Editors

Esaki, H.,
Murai, J.,
Sunahara, H.

Publication date

# of pages

224

Cover

Hardcover

ISBN print

978-1-58603-862-5

ISBN online

978-1-60750-332-3

Description

In this book, the spectacular development of a digital telecommunications infrastructure in one of the world’s most advanced industrial nations is being reviewed. Starting with the university network JUNET in 1984 the work covers the mobile Internet, wired access and backbone systems, all the way through broadband applications and today’s residential broadband traffic.

Japan has established one of the richest Internet environments and undertakes an aggressive R&D activity on both the New Generation Network “NGN” and the new Internet Protocol “IPv6”.In 2007, it was reported that in the cellular phone system in Japan, the total volume of data traffic became larger than that of voice traffic. The telecommunication infrastructure is converging with the broadcasting infrastructure: 2011 is designated as the first year of the full digital age.

Towards 2011, the following technical challenges are foreseen: the development and deployment of an end-to-end architecture on the existing complex IPv4 based Internet; development of a Japanese infrastructure, which is globally competitive and globally interoperable; development of new applications and new business models in the ubiquitous networking environment; development of Internet systems as a social infrastructure; integration with the real-space (i.e. integration of physical space and cyber space); NGN (Next Generation Network) and FMC (Fixed Mobile Convergence); and development and deployment of the unwired Internet environment.

This work looks into the challenges and opportunities now faced: it is a must reading for communications and media experts, policy makers and the general public interested in the digital infrastructure.