(ii) enable reception of TV broadcast with mobile terminals (One Seg service), and (iii) provide diverse services through data broadcasting. The Japanese ISDB-T standard has been adopted in 19 countries in total (as of May 2017), including El Salvador that adopted the standard in January 2017.

In addition, in collaboration with ministries and agencies in charge of disaster prevention, such as the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (MLIT) and Japan Meteorological Agency, MIC is promoting overseas deployment of disaster-response and other ICT systems. Policy dialogues with partner countries over projects and cooperation policies, surveys and demonstration tests for checking applicability of Japanese ICT solutions and other efforts are bearing fruit and Japanese disaster prevention ICT systems have been adopted in countries in Asia and Central and South America.

### 2. Initiatives in International Frameworks

## (2) Developing an Environment for ICT Overseas Deployment and Developing an Environment for Smooth Distribution of Information

## (1) G7

MIC stresses two points in constructing international rules for cyberspace: (i) the maximum regard must be given to the freedom to distribute information, not only to sustain democracy but also because information is the engine of economic growth and the source of innovation, and (ii) the participation of the private sector, including private enterprises and civil society who actually use the internet in their activities and manage networks (a multi-stakeholder framework), is essential to ensure adequate cybersecurity. From this perspective, MIC actively participates in debates at bilateral and multilateral meetings.

In April 2016, the G7 ICT Ministers' Meeting in Takamatsu, Kagawa was held as part of the ministerial meetings of the Ise-Shima Summit held in May 2016. As the chair of the meeting, MIC compiled the progress of initiatives of the respective countries and the Japanese government's proposals for further promoting those initiatives as the follow-up to the Meeting. The Follow-up Report of the Charter and the Joint Declaration from the 2016 G7 ICT Ministers' Meeting was released in March 2017.

## (3) Asia-Pacific Telecommunity (APT)

APEC's Telecommunications and Information Working Group (TEL) approved the TEL Strategic Action Plan 2016-2020 at TELMIN 10 held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, in March 2015. Based on this Action Plan, discussions have been held on the promotion of innovation through ICT use, enhancement of broadband access, expansion of IoT, and facilitation of free information distribution, etc. MIC hosted TEL 54 in Kyoto Prefecture (at Kansai Science City, also known as Keihanna Science City) between October and November 2016 and held a round-table discussion on free information distribution, a round-table discussion on Silver ICT, and a workshop on 4K/8K broadcast services. In this manner, MIC has made positive contribution to the operation of TEL meetings.

## (2) Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC)

The APT coordinates regional policies on human resources development, standardization, and wireless communications through training courses and seminars in order to develop information and telecommunications infrastructure in the Asia-Pacific region in a balanced manner. MIC has accepted trainees in the ICT fields that are Japan's forte and assisted exchanges between ICT engineers and researchers, using Japan's extra budgetary contributions to the API.

## (4) Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)

Japan, as a dialogue partner country of ASEAN, exchanges opinions and proposals to strengthen Japan-ASEAN cooperation, making use of opportunities for dialogue at the Japan-ASEAN Telecommunications and IT Ministers Meeting and the Conference of ASEAN Ministers responsible for Information (AMRI). Regarding proposals on workshops etc. agreed to by both parties, Japan makes use of the Japan-ASEAN ICT Fund, established with contributions from Japan, to carry them out.

## (5) International Telecommunication Union (ITU)

The ITU carries out many activities including allocating frequencies, standardizing telecommunications technology, and aiding development in the telecommunications field in developing countries. Japan is an active contributor to ITU, obtaining chair and vice-chair positions in study groups in many different fields, taking leadership posts for various research topics, and making recommendations and proposals.

## (6) World Trade Organization's Doha Round of Negotiations

The telecommunications field is one of the most important trade-in-services fields at the Doha Round of negotiations at the World Trade Organization (WTO). Active negotiations are ongoing on further deregulation in the telecommunications field. Japan's telecommunications sector is one of the most deregulated in the WTO. As such, Japan is pushing other countries to eliminate or relax foreign capital regulations and other restrictions in the telecommunications sector.

## (7) Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD)

The OECD carries out studies and examinations of government policy issues related to information and communications and their impact on economies and society through the exchange of opinions among member countries (35 countries) at the Committee on Digital