Ministry of Land, Infrastrucutre and Transport
The 5th Comprehensive National Development Plan "Grand Design for the 21st Century"

PART II

The Basis for Development in Different Fields

Chapter V

Improvement of Transportation and Communications Systems

Transportation and communications systems are the basis for linking each area both domestically and internationally, and are becoming increasingly important under the national policy of providing equal opportunities for each region to become independent and develop itself through interregional cooperation. As interregional competition in industry is intensifying, the systems are also important in making each region internationally attractive. Especially, as society becomes more information-dependent, each region must create international spheres of interaction on a large scale and facilitate the international movement of human beings, materials and information. It is thus necessary to improve the transportation and communications systems according to the following guidelines, while considering harmony with nature, safety and the environment, based on suitable role-sharing between the public and private sectors as well as between the national and local governments.

1)To strengthen the international competitiveness of the transportation and communications systems and to give each region equal opportunity to gain access to the world, implement the following. Properly locate the international transportation bases throughout the country, provide better access to them, and establish advanced communications infrastructure on a national scale.

2)To provide equal access to diversified functions that will help each region to become broadly independent, including employment opportunities and advanced urban services, establish transportation and communications systems that are convenient and easy to use even for the elderly at reasonable prices.

3)To ensure highly stable transportation and communications functions and to help create land that is in harmony with nature, establish transportation and communications systems that will not completely fail even in case of natural disasters, and that will impose less load on the environment by replacing transportation functions by communications functions.

The transportation and communications systems play key roles in national and regional structures, and so should be improved in line with the long-term national axial zone plans.

Section 1
Improving the transportation systems

1.Basic goals

In improving the transportation systems, the long-term objectives are as follows: to establish transportation systems that will enable each region to cooperate with each other and to develop independently and will give citizens more lifestyle options; and to create transportation systems that are in harmony with nature and consider safety and the environment and that will help form national zone where people and nature can interact. In establishing such transportation systems, transportation facilities will cooperate with each other and achieve the goals by utilizing its own characteristics based on competition and free selection by users.

1)Establish central transportation facilities that are international in scale and function to ensure that Japanese citizens have access to international air and marine services. Also, properly locate international transportation facilities to provide quick access to the world, especially to Asian countries.

2)Based on past measures, establish more convenient and quick domestic transportation systems by directly connecting the national transportation systems with the transportation systems of each region. For the national transportation systems, promote the creation of "nation wide one-day traffic ranges" to allow one-day trips between the major cities. For the transportation systems of each region, properly locate the necessary functions and establish convenient transportation systems that will allow citizens to be active.

3)By properly combining the transportation facilities according to their characteristics or by implementing countermeasures against natural disasters, establish a whole transportation network as explained below. The network will be resistant to natural disasters, give less impact on the environment, and will be safe and convenient while being in harmony with culture and nature.

2.Improving the international transportation systems

(1)Long-term plan for improving the international transportation systems

With the advent of the globalization, the movement of people and materials between Japan and other parts of the world will dramatically increase both in the commercial sector and in tourism. To prepare for such increase, international transportation systems must be planned to provide each region with better access to the world. Exchanges will be encouraged between each region of Japan and East-Asian countries. Targeting the countries, make a plan to establish an "East-Asian one-day zone," in which people can arrive at their destination and complete their work within a day. By promoting the plan, the following transportation systems ("Asian gates" and "global gates") will be created, and a new domestic transportation network will be built to provide access to the gates, including the establishment of high-speed transportation systems. A basis for exchanges between the new national axial zones and the world will thus be created.

(Asian gates)

To provide easier access between each region of Japan and Asian countries, make plans to locate airports and harbors by utilizing the existing infrastructure mainly in the prefectural hub cities to allow access with those Asian countries where movement of people and materials will increase; these airports and harbors are the "Asian gates." Together with the "Global gates" as explained below, they will form the basis for exchanges between regions and neighboring Asian countries.

