## Section 1 Comprehensive Strategy Promotions

The Japanese government put into force the Basic Act on the Formation of an Advanced Information and Telecommunications Network Society (Law No. 144 of 2000) and set up the Strategic Headquarters for the Promotion of an Advanced Information and Telecommunications Network Society (IT Strategic Headquarters) in January 2001; these steps promoted the fast, high-priority implementation of policies on the formation of an advanced information and telecommunications network society.

In June 2013, the Cabinet decided a new IT strategy (Declaration to be the World's Most Advanced IT Nation), through the IT Strategic Headquarters, as a revamping of IT policy. This was followed by concrete debate, led by the Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretariat for information technology (Government CIO), on the implementation of a roadmap to clarify each ministry's role and attainment targets. It was decided to evaluate the state of initiatives and revise the roadmap.

## Section 2 Developments in Telecommunications Business Policy

### 1. Developments in telecommunications business policy

## (1) Initiatives to further develop and expand world-leading ICT infrastructure

### a. Initiatives to further develop and expand world-leading ICT infrastructure

In February 2014, MIC made an inquiry to the Information and Communications Council entitled “The Ideal State of Information and Communications Policies toward the 2020s: For the Further Spread and Development of Information and Communications Infrastructure at the World’s Highest Level” and set up the 2020 ICT Basic Policy Special Subcommittee. The goal of these moves was to study approaches for the telecommunications business that are in keeping with the times, with a focus on the directions of ICT developments leading up to the 2020s, and to stimulate the economy and improve the lives of citizens through the further development and expansion of world-leading ICT infrastructure.

The Information and Communications Council examined: (1) ICT prospects leading up to the 2020s; (2) approaches for the telecommunications business to boost the competitiveness of industries that use ICT infrastructure; and (3) approaches for the telecommunications business to ensure opportunities to use ICT infrastructure and protect the safety and security of ICT infrastructure. The Information and Communications Council made a report to MIC in December 2014. Based on the Council's report, MIC tabled a bill to partially amend the Telecommunications Business Act in the National Diet in April 2015. The bill was passed in May 2015.

### b. Promoting mobile services

MIC put together and released the “Mobile Recreation Plan” in October 2014 to establish an environment in which users have access to faster mobile services with more flexibility, more convenience, and more familiarity. Under the Plan, MIC is endeavoring to revitalize the mobile sector with a four-point action plan: (1) promotion of selectable mobile services (such as unlocking SIM locks), (2) promotion of secure mobile services that can used inexpensively (encourage the growth of MVNOs, create conditions in which young people can use services securely), (3) achievement of faster mobile speeds (4G allocation); and (4) creation of new mobile services (review regulations on carriers).

### c. Increasing the use of optical networks

MIC finalized the “Guideline on the Application of the Telecommunications Business Act as It Pertains to NTT East and West FTTH Access Services and Other Wholesale Telecommunications Services” in February 2015 prior to the start of optical access network and other wholesale services by NTT East and NTT West. The Guideline, which was based on the Information and Communications Council’s report described above, organizes and classifies acts potentially subject to business improvement orders under the Telecommunications Business Act in order to clarify the application of the current Telecommunications Business Act with respect to acts performed by carriers that provide wholesale services, carriers that receive wholesale services, and contracted agents that receive wholesale services.

### d. Assessing the state of competition in the telecommunications sector

In order to correctly ascertain the state of competition in the increasingly complex telecommunications sector and reflect this understanding in government policy,