The cabinet of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, at an extraordinary meeting Friday, adopted basic economic and fiscal policy guidelines calling for intensified efforts to digitize administrative work over the next year.
The coronavirus crisis has highlighted the Japanese government's inferior online capabilities. With its poor information technology infrastructure, the government failed to swiftly implement relief programs to coronavirus-hit businesses and people,including 100,000-yen cash handouts to all households.
Read more: Japan Govt Sets Guidelines to Boost Self-Digitization Efforts
NTT Corp. and NEC Corp. officially announced Thursday a capital and business partnership for the purpose of jointly developing fifth-generation large-capacity, ultrahigh-speed mobile communications services, or 5G.
NTT will acquire a 4.8% stake in NEC for ¥64.4 billion. This alliance will allow the companies to catch up in the 5G market where foreign companies have taken a great lead.
NEC will allocate new shares to NTT in July and transfer a portion of its own shares to the company. By doing so, NTT will become the third-largest shareholder of NEC.
Smart poles could support 5G, Wi-Fi, street lighting and other applications
Japanese company Sumitomo Corporation has inked an agreement with the Tokyo Metropolitan Government for the preliminary installation and verification of smart poles being carried out by the government.
Together with NEC Corporation, Sumitomo Corporation intends to install two types of smart poles in the Nishi-shinjuku area of Tokyo by the end of this month.
Japan’s parliament has passed an updated bill to pave the way for the creation of ‘super cities’ which use artificial intelligence, big data and other advanced technologies to improve mobility, disaster preparedness, healthcare and education.
The bill, which amends the National Strategic Special Zones Law, aims to remove regulatory hurdles and complexity which can delay or prevent the roll-out of smart city applications. Restrictions lifted due to the coronavirus pandemic could speed the bill’s adoption. For example, in April, Japan’s health ministry eased rules to allow first-time patients to receive medical examinations and prescriptions online or via telephone.
Read more: Japan passes ‘super cities’ bill to reduce delays in technology roll-outs
The Osaka Prefectural Government on May 29 launched a system for people to register their email addresses at shops and other locales they visit, enabling it to warn them if they have potentially come into contact with someone infected with the novel coronavirus.
Shops, event organizers and other facilities post a QR code issued by the "Osaka COVID-19 Tracing System" at the entrance. Visitors can then read the code with their smartphones and register their email addresses online. Registrants will then be informed by email if someone else who has been in the same spot on the same day tests positive for the virus, depending on the infection risk and conditions at the facility. A total of 2,586 people had registered with the system as of 4 p.m. on May 29.
Read more: JP: Osaka Pref. launches virus tracing, warning system using personal emails