Statement by H.E. Ambassador Toshiya Hoshino, Deputy Permanent Representative of Japan to the United Nations, at the Ambassadorial level lunch briefing on ITU WRC and Telecom World

H.E. Ambassador Mohamed Fathi Ahmed Edrees, of Egypt,
H.E. Ambassador Katalin Annamaria Bogyay of Hungary,
Representatives from ITU,
Excellencies, Distinguished Delegates, Colleagues, Ladies and Gentlemen,
 
It is our great honour to co-host today’s important event together with ITU and the Permanent Missions of Egypt and Hungary.
 
This briefing is a valuable opportunity for us to learn the latest developments and insights in ICT from the Geneva-based ITU team, focusing on two key global events: ITU Telecom World 2019, which took place in Hungary last month, and the World Radiocommunications Conference 2019 (WRC-19), to be held in Egypt from 28 October to 22 November.
 
As we are all aware, the digital transformation is already happening, changing all aspects of our lives, including public administration, social services, industry and employment. Ahead of this ‘Fourth Industrial Revolution’, all of us need to prepare for and build our capabilities to maximize the benefits that new technologies will bring.
 
In June of this year, Japan hosted the G20 Digital Economy Ministerial Meeting in the city of Tsukuba, where we shared the notion of a human-centered future society, which we call “Society 5.0.”
 
 
 
This is what UN Secretary-General António Guterres articulated in his video message during the opening ceremony of ITU Telecom World, saying “there is no doubt, innovative technologies such as artificial intelligence, 5G and the Internet of Things, can help us achieve the sustainable development goals and improve the lives of all.”
 
What is Society 5.0?
 
The term ‘Society 5.0’, also called the ‘super-smart society,’ refers to the idea that it will follow the preceding four paradigms of human society: Society 1.0 (hunter-gatherer society), Society 2.0 (agricultural), Society 3.0 (industrialized), and Society 4.0 (information-based).
 
Japan aims to be a leading country where various social challenges are resolved by incorporating the innovations of the ‘Fourth Industrial Revolution’, such IoT, big data, artificial intelligence (A.I.), robotics, and the sharing economy, into every industry and social life.
 
Most importantly, Society 5.0 will help us overcome social challenges such as an ageing population, depopulation and constraints related to energy and the environment by reversing these disadvantages to improved productivity, creating new markets and values, making people’s lives more conformable and sustainable in a less labour-intensive society.
 
In this regard, improved connectivity and broadband access are the paramount prerequisites for this blueprint. Today, while billions of people are connected online, a half of the world’s population is still excluded from the digital revolution. In the G20 Ministerial Declaration, Japan encourages the G20 to achieve the common goal of universal and affordable access to the Internet for all people by the year 2025. G20 members are promoting connectivity in rural areas to ensure rural prosperity with a particular focus on poverty eradication and distance learning.
 
Equal and universal access to information has been recognized as a fundamental human right in the past. Access to the Internet is necessary for all of us to survive and thrive in the 21st century. Connectivity is vital for expanding paths to sustainable development and widening opportunities for inclusion and resilience.
 
To make this happen, both terrestrial mobile and satellite services are strong enablers, and the coming WRC-19 will contribute significantly to raising public awareness on this matter. Japan has been working together with ITU about international radio spectrum allocation and harmonization for next-generation terrestrial mobile and satellite services.
 
Last week, 5G trial service began in Tokyo and other major cities in the country, ahead of its commercial rollout next spring. As host of the upcoming 2020 Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic Games, Japan is actively developing new technologies such as 5G and 4K/8K television, and is introducing them to the Japanese and global markets.
 
Today’s event marks a great importance in terms of the development paradigm. We would like to commend ITU’s timely contribution to advancing collective actions to support dialogue and mutual understanding as foundation for sustainable development in the digital era.
 
Ladies and gentlemen, thank you for gathering today. I look forward to learning from the presentations and discussions on the benefits of new technologies for all.
 
I thank you.