Of paramount importance here is that the Finnish government did not merely raise broadband Internet access as a policy goal, but instead designated it "a citizens' right." Even among fundamental human rights such as the right to existence, the right to freedom, and the right to own property -- considered "natural rights," social rights guaranteed by the state to spare its citizens of deficiencies or suppression, including the right to life, the right to an education, basic labor rights, and the right to work are a relatively new notion within the realm of human rights. Because of when they emerged, they are sometimes called 20th century rights.
Read more: Japan should follow Finland's lead on adapting to Internet age
The survey, published as part of the annual White Paper on Information and Communications in Japan, found Internet users in Japan are worried about multiple aspects of being online. However, the government said their worries might be out of proportion with the actual risks they face.
Read more: Japan faces crisis of confidence over Internet safety
The region-specific service is named Regional WiMAX--an abbreviation of Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access, which is a new standard for wireless broadband Internet access.
Read more: Japan: Fast wireless services set for rural areas
The system will have an online, high-security ''post-office box'' that citizens can use to manage personal information online, such as checking the record of their payments into the public pension program and obtaining a copy of a residency certificate, it said.
Japan verfügt durch seine Glasfasernetze über die weltweit beste Infrastruktur für Breitbanddienste. Das ergab eine Untersuchung von zwei europäischen Universitäten, finanziert von Cisco Systems. Schweden liegt an zweiter Stelle, gefolgt von den Niederlanden. Deutschland dümpelt auf Platz 9, noch hinter Lettland, der Schweiz und Litauen.
Von 42 untersuchten Ländern erhält Japan die höchste Punktzahl für Download-, Uploadgeschwindigkeiten und Latenzzeiten, so die britische University of Oxford und die Universidad de Oviedo (Spanien) in einer gemeinsamen Studie.
Read more: Japan hat die beste Infrastruktur für Breitband-Internet