Japan’s 5G Policy Perspectives

November 9,  2016

Yuji Nakamura
New‐Generation Mobile Communications Office,
Radio Dept., Telecommunications Bureau,
Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications (MIC), 
Japan
 Transition of Mobile Phones and BWA Subscribers 1

Number of Subscribers (as of March 2016)

 Mobile Phones and BWA Total：
163million （127.1%）(deduplication of intra group transaction)
196million （152.8%）(Simple Sum)

（Million） Analog mobile 
（breakdown）
180 2G(Analog): 0 （ -- ） phone service (2G) 
3G(IMT-2000): 69million （53.9%） ended in July 2012
160 3.9G (LTE): 87million （68.2%） 69
BWA※2: 35million （27.5%）
※1 Population 128 million（2016 Population Census）
140 ※2 BWA: Broadband Wireless Access System

120

100
87
80 LTE Service started 
in December 2010
60
3G Service started 
BWA service 
in March 2001
40 started in July 2009

20 35

0
1996 1998 2000 2002 2004 2006 2008 2010 2012 2014 2016.3
Source: Ministry of Internal Affairs and
 Increase of Mobile Data Traffic 2

(Gbps) 1600
Average Monthly Mobile Data Traffic 1424.6

1400

1216.9 1323.2
1200 Increased approx. 12 times 1181.6
over the past 5 years! 1032.3
1000
871.8 969.0

800 729.9 822.4

586.2 671.7
600
469.8546.4

400 349.0 422.0

274.3
328.9
200 181.3
123.5 234.8
154.6
0
Sept.2011

Sept.2015
Dec.2011

Sept.2012
Dec.2012

Sept.2013
Dec.2013

Sept.2014
Dec.2014

Dec.2015
June.2011

Mar.2012
June.2012

Mar.2013
June.2013

Mar.2014
June.2014

Mar.2015
June.2015

Mar.2016
June.2016
 Evolution of Mobile Communications Systems 3

Traffic speed will be 10,000 times faster in 30 years

(bps)

10G
5G

1G LTE‐Advanced 1Gbps

100M Movie 4G
LTE 100Mbp
s
Web Browser HSDPA 14.4Mbps3.9G
10M
HSUPA Capacity increased 
Photos 3.5G by introducing 
CDMA2000
(still images) 1x EV‐DO 2.4Mbps OFDMA & MIMO
E‐Mail W‐CDMA 384Kbps 3G (IMT‐
1M
Packet  2000) A New Generation
Communications Capacity increased 
100k cdmaOne 64Kbps by transition from 
Comes
Voic PDC 28.8Kbps TDMA to CDMA Every 10 Years
e
10k Analogue
9.6Kbp 2G (Digital Based)
1G (Analogue Based)
s
1980 1990 2000 2010 2020 (year)
5G: The Fifth Generation mobile Communications Systems
 Key Capabilities of 5G 4

✓ Key Capabilities for 5G (IMT-2020) :

1 Ultra high speed data (eMBB) Peak data rate 10 (20) Gbps (100 (200) x current LTE)
2 Ultra Low Latency (URLLC) Ultra Low Latency 1ms （1/10 of current LTE system）
3 Massive Machine Type Connections (mMTC):
Connection Density 1 million devices/km²
（100 x current LTE）
✓ 5G is expected to create a new market as a key infrastructure of IoT

Ex: Quick transmission of Ultra

high definition TV (4K/8K).
comparable to optic fiber

Ultra High Speed Data

(eMBB)
Automated Driving
Large numbers of devices,
sensors and terminals
Key Capabilities
for 5G
Massive Machine Type
Connections Ultra Low Latency
(mMTC) (URLLC)
Ex: Automated Driving, Remote
Ex: Massive Simultaneous Connections control Robots (real-time remote
for sensor networks in small area, Smart control, IoT for mission critical)
Meters, Infrastructure Maintenance etc. Source: MIC, Nikkei Communications 4/2015
Changes in the industrial structure in the age of 5G 5

✓ Once 5G arrives, new markets will be created for the Internet of Things such as cars,
industrial devices, and smart meters rather than in businesses in traditional devices
such as smartphones
✓ There will be a need to make new partnerships with wide a variety of industries to deal
with the changes in profit structures that will come about due to 5G mobile
High Profits

Current 
Business  5G Business Strategies 
Field needs to consider  making 
new partnerships with a 
wide variety of industries
Smart
Phones /
Tablets

Auto
Industrial  Home 
motive Equipment Security Smart
Meters Internet of Things
Low Profits /Others Large # of
Small # of Connections
Connections

Main Target of 4G New Fields 5G will target Source: Nikkei Communications April 2015

 5G Roadmap towards 2020 6

✓ Promote three activities to support 5G realization for 2020 and beyond

1. Support activities by Fifth Generation Mobile Forum (5GMF)
2. R&Ds on 5G Technologies through Industry-Academic-Government Cooperation
3. Standardization Activities at the ITU and 3GPP
✓ The 5G System Trial to test radio access, networks, and applications for 5G will be
started in Tokyo and local cities of Japan in FY2017

2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 (year)

Rugby Tokyo Olympic/
World Cup Paralympic Games
ARIB
2020 and Beyond Adhoc
Deployment
Promoting Established on September 30th, 2014
Activities by ５ＧＭＦ Strategic guidance on R&Ds,
Body standardization activities, international
cooperation

Promote R&Ds on 5G key 5G System

R&Ds on 5G Technologies
R&Ds technologies through Industry-
Trial
Academic-Government Cooperation
from 2015
5G
５Ｇ Standardization Activities
implemen-
tation
【ITU】 ●ITU 5G International Workshp
●Recommendation ITU-R World Radio Conf.
International M.2083 : IMT Vision （WRC‐19）
Affairs 5G Requirements and Applications Propose & Evaluate Interface

