New Breeze Winter 202411

= A Serial Introduction Part 2 =Winners of ITU-AJ Encouragement Awards 2023
In May every year, The ITU Association of Japan (ITU-AJ) proudly presents ITU-AJ Encouragement Awards to people who have madeoutstanding contributions in the field of international standardization and have helped in the ongoing development of ICT.
These Awards are also an embodiment of our sincere desire to encourage further contributions from these individuals in the future.
If you happen to run into these winners at another meeting in the future, please say hello to them.
But first, as part of the introductory series of Award Winners, allow us to introduce some of those remarkable winners.

Akihiro Shoji

Fields of activity: IT human resource development

Developing globally qualified IT human resources in Bangladesh
I am very honored to receive an ITU-AJ Encouragement
Award and am very thankful to the association and everyone who
has provided guidance and support.
I have been working in Bangladesh, in South Asia since 2008,
for Information Technology (IT) human resource development.
In order to establish a standard for human resource developmentin the country, I have been involved in advocating and supporting
introduction of a national IT examination from Japan, theInformation Technology Engineer Examination (ITEE) in 2013,
and in supporting its subsequent dissemination and utilization.
Bangladesh was part of India until 1947 and initially became
independent as East Pakistan. Later, an independent country
emerged as Bangladesh in 1971. The country has yet achieved
recognition and neither the IT human resources nor the IT
industry can claim to be able to compete fairly in the global
market. The Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) has
been supporting development of its capabilities and promoting

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Bangladesh internationally, including its IT human resources
and IT industry. As a member of JICA, I have been particularly
focusing on human resource development.
From September 2023, I will be involved in a new JICA
project that is starting in Bangladesh, providing technical support
to mid-level and above engineers in the Bangladesh IT industry,helping the country's IT companies advance from small andmedium-sized companies to global companies that can compete
on a par with the global market.
The global market is f iercely competitive, but I willcontinue to support the country to act effectively in the worldand systematically develop its human resources based on thetechnology and knowledge that Japan has already acquired. I hopethat awareness of the keywords "Bangladesh IT human resources
and IT industry" will increase, and I look forward to working on
further Japan-Bangladesh collaboration initiatives in the future.

Yuji Suzuki

NTT DOCOMO, INC.
https://www.docomo.ne.jp/english/
Fields of activity: 3GPP TSG SA WG6Standardisation to accelerate application enablement
It is a great honour to receive the ITU-AJ Encouragement
Award. I am grateful to ITU-AJ and all who have supported mywork, especially 3GPP SA6 delegates and my colleagues at NTT
DOCOMO.
I joined 3GPP SA6 in October 2020. SA6 has been
responsible for specifying solutions for mission criticalcommunications since its inception in 2014. During Release 15, it
expanded its scope to specify application frameworks and enablers
such as CAPIF (Common API Framework) and SEAL (Service
Enabler Architecture Layer), which provide functions available toapplications outside 3GPP.
In SA6, I worked as a rapporteur for SNAAPP (Release18), which aims to enhance the authorisation mechanisms for
API invocation. There were many issues to discuss in creating a
specification, but thanks to all the support from SA6 delegatesand my colleagues, we successfully completed our SNAAPP workin the SA6#55 meeting, which was held in Berlin, Germany in
May 2023. I hope that this technology will enable end users to

Satoshi Yamaguchi

flexibly control permissions for API invocations that might affecttheir service experience or privacy, which will make such API
invocations more secure and convenient.
I also actively contributed to EDGEAPP, which aims tospecify application enablers to support edge computing. In Release
18, we enhanced EDGEAPP features in different aspects,
including roaming (where device stays in a different network
operator's service area) and federation (where multiple edge
computing service providers are involved to serve consumers).
SA6 started Release 19 study and work in August 2023. NTT
DOCOMO is proposing a new Release 19 work item, SNAAPP_
EXT, to provide external application developers with useful
information regarding API development. SA6 has also discussed
many other topics to be handled during Release 19, including
enhancements to EDGEAPP. I am looking forward to seeing
outcomes of our standardisation activities in the market shortly,and I hope that these technologies will contribute to progress inthe telecommunications industry.

Fujitsu Limited
https://www.fujitsu.com/global/
Fields of activity: Next G Alliance

Activities in Next G Alliance for the future 6G Standardization
I am honored to receive this encouragement award fromthe ITU-AJ and grateful to the association and those who haveprovided guidance and support.
Since March 2022, I have attended the meetings of the Next
G Alliance (NGA), which was launched by the Alliance for
Telecommunications Industry Solutions (ATIS) in late 2020.
The NGA aims to advance North American wireless technology
leadership over the next decade through private sector-led efforts
in association with government stakeholders. It currently focuses
on developing the 6G Roadmap and various white papers.
In an NGA white paper, we were able to propose a topic thatis being discussed in Japan: “Orchestration in DisaggregatedArchitecture”; and include the content in terms of “end to end”,“openness”, and “management functions”. The white paper isavailable on the NGA website and could be used as a reference for
future 6G standardization.
I also presented lessons learned through activities in the NGA
at a public seminar in Japan, organized by the Telecommunication
Technology Committee (TTC). We were able to hold a lively
Q&A session at this presentation, and we realized that the NGA
activities attract a lot of interest.
Currently, I continue to attend NGA meetings considering
specific requirements in response to the recommendation,“Framework and overall objectives of the future developmentof IMT for 2030 and beyond”. I will do my best to contributeto 6G standardization through the NGA and other Standards
Development Organizations (SDOs) in Japan.

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通巻百四十一号

定価一冊

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The ITU Association of Japan六、六〇〇円 （本体価格 六、〇〇〇円、消費税 六〇〇円）