V. International Info-communications Policies





A. International Coordination and Cooperation Efforts



The organization and functions of international organizations are

undergoing revision to deal with the major changes taking place in the

international info-communications environment, as more liberalization

of and competition in telecommunications begin to take place in the

countries of the world.



ITU activities.

Japan was involved in the drawing up of the

new constitution and convention of the International Telecommunication

Union (ITU), which incorporate major organizational changes; the

documents come into effect in July 1994. Additionally, with the

cooperation of other Japanese government entities and organizations

involved in the ITU, the MPT is preparing for a successful

Plenipotentiary Conference, the ITU's highest decision-making body, to

be held in Kyoto in September 1994.



International satellite communications.

In light of the

so-called Separate System, under which private-sector corporations

will launch satellites and provide international communications

services, INTELSAT and INMARSAT have begun investigating ways to

simplify their economic coordination procedures for such satellite

communications systems. INMARSAT has announced its Project 21, a

comprehensive plan for the 21st century whose centerpiece is the

development of compact portable telephones.



The Asia Satellite Communications Forum,June 1993





Regular bilateral posts and telecommunications conferences.

The MPT holds regular bilateral meetings with representatives from 10

nations and 1 organization (the EU) to exchange information and views

on the current state of and problems in info-communications and postal

operations. During fiscal 1993, topics discussed at these meetings

included development of an info-communications infrastructure, the

development of and market trends in new mobile communications systems,

and transborder TV.





B. International Cooperation



ODA.

Developing nations are in great need of both extensive

financial assistance and people trained in advanced technology needs

that the advanced nations are called upon to help supply. Over the

past five years, an average of 5%-6% of Japan's total Official

Development Assistance (ODA) has been in the communications field.



Assistance to Eastern Europe and the former USSR.

To assist the nations of Eastern Europe and the nations of the former Soviet

Union in telecommunications and broadcasting development, Japan has

established a cooperative system in which teams of observers are

dispatched, trainees brought to Japan to study, and seminars held;

surveys of local conditions have also been conducted. Japan is also

sharing expertise with these nations in such areas as Japan's

telecommunications policy, telecommunications network construction,

and research and development of technology.