[ Index | (Summary) | (Purpose of study) | Chap.I | Chap.II | Chap.III | (Conclusion) | (Reference) ]

Proposals for realization of a free, fair and transparent information and telecommunications market
--Aiming for structural reform and economic rejuvenation--

I. Shape of Desirable Information and Tekecommunications Market


In order to demonstrate the possibilities of information communication technology to the fullest in improving the quality of people's lives and improving the international competitiveness of Japanese industry, it is necessary for good circulation to be created by promoting competition among businesses in the information communication market and diversifying services and lowering services fees, so that as a result the information communication market will expand, capital investment will increase and the international competitiveness of businesses will be strengthened, thereby competition to develop and price competition in superior information communication services.

  1. Realization of numerous highly convenient information and telecommunication services
  2. Services that are numerous and inexpensive are being dynamically supplied in response to user needs so that users can receive the benefits of innovations in information communication technology.

    Users such as citizens, companies and government have increasing needs to utilize information communication technology to a high degree for a variety of objectives, such as information collection, analysis and transmission, cost cutting, decision making, or as a method to speed up business or create new business. In the future, it will be desirable for the benefits of fast technology innovations to be received actively and selectively by users, such as in digital technology, optical technology, network technology, semiconductor technology, data compression technology, encoding technology and software technology. To this end, it is desirable to realize the situations described below through competition among businesses in the industry.

    1. Detailed service menus will be provided in terms of the form of transmittable information, transmission capacity and one-way or two-way communication in response to user needs. In addition, good quality services will be provided inexpensively and various fee menus will exist, including fees by usage volume, flat rate fees, various discount fees and fee structures that are combinations of these.

    2. Seamless service and one-stop service will be provided integrating domestic and foreign service in response to user needs to develop business globally.

    3. Flexible construction and utilization of a network infrastructure will be possible both domestically and internationally, and it will be possible to accept and transmit freely various information in the form of audio, data and video through a plurality of infrastructures using communications and broadcasting.

    4. Highly advanced information communication services will be provided through terminal equipment that is easy for anyone, from the youth to the elderly, to use. In addition, in Japan, it will be possible to receive communication services indispensable to the lifestyle of the populace for an appropriate fee level even in regions which to businesses are high cost areas.

  3. Framework of a free, fair and transparent information and telecommunications market
  4. In the information communication market, free competition wherein a large number of businesses can implement creative measures in terms of the price and quality of service is being realized in addition to equitable competition as these businesses compete to acquire users by supplying inexpensive, high quality services, so the market is expanding. In addition, businesses are undertaking appropriate information disclosure, and at the government level, transparency has been secured in policies and regulations in addition to decision making procedures. The government observes the market from the standpoint of the user, and takes judgments based on transparent procedures.

    In order to realize this kind of diversified information communication service with a high degree of convenience, it is necessary to create the kind of free, fair and transparent information communication market described below, and for businesses to exhibit sufficient originality.

    1. Free competition is being developed which will enable numerous businesses to freely and independently construct networks of various types, such as owning, reselling and interconnecting facilities utilizing cable, fixed wireless and portable wireless systems, and which will enable originality to be exhibited in terms of fees and services at the business's own risk. In addition, competitiveness on an international level is being secured while maintaining transparency, through competition domestically and abroad.

    2. Equitable competition is taking place among businesses competing to acquire users by providing inexpensive, high quality services. There are efforts to prevent anti-competition actions that make use of market domination, and for facilities indispensable to providing services, efforts are being made to ensure that all businesses can connect at arbitrary locations where technologically feasible and can utilize the facilities fairly and at a rational price. In addition, a monitoring system is being established so that anti-competitive activities caused by the gathering of inappropriate technology do not occur.

    3. Businesses are disclosing in easy-to-understand fashion information relating to management content, service content, contract content and the after-sales service structure so that users can select the business and utilize the services with peace of mind. On the other hand, in the government, rules are being determined in order to foster competition from the standpoint of improving convenience to the user, and in addition to monitoring adherence to these rules, disputes among businesses are settled through fair arbitration on the basis of transparent rules. In addition, a transparent structure is being prepared which swiftly responds to and deals with the opinions and complaints of users. With regard to the basic policies, rules and regulations in the government, the principle will be to publicly disclose a draft in advance, and after a sufficient period of time has elapsed, to gather a wide range of opinions, in addition to disclosing publicly and in detail discussions from the decision through procedures and council meetings, so that citizens and companies alike can understand and participate in the discussions that surround policies. The schedule for implementing rules and easing regulations will be stated clearly, and when regulations are enacted, the reasons for these along with the targets, time frame and procedures will be publicly announced in a manner that is easy to understand.


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