- Growth of New IC card businesses
IC cards used for ETC services in Japan can incorporate in their IC chips domains for applications other than ETC. Thus, the private enterprises issuing ETC-IC cards can make them into multi-functional cards, through their innovation and ingeniousness. Potential is strong for new business opportunities, including complimentary services provided according to the number of points the user has accumulated for each usage.

Diffusion and promotion of ETC The strategy for the deployment of ETC is presented in the "Plans for the Diffusion and Promotion of ETC," prepared by the subcommittee of the Road Council, Ministry of Construction. It specifies actions for two stages. The actions taken at the stage of ETC introduction include a limited period discount with an upper limit on tolls, subsidies for purchasing on-board equipment, prepayment discount, various flexible toll systems, deployment of toll gates compatible with the ETC system, increase of lanes exclusive for ETC, solicitation of private parties to participate in ETC deployment, and establishment of a "Committee to gather opinions about ETC (tentative name)." At the stage of ETC diffusion, actions such as review of the discount system in use, development of smart ICs, and promotion of multi-purpose use of ETC technologies, will be taken.

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