2024 MIC Minister’s New Year’s Greeting

Takeaki Matsumoto

Minister of Internal Affairs and Communications

Happy 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 “Visionfor 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 theInformation 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 measuresincluding 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!

New Breeze Winter 20241