On behalf of the Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications, I would like to extend my heartful congratulation on the inaugural general meeting of PHS MoU.
On this occasion , I would like to say a few words on the opening of the meeting. As a regulator and at the same time the policymaker of telecommunications, we, MPT, are promoting the Personal Handy-phone System (PHS). This is because, PHS is one of the most competitive personal communications systems in the world.
PHS provides a more inexpensive and convenient mobile communications service than conventional cellular telephone, and furthermore, PHS is suitable for multimedia use. As Dr. Ishikawa has already mentioned the basic function of PHS, I don’t need to go into details but, it is an amazing fact that PHS has now provided 2.5 million subscribers in just one year. No other consumer good has ever been manufactured in such a large number in a single year.
Therefore, we are confident that PHS is a truly personal communications media. PHS originated in Japan, but we have no intention to enclose PHS within Japan. Rather, we would like to share the benefit of PHS throughout the world. PHS is an open technology to any parties, and we have therefore been promoting PHS. Since last year, the Association of Radio Industries and Businesses (ARIB) has been holding PHS seminars in this region. To share PHS in many countries we have to coordinate property rights and harmonize technical standards. Therefore, a group consisting of PHS operators, manufacturers is required. This is the PHS MoU Group.
Last year the Preparatory Group for the PHS MoU Group was established. Since the start of the preparatory group, we, MPT, have participated as a special member because we think technical standards and frequency allocation requires coordination among many telecommunication authorities. The PHS MoU Group will coordinate this task. Thus it is MPT’s wish to have many telecommunication authorities and frequency regulators join the PHS MoU Group.
On concluding my remarks, I would like to once again extend my appreciation to the PHS MoU Group member and also the PHS MoU Group secretariat and I wish you a successful inaugural meeting.