Solution to urban problems, creation off new urban attractions
Osaka City aims to introduce ubiquitous networking services on a citywide basis, to ensure everyone can access information whenever needed at any time.
IT (Ubiquitous Network Technology) Table of Contents (Jump within this page.)
Information and communication infrastructure currently in place in Osaka, and public expectations from ubiquitous networking services
Osaka City, especially its urban center, has a rich concentration of IT-related companies, and boasts well-developed information and communication infrastructure. In the city, four providers are currently offering FHHT service, bringing super-high-speed Internet connections.
What users expect from ubiquitous networking services
Source: "Survey on Internet user trends" conducted by Osaka City in March 2005
Availability of FTTH service in the Kansai Region
* Even if the availability of the service is limited to part of a municipality, the municipality is deemed to have the service in place.
Source: Kinki Bureau of Telecommunications
Annual sales of internet service providers in the Kansai region by business category and Osakaﾕs share (2004)
Source: Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry. (2002)
What is "ubiquitous"?
The word "ubiquitous" comes from a Latin word meaning "omnipresence." According to the Ministry of Public Management, Home Affairs, Posts and Telecommunications, the market size of the ubiquitous networking industry is projected to reach about 59 trillion yen by 2007 and 88 trillion by 2010. As this shows, the market of the ubiquitous networking industry is growing faster than most other IT markets. In a ubiquitously-networked society, not only mobile phones, PCs, PDAs and other communications terminals, but also intelligent appliances, home robots, and many other home electronics will be linked together, resulting in an extensive communications environment entirely different from what we know today.
Osaka City's strategies to promote the spread of IT and ubiquitous networking technology
Osaka City aims to introduce ubiquitous networking services on a citywide basis, to ensure everyone can access information whenever needed at any time. In April 2003, Osaka was designated as an "IT Business Model District" (FY2003 - FY2005) by the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications. The City has since been conducting pilot demonstrations in various parts of the city through the "Osaka Ubiquitous Network Promotion Council," an organization established through industrial-government-academic cooperation to introduce advanced IT services. The City will continue to work for realization of a ubiquitously networked city, by strengthening the industrial-government-academic efforts, offering venues for collaboration and interactions, and promoting IT-based community development.
Pilot demonstrations conducted by Osaka Ubiquitous Network Promotion Council
In areas in and around the Midosuji District with its business, transportation, residential and other functions, an enhanced IT environment will be created that offers the opportunity for product and system development to private companies starting up new IT businesses.
Major purpose of the experiments
- Bringing network functions to greater sophistication
- Introducing highly reliable platforms (security and validity)
- Pursuit of ubiquitous appliances concept
- Development of intelligent appliances and ITS-related technologies