(Global gates)

Locate international airports in the Tokyo, Kansai and Chubu metropolitan areas as international hubs to connect Japan with the world by frequent airline services. These international airports should be international in scale and function and should be highly competitive. Furthermore, to meet the international demand for airline services to each region of Japan with other countries, plan to locate international airports in each of the regional blocks including Hokkaido, Tohoku, Chugoku and Shikoku, Kyushu and Okinawa by utilizing the existing infrastructure. These international airports will link the domestic network, the Asian network and the parts of global network, and will serve as regional global gates. As in the case of airports, locate highly competitive international harbors that are international in scale and function in the four major bay areas (Tokyo Bay, Osaka Bay, Ise Bay and North-Kyushu) as international hubs for frequent marine services. Furthermore, in addition to the East Asian routes, also pay attention to the parts of European and American routes and plan to locate international harbors as regional global gates in each of Hokkaido, East Tohoku, Chubu on the side of the Japan Sea, North Kanto, coastal area of Suruga Bay, Chugoku, South Kyushu and Okinawa.

(2)Measures during planning improvements of the international transportation systems

In line with the long-term plan, focus on measures to improve the physical distribution efficiency for the time being. Specifically, promote the following measures for the creation of international spheres of interaction on a large scale as well as the long-term formation of national zones.

Focus on the improvement of global central bases. For airports, promote the building of runways for international flights in the projects of the New Tokyo International Airport and the Kansai International Airport (secondary projects) as well as in the project of Chubu International Airport. For harbors, establish deep and high-standard international marine container terminals in the four major bay areas including Tokyo Bay and Osaka Bay. To strengthen the international competitiveness of these central bases, provide 24-hour services that enable global utilization at reasonable prices, and improve efficiency through automation and information technology to provide world-class services. Also, improve the CIQ (customs, immigration and quarantine) services. In the central airports of each region including Tohoku and Chugoku and Shikoku that function as regional global gates, make improvements including the extension of runways to build international networks focusing on the short- and middle-distance airline services including Asia. In the regional blocks such as Kyushu, consider the demand trends and examine measures to strengthen the functions of the airports as global gates. For harbors, improve the harbors in Hokkaido, East Tohoku, North Kanto, etc. in line with demand trends.

For the Asian gates, make long-term plans for the effective use of existing facilities regarding CIQ services, etc. In the process, each region will cooperate with each other to boost port sales and chartering, and in implementing measures to build wide-area international exchange spheres. Furthermore, for Hokkaido and Okinawa, examine from a long-term view how to build international exchange spheres in line with local conditions.

For these airports and harbors to serve as gateways for exchanges with the world, link them with foreign access zones, improve the Arterial high standard highways, Local high standard highways and high-speed railways that connect with the transportation hubs such as airports and harbors to provide easier access to the bases. Also, improve the roads to meet international container standards, and ensure that the airports and harbors look impressive and are convenient for visitors. Also, improve the harbors to ensure stable supply of resources and energy from overseas.

Examine how to provide desirable services at regional airports and harbors in response to the new tourist demand from Asia, including passenger ship routes with Asian countries and charter flights to regional airports.

3.Improving the domestic transportation systems

(1)Long-term plan for improving the domestic transportation systems

Domestic transportation demand will expand until the year 2010, although the growth rate might slow down, as interregional cooperation and leisure travel increase. For the period after 2010, there are uncertain elements such as socioeconomic changes and transportation demand will differ by transportation means. As a whole, however, it is predicted that transportation demand will slightly increase or will show no marked fluctuations. Under such circumstances, as transportation distances increase and information technology progresses, high-quality services (high speed, punctuality, etc.) will be demanded at reasonable prices. In response, it is necessary to improve the domestic transportation systems as explained below and create "nation wide one-day traffic ranges." As part of these, wide-area regional transportation systems will be established, which will form regional half-day trip zones so that people can travel to another region and return within half a day. The "regional half-day trip zones" will be formed in line with the proper establishment of urban functions. People will be able to travel from their towns to the prefectural hub cities within about one hour and to the major core city areas and to the major distribution terminals within about two hours. The formation of these regional half-day trip zones will equalize opportunities between regions. Based on this plan, the land, marine and air transportation networks will share roles and provide multiple transportation axes running through the country horizontally and vertically as well as the regional transportation systems that support wide-area activities. Japan will be more resistant to natural disasters and the people will have more transportation options. Thus, a domestic transportation network that links high-quality national axial zones will be established.

