Japan - Key Statistics, Telecom Market & Regulatory Overview
Synopsis Japan's telecommunications sector is one of the most active markets in the world. Coming into 2010, the country was witnessing the continued growth of VoIP and triple-play services, and strong competition among the mobile operators in the 3G segment of the market. Especially noteworthy has been the uptake of FttH services (with a corresponding move away from DSL) and the big strides taken in developing digital and mobile broadcasting. The telecommunications regulatory authorities in Japan have been very active in shaping the industry in this country. The control that the incumbent operator, NTT Corp, has continued to exert over virtually all local customers remains a particular challenge for the regulator. In addition, a growing concern has been the development (and lack) of cyber law in a society that is increasingly spending its time online. This report presents a range of key statistical indicators and an overview of the Japanese telecommunications regulatory environment. An analysis is also included on the impact of the historic election win by Yukio Hatoyama's Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) in mid-2009 which broke a deadlock in Japan's parliament and ended a half-century of almost unbroken rule by the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP).

 Table of Contents 1. Synopsis 2. Key statistics 3. Telecommunications market 3.1 Overview of Japan's telecom market 3.2 Fixed-line and mobile phones in Japan 3.3 Broadband and wireless Internet in Japan 4. Regulatory environment 4.1 Major stages of reform 4.2 Reform background 4.3 The MPHPT/MIC 4.4 Radio Regulatory Council 4.5 Telecommunications Council 4.6 Japan Internet Providers' Association (JAIPA) 4.7 Interconnection arrangements 4.7.1 Fixed-mobile interconnection 4.8 Universal Service Fund Obligation 4.9 E-Japan 4.10 U-Japan 4.11 A Ubiquitously networked society 5. Policy interventions and outcomes 5.1 Government investment in infrastructure 5.2 Skill building, education and demand programmes 5.3 Competition policy 5.4 Network non-discrimination 5.5 Spectrum policy 6. Recent regulatory developments 6.1 Year 2009 6.1.1 Music piracy clampdown 6.1.2 Internet laws for minors 6.1.3 Japan's new government 6.2 Year 2008 6.2.1 Standard leasing fees to be published 6.2.2 Government concern over cybercrime 6.2.3 MIC to reduce digital divide 6.3 Years 2000-2007 6.3.1 NTT bows to US pressure 6.3.2 Network lease restrictions lifted 6.3.3 IT policy 6.3.4 Principles of major info-communications policies for 2001 6.3.5 Mobile number portability plan 6.3.6 Abolition of Type I and II carrier designations 6.3.7 NTT privatisation process completed 6.3.8 Amended legislation to foster competition 7. History of regulatory developments 7.1 Telecommunications Business Law of 1985 7.1.1 New Common Carriers 7.2 Years 1992-1999 8. Forecasting methodology 9. Related reports
Table 1 - Country statistics Japan - 2009
Table 2 - Telecom revenue and investment statistics - 2009
Table 3 - Telephone network statistics - March 2009
Table 4 - Internet user statistics - December 2008
Table 5 - Broadband statistics - June 2009
Table 6 - Mobile statistics - October 2009
Table 7 - National telecommunications authorities
Table 8 - Number of competitive telecommunications carriers: 1985; 1989; 1993; 1997; 2001; 2005-2009
Table 9 - Number of telecommunications carriers in Japan - November 2008
Table 10 - Subscribers and penetration: fixed-line versus mobile - 1993 - 2010; 2015 (e), 2020 (e)
Table 11 - Monthly fixed and mobile call volumes by minutes - 2003; 2008
Table 12 - Monthly fixed and mobile call volumes per head (minutes) - 2003; 2008
Table 13 - Mobile as a proportion of total telecommunications connections - 2003; 2008
Table 14 - Internet subscribers, cable modem, DSL and FttH - 2002 - 2009
Table 15 - Carrier share of broadband subscribers - 2005 - 2009
Table 16 - Broadband household subscribers and service availability - 2006 - 2007; 2011

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