On September 13, 2024, the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications (MIC) published the outcomes of a public consultation regarding the draft report from the Round-Table Conference on the Information and Communications Infrastructure and Utilization for Realizing Vibrant Local Communities, along with the Report.

MIC hosted the ‘Round-table Conference’ from December 26, 2023, to September 10, 2024. The conference facilitated ten discussions aimed at defining policy directions to create an information and communications environment that connects with user terminals, secures human resources for digitization in local communities, and promotes a collaborative framework for advancing digital transformation (DX) there. After gathering public feedback, the report was published.

The table of contents for the report includes the following:

Introduction … 1 Chapter 1: Current status and challenges affecting local communities … 2 1. Challenges confronting local communities … 2 2. The anticipated role of digital technology … 3 3. Barriers preventing digital technology from addressing these challenges … 5 4. Topics discussed in the round-table conference … 6 Chapter 2: A strategy for creating an information and communication environment based on the utilization status of communication and broadcasting services in regions … 8 1. Discussion points … 8 (1) Policy directions for creating end-to-end (including user terminals) information and communications environments in regions … 8 (2) Future directions for new communications networks aimed at achieving ultra-high capacity, ultra-low latency, and low power consumption … 8 2. Current status and challenges … 8 (1) Status of broadband available in Japan  … 8 (2) The growing importance of information and communications infrastructure as social infrastructure … 9 (3) Regional disparities in the information and communications environment between urban and disadvantaged areas … 10 (4) Overall challenges related to the information and communications environment … 11 (5) The need for DX to maintain and develop social functions … 15 (6) The potential of new communication technologies … 16 3. Where to from here … 17 (1) Creating a usable information and communications environment, including the connection to user terminals … 17 (2) Examination of measures for using new communication technologies …19 Chapter 3: How to use digital technology to solve challenges and promote industry in regions … 22 1. Points of discussion … 22 (1) Measures for implementation and utilization of digital technology that contribute to industrial promotion in regions … 22 (2) Measures to promote self-sustainability of projects … 22 (3) Policy directions for regional data distribution and collaboration … 22 (4) Measures to disseminate excellent precedents of regional DX to other regions … 22 2. Current status and challenges … 22 (1) The need for DX to maintain and develop social functions (repost) … 22 (2）Improving labor productivity through DX, which is essential for maintaining and developing local industry … 23 (3) The importance of the usage of advanced technologies, such as AI, based on the characteristics of advanced solutions and the application of communication technology according to usage … 24 (4) Barriers hindering shift from “demonstration” to “implementation”… 25 (5) Current situations around using data and collaboration in regions … 25 (6) Lack of information on cases of the introduction of digital technology and its effects … 26 3. Where to from here … 27 (1) Utilizing digital technology for industrial promotion and addressing societal challenges … 27 (2) Priority areas for support (Use Cases) … 31 (3) How to manage the project for self-sustainability … 32 (4) Revitalizing local communities by data utilization and collaboration … 34 (5) Measures to disseminate excellent precedents of regional DX to other regions … 36 Chapter 4: Methods for training and retaining digital human resources to support regional DX … 39 1. Points of discussion … 39 (1) Ideal image of human resources required for DX in local communities … 39 (2) Measures for the effective use of limited digital human resources … 39 (3) How to create a system that will enable digital human resources to settle in regions … 39 2. Current status and challenges … 39 3. Where to from here … 48 (1) Organizing ideas for securing digital human resources in regions aiming to promote DX in local communities … 48 (2) Supplying digital human resources to local communities … 52 (3) Initiatives for retaining human resources … 55 Chapter 5: Building a system of stakeholders to promote regional DX … 57 1. Points of discussion … 57 (1) Measures to secure key personnel who will drive regional DX … 57 (2) A sustainable regional DX promotion system … 57 (3) Ways of support for building a regional DX promotion system … 57 2. Current status and challenges … 57 3. Where to from here … 60 (1) Ideas to building a DX promotion system in local communities … 60 (2) Support for stakeholders to build a DX promotion system … 65 (3) Sharing models for a DX promotion system … 65 Conclusion … 65

Although people with disabilities are not mentioned, we have introduced this section because it contains essential content for them.
For more information, please see the following website.
https://www.soumu.go.jp/menu_news/s-news/01tsushin01_02000338.html

Edited and published by the Japanese Society for Rehabilitation of Persons with Disabilities.

Published on September 20th, 2024