(Land transportation networks)

Form national high-speed land transportation networks out of integrated automobile networks and high-speed railway networks. The automobile networks will comprise a 14,000-kilometer Arterial high standard highway network that will traverse the land both horizontally and vertically and supplementary local high standard highways that will promote interregional exchanges. The railway networks will connect the metropolitan areas with the hub cities as provincial centers, and with the prefectural hub cities. For the local high standard highways, 6,000 to 8,000 kilometers of roads need to be improved, including the effective use of existing facilities. Through the regional major road and railway networks that directly connect to the high-speed land transportation networks, citizens of each region will be able to access easily the land transportation networks. Accordingly, the creation of "regional half-day trip zones" will be promoted. The transportation networks will support safe, efficient road traffic and high-speed, convenient, punctual railway travel based on the development and introduction of ITS (intelligent transport system) by using advanced communications technology, of new traffic systems such as linear railways, and of high-quality surface cars, as well as the development of new technologies such as mag-lev systems.

(Air and marine transportation networks)

Build domestic air networks that connect remote areas via flexible routes and national maritime transportation networks that connect the Pacific, Seto Inland Sea and the Japan Sea coastal areas and straits and island areas. The central airports in the metropolitan areas, regional central airports, airports located in isolated islands, commuter airports and heliports as well as the three major bays, the bay area in North-Kyushu, regional central harbors and other harbors that supplement the central harbors will function as the terminals of the networks. The transportation networks will assist high-speed, comfortable and stable air traffic as well as high-speed, punctual, high-capacity and reasonably priced maritime traffic, based on the introduction of less noisy aircraft, high quality facilities for air traffic control, and TSL (Techno super liner).

(2)Measures during planning improvement of the domestic transportation systems

According to the long-term plan, focus on measures to improve the physical distribution efficiency for the time being. Specifically, promote the following measures to support the development of regional cooperation corridors and the long-term creation of national axial zones.

(Roads)

Improve the arterial high standard highways and local high standard highways. For the high-standard principal road networks, at the beginning of the 21st century focus on roads that connect metropolitan areas and on loop roads within the metropolitan areas to reduce bottlenecks. In the provinces, promote the improvement of the roads that traverse the regions both horizontally and vertically to allow wide-area cooperation between regions. In the process, examine the project methods to ensure profitability under proper pricing systems. According to the long-term plan improve the local high standard highways with respect to the demand trends. This will contribute to the national development in the following ways. The loop roads will function as bases for the development of the hub cities that act as provincial centers and the prefectural hub cities. Roads will invigorate the nature-rich residential areas by connecting them to the urban areas. Roads between cities playing a central role in regional development will promote interregional exchange. Roads that connect the wide-area transportation bases such as airports and harbors, urban centers and the regional development bases with the arterial high standard highways network. These roads will play important roles in directly connecting and merging the national basic transportation systems and the regional transportation systems.

The improvements should be promoted in harmony with the systems being built independently by each region towards interregional cooperation. For the projects to connect bays and strait areas, implement measures according to long-term surveys and plans.

For smoother urban transportation, improve the roads and secure spaces for public transportation facilities including high-quality surface cars. For example, expand the road traffic capacity, establish more parking lots, and promote multi-level utilization of roads. Also, promote park and ride systems and examine road pricing to comprehensively promote TDM (transportation demand management) measures. To support wide-area exchanges, build tunnels and bridges to provide easier access between neighboring areas that have limited exchanges with each other due to geographical barriers. Implement both intensive and comprehensive traffic safety measures. For example, secure safe and comfortable spaces for pedestrians and take measures to reduce traffic accidents especially at principal road points where many accidents have occurred.

