Section 2 Bridging the Digital Divide ..... 24
1. The digital divide and the need for its elimination ..... 24
2. Toward elimination of the digital divide in Japan ..... 24
3. Efforts to Bridge the International Digital Divide ..... 29
Section 3. Local Ravitalization through ICT ..... 32
1. ICT utilization in local communities ..... 32
2. Current status of ICT local utilization ..... 33
3. Challenges facing ICT local utilization ..... 33
4. Analysis of factors impacting ICT utilization ..... 35
5. ICT utilization and costs ..... 36
6. ICT utilization and human resources ..... 36
7. ICT utilization and partnerships ..... 37

## Chapter 3

## Chapter 4

Current State of ICT ..... 48
Section 1 Internet Usage Trends ..... 48
1. Status of Internet utilization ..... 48
2. Challenges for safe and secure Internet utilization ..... 48
Section 2 ICT Industry Trends ..... 48
1. Economic size of the ICT industry ..... 48
2. Contribution of the ICT industry to economic growth ..... 48
Section 3 Telecommunications Sector ..... 50
1. Telecommunications market ..... 50
2. Telecommunications services ..... 50
Section 4 Broadcasting Sector ..... 50
1. Broadcasting market ..... 50
2. Status of broadcasting media uses ..... 50
Section 5 Content Market Trends ..... 50
1. Japanese content market trends ..... 50
2. Market size of the mobile content industry ..... 50
Section 6 Research and Development (R&D) ..... 52
1. Research in the ICT industry ..... 52
2. Technology trading ..... 52
3. Number of researchers ..... 53
Section 7 Postal Service and Correspondence Delivery Business ..... 53
1. Postal service ..... 53

2. Correspondence delivery business..... 53
Section 8 Overseas Trends ..... 54
1. Penetration of global communications services..... 54
2. Internet penetration rates by region ..... 54

## Chapter 5

Outlook for Information and Communications Policies ..... 55
Section 1 Promotion of a Comprehensive Strategy ..... 55
1. Promotion of a national strategy ..... 55
2. ICT policy approaches to realize a knowledge information society ..... 55
3. Promotion of reform in the communications and broadcasting fields ..... 56
4. ICT productivity acceleration program ..... 56
5. Support for creation and fostering of ICT venture businesses ..... 56
Section 2 Development of Information and Communications Policies ..... 56
1. Development of telecommunications policy ..... 56
2. Development of broadcast policy ..... 57
3. Development of radio policy ..... 57
Section 3 Ensuring Citizen's Lives are Safe and Secure ..... 58
1. Consumer administration in relation to telecommunications services ..... 58
2. Promotion of information security policy ..... 59
3. Assurance of electronic data authenticity ..... 60
Section 4 Improving the Quality of Citizen's Lives and the Natural Environment through the Application of ICT ..... 60
1. Regional stimulation using ICT infrastructure ..... 60
2. Establishment of a barrier-free information environment ..... 61
3. Promotion of Content Distribution ..... 61
4. Development of ICT personnel ..... 62
5. Promotion of telework ..... 62
6. Promotion of ICT application in the healthcare field ..... 62
7. ICT contributions to combating global warming ..... 62
Section 5 Promotion of Informatization Administrative Services ..... 63
1. Realization of e-government ..... 63
2. Promotion of e-local government ..... 63
3. Public Certification Service for Individuals provided by local governments ..... 64
Section 6 Promotion of Research and Development (R&D) ..... 64
1. Research and development strategy to enhance the international competitiveness of Japan ..... 64
2. Promotion of green innovation ..... 64
3. Promotion of life innovation ..... 64
4. Promotion of future innovation caused by paradigm shifts in society ..... 65
Section 7 Promotion of International Strategy ..... 65
1. Promotion of international policy ..... 65
2. Promotion of international cooperation ..... 65
Section 8 Development of Postal Service Administration ..... 66
1. Promotion of postal service administration ..... 66
2. Outline of the correspondence delivery system ..... 66
3. Promotion of new postal service administration ..... 66