Association Guide
A word from the Chairman of the Board
Junichi Miyakawa
Chairman of the Board
The Telecommunications Carriers Association was established in 1987 with the aim of contributing to the sound development of the telecommunications business and to improved convenience for the people by addressing common issues faced by telecommunications carriers.
Given the drastic economic and political changes the country has been facing, the government has been pushing forward with efforts to create a strong economy through crisis-management investment and growth investment; to this end, they have identified seventeen strategic sectors, including information and communications, AI and semiconductors, digital and cybersecurity, and disaster prevention and national resilience.
Information and communications serve as Japan's engine for growth, and the industry is expected to remain internationally competitive. They are also increasingly important as a form of digital infrastructure that supports and promotes growth across all sectors.
Additionally, with the accelerating evolution of AI and its rapid adoption in both socio-economic activity and people's lives, we now find ourselves in an era in which AI and digital technologies are deeply integrated into everyday life.
In order to drive Japan's growth, and to enable AI and digital technologies to further contribute to developments in socio-economic activity and people's lives, we as telecommunications carriers are expected to promote R&D for ̶ and implementation of ̶ AI and digital technology, as well as to further develop and maintain the digital infrastructure.
On the other hand, it is crucial to take thorough measures against today's frequent natural disasters and cyberattacks, such as making preparations for disasters, failures, and security issues, as information and communications have become critical infrastructure as indispensable parts of socio-economic activity and people's lives. Additionally, there is a need to reliably provide consumer protection in the midst of diversifying communications services, while building and maintaining an environment where people can safely use information and communications services with peace of mind.
Given this environment, in which the info-communications industry's role is rapidly expanding, as well as our aim to fulfill our social responsibility as an organization consisting of telecommunications carriers, the Telecommunications Carriers Association will implement initiatives to contribute to the sound development of telecommunications business, such as ensuring the safety and reliability of information and communication networks, in addition to playing a part in consumer support, social contributions, and other areas.
Additionally, this fiscal year marks the start of concrete operations related to the provision of grants and collecting of dues for universal broadband services (Item (ii) Universal Telecommunications Services). We will reliably and smoothly implement support operations for these services, in much the same way as our support operations for Item (i) Universal Telecommunications Service and telephone relay services, toward ensuring that the telephone and broadband services necessary for people's lives are available universally throughout Japan, and toward ensuring smooth telephone use by end users with hearing impairments or other disabilities.
June, 2026