To dramatically improve road safety and transportation efficiency and comfort, introduce the VICS (vehicle information and communication system) nationwide and automatic charging systems at toll roads, promote the use of automatic driving systems to support safe driving, and research, develop and introduce ITS to optimize road management. To reduce the road maintenance and to establish roads in harmony with the surroundings, establish common routes for electric wires, etc. Also, establish information boxes to improve road management.

(Railways)

Focus on speeding up railway services and reducing congestion on urban railway lines.

Also, speed up railway services to promote wide-area cooperation. For the new Shinkansen lines to be constructed in conformity with the Law for Construction of Countrywide Shinkansen, promote existing construction works and start basic works for other sections based on the agreement made in January 1998 by a Government committee to examine the construction of new Shinkansen lines. For local lines, increase speeds by introducing through services with the Shinkansen lines, improvement of linear shapes and the development of new carriage types, and integrate the local lines and the Shinkansen lines to form a high-speed railway network.

For urban railway services in the metropolitan areas, reduce the congestion rate to about 150% in general, and to about 180% for the Tokyo metropolitan area in which congestion is severe, in tandem with measures to renovate the metropolitan areas. Establish new lines and promote multiple-track railway lines, and encourage people to commute at off-peak times. To reduce traffic congestion in urban centers and to recover attractive urban spaces in the hub city and prefectural hub city, establish transit malls that allow pedestrians to move between public transportation facilities while removing general automobile transportation. Then promote the introduction of high-quality surface cars, subways, monorails and new transport systems as railway transportation facilities.

Conduct surveys on the Chuo Shinkansen, and promote technological development on the mag-lev (super conducting magnetically levitated railway) and innovative high-speed railway systems early in the 21st century as a country characterized by technological and scientific creativity.

(Airports)

Quickly complete the ongoing offshore project at the Tokyo International Airport. Conduct surveys on establishing new central airports to respond to the increasing domestic demand for air transportation between Tokyo and other areas. In the provinces, improve the quality of the existing airport facilities including increasing rate of exercise at the provincial airports. Also for the airports located in isolated islands, commuter airports and heliports, make improvements based on their roles including the promotion of regional cooperation. In the process, examine efficient airport improvement measures including the securing of multiple sources of funds. Also, improve the accessibility of the roads to the airports and extend the railway services into the airports.

(Harbors)

Focus on improving harbors that serve as the bases for multimodal (land and marine) transportation according to the regional situations so that most of the regions of the country can enjoy the merits of marine transportation. In the harbors, establish distribution facilities for common use that smoothly link between marine and land transportation and comprehensive logistics facilities with advanced information processing and goods handling functions. In the major harbors, establish ferry terminals, marinas and sightseeing ship terminals for the movement of persons. Besides, improve harbors that support life and industry in isolated islands. Furthermore, examine the practical use of TSL (techno super liners) and improve harbors to support high-speed marine networks based on the results.

(Promoting barrier-free transportation facilities)

Promote barrier-free transportation facilities so that anyone can utilize transportation terminals including railway stations and roads safely and comfortably. For this purpose, establish systematic and easy-to-read information signals and systems, and ensure smooth flows of people by locating elevators at convenient places, provide walking spaces without many differences in level, and establish traffic signals in easy-to-see places, giving considerations also to the elderly.

(Renovating transportation facilities)

Improve the existing facilities in terms of capability and quality. For this, improve the principal roads by promoting multi-level crossings. In accordance with the changes in the use of existing roads brought about by the promotion of the multi-level crossings, rebuild the road systems including the sidewalks. Besides, promote multi-level crossings of roads and railways, improve the alignment for smooth, faster and safe transportation, and start passenger services using freight railway lines also as passenger lines. At passenger facilities such as railway stations that attract many people, provide convenient high-quality services beyond mere transportation services. Furthermore, at harbors and airports, improve the facilities that are unable to take larger ships and airplanes or convert their use in relation to other facilities.