【3GPP】 Rel. 14 Rel. 15 Rel. 16

Next-generation Mobile Service Action -Radio Policy 2020 Study Group Report- 7
Promoting the following projects from 2017 for the achievement of 5G services in 2020 ahead of the rest of the world.
Promotion of 5G implementation project

Ultra-broadband Next-generation ITS

Wireless IoT project project project
Supporting a large number of Supporting ultra-high speed. Ensuring ultra-low latency.
simultaneous connections. Providing broadband services 100 times The connected cars and cloud on the
Achieving the world of the IoT where the as fast as the current mobile network will link together and provide
number of things (e.g., sensors) communications systems. new services.
connected will increase several hundred
times. Settlement
New network-
Agent
A huge number  linking Maintenance
of sensors and  services
terminals

Insurance

Connected cars are 
always connected to 
the network Cloud

Research and development for the realization of a pilot model.
■ Promoting research and development with a demonstration of elemental
technologies toward the achievement of a pilot model system assuming
utilization scenes including wireless realistic performance and next-generation
connected cars.
Securing global frequencies
■ Securing frequency bands in addition to international standard bands in
coordination with major countries promoting 5G proactively.
■ Frequency expansion for wireless LAN use

Development of 5G test beds Promotion of international standardization and international expansion

■ Developing open test beds of user participation type ■ Construction of a strategic partnership with other countries (e.g., an expansion of
■ Creating new regional-type services by developing them in regional initiatives, such as the joint declaration of Japan and the EU)
areas as well as Tokyo. ■ Promotion of international standardization under public-private cooperation.
Promotion of 5G Projects and Application Fields for 5G 8

① Sports ② Entertainment
③ Office / Workplace
(Fitness) （Games / Tourism）

④ Medical ⑤ Smart house/Life ⑥ Retail

（Health / Welfare） （Daily Goods/Communications） (Finance / Payments)

⑧ Smart Cities/Areas ⑨ Transport

⑦ Agriculture, Forestry, Fishery
（Construction/Maintenance） (Commute / Logistics)

Three Project Areas

Ultra-broadband Wireless IoT Next-Gen ITS

 Development of ITS utilizing Radiocommunications 9

Now Now～Near Future Future

(Already become popular) (Recently becoming popular)

Advanced driving support by Highly advanced driving support

Provision of traffic jam
utilizing camera or radar by combining V2V communication
Information, charge setting, with high-resolution radar, etc.
etc. （autonomous type）
（autonomous plus cooperative
Optical Beacon FM multiplex
type）
Radio Beacon broadcasting Alert sounds

Radar

5G
Pre-collision Brake etc.
Car navigation, (Automated braking)
etc. Connected Car
VICS Alert sounds

White lane
markings
ETC
Lane keep assist
ETC 2.0 Automated Driving

Development of ITS
 Study of the 5G Technical Specifications 10

Inquiry on the technical specifications of next-generation mobile

communication system [October 12, 2016]

Information and Communications Council (Telecommunications

Technology Sub-Council) started its study

(Study Items)
‐ Basic Concepts
‐ Network Architecture Technical Specifications for 
‐ Service Images various Frequency Bands 
‐ Requirements
‐ Migration Scenario (4G to 5G)

Results of the study at the Council will be reported to the Minister

for Internal Affairs and Communications around Summer 2017
and afterwards
 11
Changing How We Shop（The IoT Supermarket）
In store announcement
Information on sold out 
Antenna We have received word from our 
goods
contracted grape vineyard about the 
Instructions to Store Staff issues of this year’s harvest. They will 
Information on in  be aiming to make wine this year.
After restocking,  stock goods
there are expired 
items in Aisle 6,
please remove 
them.
Your refrigerator at home has 
10 eggs that are good for 10 
more days. Would you like to 
sen supplement that?
sor

ID Chip

The cost of the 
customer’s purchases is 
automatically deducted 
from their account.

sensor
Self-Operating
Shopping Cart sensor
 12
Changing Responses to Disasters

Weather and Tsunami 
Information Rescue information
provided over
A guerrilla rainstorm is 
Sensors that can approaching! Be careful of  smartphones
Satelli
recognize people rivers overflowing.
te
and vehicles even in
a pitch black tunnel Emergency
Cumulonim Drones Almost 
bus cloud there!
AED
Drone
Sensor

Someone needs 
emergency help!
Go quickly!
Evacuation
Ultra High- Center
Def Image
Sensors

Camera
Drone
Emergency
Center
 13
Changes in Rural Lifestyles

I would like to 
make an 
Autonomous Taxi’s Timely appointment for 
Arrival my yearly physical 
at x o’clock at y 
Thank 
hospital.
you for 
waiting! You have a message 
from y hospital from 
Dr. Z. 

We have received 
information 
Hello, Doctor. 
about your 
Thank you for 
current condition.
calling.

Smart Health Checks performed inside the

vehicle
 14
Changes in Getting Around Town

Hear in Japanese

ここから１番近い地下
Excuse me. 鉄の駅はどこですか？
Where is the
nearest subway
station?
この通りをまっすぐ⾏って
信号を左に曲がるとありま
す。
Hear in English

Go straight on this street 
and make a left turn at 
the signal

歩いて５分くらい
Hear Russian です。

Hear in Japanese

ありがとう
 15
Changing the Way We Do Work

Survey
drone

Survey
drone

Operations 
Tablet

Unmanned Checking the construction

Vehicles site equipment from the
living room