Strategy. Hence, the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications created the "School LAN Introduction Manual", showing a model plan to develop a school network, and published it on its website, in order to support introduction of school LAN, which is an ICT infrastructure at schools.

### 9. Promotion of Telework

Working with the Ministry of Health and Welfare, the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications started “Demonstration experiments on telework model system (Shared use model system enabling a safe and secure introduction of telework”) to develop an environment for telework of private sectors. In addition, according to the tax reform in fiscal 2007, the Ministry established the “Tax system for development of telework environment”, which provides investment incentives to the companies introducing telework facilities.

The Ministry is also implementing a wide range of measures such as diffusion and education activities with industry-academia-government cooperation (“Telework Promotion Forum”), and creation of a “Telework Introduction and Operation Guide Book” with the concerned ministries (Ministry of Health and Welfare, Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, and Land, Infrastructure and Transportation Ministry).

# Section 5 Promotion of Research and Development

### 1. New research and development strategy toward a ubiquitous society

Japan has developed the world’s most advanced broadband environment and achieved the status of the world's leading nation in the field of mobile internet usage. While making use of its expertise, it is also important to promote research/development and demonstration experiments for elemental technology and utilization technology required to realize a ubiquitous network society, together with research/development to create solutions for newly emerged issues such as establishment of the next generation backbone, which can handle the rapid increase in traffic volume.

The Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications consulted the Information and Communications Council in July 2004 about the nature of research and development toward a ubiquitous society. The Council issued a report in July 2005. The report includes suggestions on the nation’s role to promote "UNS Strategy Program" and this program, as well as the system and environment, which will be essential to conduct research and development.

The UNS Strategy Program (Universal Communications, New Generation Networks, Security and Safety for the Ubiquitous Network Society) consists of 1. Strategy for Next Generation Network Technology aimed at maintaining and strengthening international competitiveness, 2. Safe and secure ICT strategy aimed at establishing a safe and secure society, and 3. Universal Communications Technology Strategy to develop intellectual prowess. The Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications promotes the research and development of fiscal 2006 intensively and strategically based on this program.

### 2. Strategy for Next Generation Network Technology

Amid the progress in the re-construction of core networks (advancement of IP communications) on an international scale, the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications promotes research and development activities to realize next generation network technologies as an infrastructure in a ubiquitous society based on optic fiber or mobile communications, based on the Strategy for Next Generation Network Technology aimed at maintaining and strengthening international competitiveness. The R&D activities include research/development of (1) next-generation backbone, (2) basic technologies for ubiquitous networks, (3) next generation photonic network technology, (4) advanced utilization technologies for information appliances, (5) next generation network infrastructure technology, and (6) dynamic network technology.

### 3. Safe and secure ICT strategy

As the “ICT Safe and Secure Technology Strategy” aimed at establishing a safe and secure society, the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications promotes research and development activities to overcome issues in various fields including medical care/welfare, food/agriculture, security/disaster prevention, urban/natural environment with ICT, to achieve “ICT-based Safety and Security” which offers older people a sense