(Cooperation between transportation facilities)

Promote cooperation between transportation facilities, combine them in a comprehensive manner and improve their functions. For this, directly connect the high-speed railway services and principal roads to terminals including airports and harbors, and promote park and ride systems at railway stations. At the same time, establish terminal facilities and station squares to ease transfers between transportation facilities, and build systems to provide information about such transfers. Besides, to improve the convenience for users, expand the availability of multiple transportation facilities by coordinating the service diagrams of neighboring airports and harbors. Furthermore, to provide transportation services even in case of disasters and to reduce the environmental loads, establish transportation systems based on cooperation among transportation facilities.

4.Measures to establish safe transportation facilities in harmony with nature

(1)Establishing transportation systems that make Japan a safer country

The disastrous Hanshin-Awaji earthquake showed that disasters can attack anywhere in Japan, even though the kinds and frequencies may differ by region. To reduce the damages caused by disasters, establish transportation systems that make Japan a safer country and work towards the following goals.

1)Minimize the direct damages caused by disasters and their influences.

2)Improve the ability to recover.

3)Facilitate restoration and reconstruction.

To improve the transportation infrastructure, encourage early completion of anti-earthquake reinforcement projects for existent facilities. At the same time, for new facilities, strengthen their structures to maintain a certain level of functions even in case of disaster and to ensure persistent and flexible transportation systems that can be used interchangeably in case of disaster. For this, strengthen the structures of the transportation facilities according to their importance, while paying attention to the geological structure and active faults, and construct facilities that are not easily broken and that can be easily repaired. In the process, comprehensively examine the risk points that will have a serious influence on the entire transportation systems if they are interrupted such as large city areas or strait areas where important transportation facilities are concentrated. Then establish multiple networks to ensure safety for the entire transportation system. At the same time, especially strengthen the earthquake resistance of international container terminals, etc.

Furthermore, build emergency transportation networks throughout the country to enable life-saving, first aid and restoration activities in case of earthquakes. In the process, when establishing disaster-prevention bases, strengthen the earthquake resistance of quay walls at harbors and fishing ports, and improve airports and harbors. Then establish principal roads that connect these bases and provide enough width even in case of disaster and establish ship routes at rivers to build networks that directly connect the land, marine and air transportation systems. Besides, to collect accurate information related to disasters, improve the management of transportation facilities by using advanced information and communication facilities. In addition to the countermeasures against earthquakes, check the dangerous points and establish safety measures against damages caused by wind, flood, tidal waves, landslides, etc. Besides, to ensure safe traffic in winter in snowy areas, establish and improve snow removing systems and facilities, and collect and diffuse snow-related information.

(2)Establishing transportation systems that impose smaller loads on the environment

(Promoting measures to reduce the emission of carbon dioxide)

Set energy saving targets and pollution controls for each transportation sector and increase utilization of energy-efficient transportation facilities that impose less load on the environment through proper competition and free selection by users. To achieve the goals, encourage each of the transportation facilities to strengthen mutual cooperation to form transportation systems that impose less load on the general environment regarding air, noise, vibration, etc. Especially to reduce the emission of carbon dioxide, which is a global issue, implement the following measures.

For vehicle transportation that consumes most energy among the transportation sectors, promote measures to improve energy efficiency. For this, implement measures to encourage the development and use of clean cars such as low fuel consumption cars or electric vehicles. Besides, to improve energy efficiency by improving road conditions, improve loop roads, construct continuous multi-level crossings and sophisticate the transport control centers in the metropolitan areas as well as in the hub cities and prefectural hub cities. By doing this, prevent the reduction in energy efficiency caused by traffic jams and mitigate the subsequent increase of environmental load. Also in the provinces, establish bypasses in the congested sections and reduce traffic jams. Besides, introduce the TDM including the flex time system to level the traffic density, introduce and diffuse the ITS including the provision of road traffic information such as the information about traffic jams, and encourage environmentally friendly driving.

It is especially necessary to improve the efficiency of physical distribution, because it is not only important for the reduction of environmental load but also for promoting economic structural reform. To improve the transportation efficiency of trucks, build joint collection and delivery systems, improve the road networks for larger vehicles, and establish facilities for temporary stopping and handling of goods by freight vehicles. Besides, promote the comprehensive improvement of roads and wide-area distribution bases around the interchanges of the principal roads. To expand the utilization of mass transportation facilities, improve the functions of coastal ferries and container ships, improve the harbors, and improve the railway facilities for container trains. Thus, implement comprehensive measures for multimodal transportation. Make and implement plans to improve the principal roads and regional roads, and link terminals such as harbors and railway stations with the principal road networks for providing better access. Besides, make and implement plans to establish and improve river ship routes to create an efficient physical distribution network involving different transportation means.

