Challenges for Community Networking in Japan

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Challenges for Community Networking in Japan

• November 2000

Izumi Aizu ltizumi_at_anr.orggt Asia Network
Research Institute for HyperNetwork
Society GLOCOM
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History

• 85 - 90 BBS era
• Text communication with Computer Conferencing
• 90 - 93 Pre-Internet era
• quest for multimedia
• 94 - 98 Internet as the key driver
• 99 - Dotcom and IT Revolution as buzzword

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History (2)

• First CN in Japan started around 1985
• COARA May 1959
• 30 local people, PC network
• database by local SMEs
• Soon found the value in 2-way communication
• Glass-roots from the citizens

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Characteristics

• Serious concern against centralization
• Tokyo Metropolitan Area dominates everything
• Local government/industry key driver
• Less from citizens grass-roots participation
• Academia plays little role

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Trends

1. Access
2. Broadband xDSL, CATV
3. Fiber through sewage
4. Wireless
5. E-Goverment
6. Local administration
7. National government
8. Contents Services
9. E-commerce
10. IX, Data center, ASP
11. E-shop, e-commerce

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CAN Forum www.can.or.jp

• CAN Community Area Network
• Led by Prof. Shumpei Kumon
• Yes, we CAN
• 3rd phase of modernization
• Information revolution as Netizen revolution
• Age of Intelprise has come

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IT policy by Local governments (99)

• All 47 prefectures has IT Plan
• 698 (21.5) municipalities has IT Plan
• 2,672 municipalities has Homepages
• 21 own and operate networks

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Contents of Homepages(98)

• Event announcement 2,400
• Tourism local products 1,975
• Guide to facilities 1,638
• Administrative information 1,541
• Local business industry 995
• Statistics 801
• Citizens Life 731

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Challenge 1

• Sustainability
• Funding
• Business model
• Capital investment

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Challenge 2

• Centralization
• Tokyo absorbs everything
• Internet sacks everything!?
• Establishing local autonomy

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Challenge 3

• Vision Concept
• Leadership
• Future direction

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Challenge 4

• Resources
• Human resources
• Technical resources

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CN in Asia

• Korea
• Internet explosion
• Senior net (Wisemens House)
• Singapore top-down
• Community club
• Broadband didnt take off
• Malaysia
• MSC
• SJ2005 (www.sj2005.com.my/)
• Philippines NGOs in islands
• Bangladesh Gramin Bank experiments

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See you online!

• izumi_at_anr.org
• www.anr.org