ITU Telecom 2009
"Regulating in times of crisis"
1. Regarding the specific issues you would like to raise
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While the ICT industry is the sector leading economic growth,
it requires continuous investment for adapting itself in this
environment of rapidly changing related technologies. In this
regard, I would like to ask other panelists about their policies
and/or approaches for encouraging investment in research
and development.
(Answer) (If asked about the situation in Japan)
1. Japan’s Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications
formulated the “UNS R&D Strategy Program II” in 2008.
UNS
stands
for
“Universal
Communication,””New
Generation Networks,” and “Security and Safety.” This
program is aimed at, among others, strengthening Japan’s
global competitiveness, securing public safety, and combating
global warming. Research and development is being actively
promoted under this program.
2. The program includes R&D roadmaps defining the R&D
agendas and their targets for each technological area, as well
as promotion plans for the R&D agendas that Japan must
actively focus on.
3. As was pointed out earlier, R&D policies must have
continuity as well as flexibility to keep pace with the
remarkable speed of advancements in ICT. For this reason,
Japan’s Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications
periodically reviews its R&D programs. For example, the
current “UNS R&D Strategy Program II” is the second
version of the original program. In revising the original
program, “Global Environmental Protection (Anti-Global
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Warming Technology),” which spans three technological areas,
was added as a new research and development field.
4.
Japan intends to continue its efforts to further strengthen
collaboration among academia, industry, and government,
thus promoting research and development in an effective and
efficient manner, based on the three technological areas and
other elements stated in the UNS R&D Strategy Program II.
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2. Regarding the broad topic of the session
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It is a fundamental belief that stimulating economic
activities through a pro-competition regulatory framework
is important even under the situation of current economic
downturn. At the same time, consumer protection is also
necessary. In this regard, I would like to ask other panelists
what the basic philosophy for consumer protection is, for
example how the regulatory authority should react in the
face of market exit of telecommunications carriers and/or
service providers while promoting competition among those
business entities.
(Answer) (If asked about the situation in Japan)
1. Telecommunication services are indispensable services in
people’s lives and their socio-economic activities. In recent
years, various types of telecommunication services including
the Internet and mobile phones have become widespread in
society, increasing the impact it could have on people’s lives.
2.
Bearing this in mind, we are constantly aware that the
users may experience unexpected disadvantages if a
telecommunication service suddenly becomes unavailable
with no prior notice due to a suspension or termination of
service caused by the carrier withdrawing from the market.
3.
For this reason, Japan provides a legal safeguard via a
basic rule requiring telecommunications carriers or service
operators to inform the users of the services that are to
become unavailable and when they will become unavailable,
if they plan to suspend or terminate part or all of their
services (Article 18 of the Telecommunications Business
Law).
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