Also for the movement of people, establish transportation systems that impose less load on the environment by the cooperation by multiple transportation means. For this, expand the high-speed railway networks, urban high-speed railway services and bus services. Build more parking lots for park and ride at railway stations and high-speed bus terminals, and promote TDM measures for promoting the use of mass transportation facilities such as railways and buses. Besides, by introducing energy efficient and high-quality surface cars, subways, monorails and new transport systems, make urban public transportation more convenient. To ensure good transport in the provinces that suffer from depopulation, rationalize the management of transportation facilities and implement measures to encourage the use of buses and other transport methods. In addition, implement new measures such as establishing a network of sidewalks to encourage people to walk or ride bicycles, improve roads and parking lots for bicycles, and build a traffic assessment system to evaluate the influence of a development project on the traffic.

(Promoting measures giving considerations to people's lives, the environment, culture, etc.)

To reduce traffic noise along roadsides, implement measures to improve the road structures. In addition, conduct comprehensive measures including measures to control traffic, to promote the proper use of land and to establish greenbelts as buffer zones. Besides, plant more greenery along roads and harbors, and improve the design of bridges, airport terminals and railway stations. Improve the roads in harmony with the ecosystem, minimizing the changes to the natural environment caused by earth removal, etc. and establishing small tunnels for animal in the earth laid on the ground. Implement measures to create natural environments, for example by improving the harbors and equipping them with the seawater cleaning and exchanging functions.

Take measures to enable people to lead calm and comfortable lives, to recognize again the culture and history of their regions, and to pass these down to future generations. For example, create reasonably priced and easy-to-use transportation systems for sightseeing and easier access to nature. Preserve, restore and utilize the historically important roads and railway stations. Make plans to establish a network of sea roads to promote interregional cooperation and exchanges based on ocean culture and history. Improve roads, railway stations and harbors that help spread information and introduce cultures from each region.

Section 2
Improving the communications systems

1.Basic goals

Advanced communications systems must directly connect the regions both domestically and internationally to equalize opportunities between regions. Japan must establish a strong industrial society under international competition and cooperation by exploring the diverse potential of communications systems. The goals for improving the communications systems are as follows.

1)Establish an advanced network infrastructure throughout Japan.

2)Enable anyone to use the infrastructure at any time.

3)Develop Japan as an "information-communications-based society" where people can lead good lives and work effectively.

Based on the goals, properly allocate roles between the public and private sectors and improve the communications systems. Such improvement and utilization of systems are necessary to reduce environmental load, build regional cooperation corridors and form international spheres of interaction on a large scale, and thus build the basis for contact with the world.

2.Improving the communications systems to provide equal conditions for use

(1)Nationwide establishment of optical fiber networks

As the basis of the "information-communications-based society," replace the metal cables with optical fibers and improve the switching devices to create an advanced, high-capacity communications network. Based on the national guidelines, the period before 2000 is the preparatory stage for establishing optical fiber networks and supporting private companies. After the year 2000, continuously improve the communications infrastructure in line with demand. To establish optical fiber networks on a national scale by 2005, earlier than the scheduled completion in the year 2010, utilize the power of the private sector as soon as possible. Under the principle of improvement led by the private sector, improve the environment to reduce the burden on private companies, utilize public spaces including roads and rivers, and enable private companies to utilize the optical fiber networks for managing public facilities such as sewage systems. Furthermore, improve the conditions so that local public entities and the national government can both use the optical fiber networks, etc. for building regional networks, disaster prevention and for managing public facilities.

To respond to the demand for higher-speed communications, urgently expand the ISDN (integrated services digital network) using the existing networks. Furthermore, conduct experiments on B-ISDN and improve ATM (asynchronous transfer mode) switching devices, and create conditions for communications at 100 to 200 Mb/s using optical fiber networks.

For wireless communications services such as mobile phones and portable phones, establish nationwide relay stations through public support.

For broadcasting networks, for multiple-channel broadcasting with sophisticated functions and high-quality images, establish systems to start digital broadcasting by the year 2000 for ground broadcasting. For broadcasting via satellite and for CATV, promote digitization and popularize and improve the media. For poor broadcasting reception areas and receiving interference in urban areas, solve the problem by providing public support, etc.

(2)Strategic establishment and utilization of optical fiber networks in areas with low demand for these networks

Establish advanced network infrastructure also in regions that have low demand for optical fiber networks, etc. to prevent regional differences in the realization of the advanced information society.

In the process, it is important to establish the infrastructure in line with measures to activate the regions. In the provincial smaller but important cities that form the basis for regional independence as well as in mountainous regions and regional communities, the following plans should be carried out by each region: plans to develop and introduce the public application of tele-working (remote working by communications systems), and education and medical care, especially targeting the isolated islands and mountainous areas that lack good transportation services. At the same time, introduce optical fiber networks in the regions, and provide public support to promote CATV. Furthermore, to enable private companies to utilize the optical fiber and CATV networks for administrative services and public facilities, improve the conditions for utilizing the commission systems related to communications business. By implementing these measures, increase convenience in nature-rich residential areas and promote the strategic use of advanced networks in these areas.

(3)Implementing administrative measures including reduction of utilization costs

To create the "information-communications-based society," it is necessary to ensure equal utilization costs as well as to provide equal conditions for use of network infrastructure. To reduce differences in communications costs by distance, promote competition, and examine the expansion of areas to which the same communications rates are applied to encourage interregional cooperation. For the rating systems, build systems for diversified needs of users, including the introduction of fixed-rate systems for high-volume communication at low prices.

For the Internet that is rapidly gaining popularity, provide equal conditions for its use to each region and activate regional development through the dispatch and reception of information. For this purpose, help establish Internet access points for users to gain access to the Internet at local telephone call rates from anywhere in the country. Also, help local public entities to promote use of the Internet.

To establish barrier-free conditions in which anyone can use the communications systems easily, promote technological development of terminals and applications so that even the elderly can easily utilize them. Besides, to enable the elderly and the handicapped to obtain information, provide more broadcast programs with captions or descriptions. Furthermore, raise information literacy (the ability to utilize information), such as by providing information-related education at schools using multimedia including the Internet, provide learning opportunities, giving considerations also to the elderly, and hold information technology events.

3.Establishing advanced, efficient communications systems

(1)Establishing seamless and multiple communications systems

With the progress of information technology, it is required to establish advanced and efficient systems that can respond to increasingly diversified and sophisticated needs by: replacing the present networks mainly composed of wire systems, and establishing "seamless" multiple communications systems that are comprised of wire and wireless networks. In the seamless systems, the wire and wireless networks will complement each other. Each of them will be digitized and users will be able to utilize the networks as if a single network.

In addition to establishing optical fiber networks, expand and improve the wireless networks in line with efficient use of radio waves as limited resources. At the same time, expand their use to new radio frequency bands. Especially for mobile communications to create seamless information conditions with optical fiber networks to meet the demands for higher capacity, promote wireless access to enable smooth connection with optical fiber networks based on R&D on increasing the speed and bandwidth of communications. Broadcasting via satellite that offers wide-area utilization and simultaneous provision of information will be further utilized to ensure versatile communications systems and deliver higher capacity. Improve the environment to expand the use of broadcasting via satellite, and promote technological development to increase the speed, expand bandwidth, and utilize mobile communications.

By implementing these measures, each of the wire and wireless networks will be digitized. At the same time, each of the wire and wireless networks, and the mobile and fixed communication networks will be digitized to form a seamless "total digital network," with optical fiber networks established and broadcasting digitized.

(2)Establishing disaster-resistant communications systems

To establish communications systems that are more resistant to disasters, build multiple communications systems involving broadcasting via satellite on a national scale. Strengthen the disaster resistance of important facilities, bury communication cables underground, establish backup transmission channels, and take countermeasures against power failure, while taking into account the reduction of costs for private carriers.

In case of disaster, despite the desperate needs for information, the ability to collect, process and communicate information will be remarkably diminished in the areas that are attacked by the disaster. This is due to the malfunction of communications system caused by disconnection or power failure or because of the concentration of telephone calls for inquiries. As countermeasures against such situations, establish communications systems that are more resistant to disasters, making full use of the features of both communications and broadcasting methods. Specifically, conduct the following in cooperation with private carriers.

1)Ensure that important information can be communicated regarding the damages caused by the disaster by using radiocommunication systems for disaster prevention administration or by providing priority telephone services.

2)Ensure diverse methods to communicate information including that regarding the safety of citizens by developing and introducing a system to store information that can be accessed via phone, and by using the existing regional networks of police boxes and post offices, or by using community broadcasting and PC communications.

3)Ensure diverse communications methods by using wireless communications methods including via satellite.

4.Improving the conditions for creating an information-oriented society

(1)Expanding the availability of advanced communications systems and rebuilding the regulatory framework

Make life more convenient and reduce the environmental load through vigorous industrial activities and provision of new functions that replace transportation methods. For this, it is indispensable to improve the contents (details of information, especially the materials including the images and sounds) to be distributed via the networks and broadcasting that form the basis for intellectual activities both in terms of quality and quantity. It is also important to develop and popularize the advanced applications to fully utilize the functions of the network infrastructure. Japan is falling behind other developed countries in this field, and these measures are also necessary to ensure Japan's international competitiveness in industry.

Improve the contents by establishing databases and disclosing them to the public as well as by supporting helping local public entities and private companies to develop databases. For smoother flow of information on the networks, improve the GIS (geographic information system), and promote the verification and popularization of EC (electronic commerce), CALS (Continuous Acquisition and Life-cycle Support) system, etc. Besides, in the fields where demand is expected such as the administrative services, education, research, science, culture, medical care, transportation and disaster prevention, promote the development of public applications, verification of their availability, and popularization of their use through public supports. This will be done in linkage with the regional activation measures, giving considerations to the desires of local public entities, etc. towards the creation and development of new industries in each region including the information and communications industries. At the same time, stimulate demand for applications in the private sector. Based on the results, improve the conditions to integrate each of the applications and utilize them in a wider range to support wide-area and comprehensive socioeconomic activities beyond existing administrative units. As a result, the network infrastructure will be improved and the contents and applications be developed and introduced. The favorable cycle will improve the information technology of the entire country, industrial productivity, growth of communications industries, and the creation of other related industries.

To enable people to use advanced communications in their daily lives, utilize the existing public facilities such as town halls and post offices. At the same time, systematically examine existing systems and their objectives, and implement measures while considering security and the protection of privacy.

(2)Promoting international competition and cooperation

In the world of advanced information technology, promote the technological development of B-ISDN, holophotal processing system, the stratospheric wireless platform and ISDB (integrated services digital broadcasting) to build the next-generation communications systems. Besides, to strengthen Japan's competitiveness in the field, improve technologies to world-class levels. For this, obtain the required capital and promote technological development based on close cooperation between the public and private sectors.

To build seamless communications systems and advanced information technology of the global age, implement diverse measures based on international cooperation. Standardize the international communications systems such as the world's land mobile communication system (IMT-2000/FPLMTS), develop and verify world-common applications, and promote global joint projects. Besides, pursue international harmony in terms of regulatory systems including copyrights. Furthermore, help developing countries to improve their communications infrastructure and establish a global network, and promote international understanding between countries by using broadcasting media, by making exchanges through international TV broadcasting or programs or by jointly producing broadcasting programs.

>>PREVIOUS: Part II Chapter IV Industrial Development
>>NEXT: Part III Basic Direction of Regional Improvement

>>back to Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport
>>back to National and Regional Planning
>>back to The 5th Comprehensive National Development Plan "Grand Design for the 21st Century" top page