The Information and Communications Technology (ICT) industry in Japan is touted to be the top industry in the country. In 2011 this sector was worth USD 1.2 trillion. The Japanese government aims to take this number to 2.4 trillion by 2020.
In fact, with the government steadily coming up with innovative ideas and efforts to significantly impact and contribute on a global scale, the industry is expected to exceptionally boom in the upcoming years. Both the public and the private sectors are aware of the importance of the latest, most innovative ICT solutions to advance the economy and are taking steps towards this. Hence, this sector holds immense business potential.
Japan’s Competitiveness at the Global Level
Japan is home to huge multinational ICT conglomerates. These include Sony, Panasonic, Fujitsu, NEC and Toshiba among many other globally acclaimed brands.
However, though there are some key players operating here, many of the enterprises are still struggling especially amidst international competition. This is where latest and innovative ICT solutions can make all the difference by playing a vital role to stay above the competition. As people use their mobile devices to access the Internet to access information and for other market activities, Japanese companies need to catch up and evolve in the way they conduct business.
Opportunities in the ICT Sector
Based on the country data of Japan, there are various opportunities in the ICT Sector. Firstly, the country ranks 3rd as the biggest market with average revenue per user in Asia. Based on the forecast, the country has a projected 160 million number of mobile phone subscribers which will be even more by the year 2019. Secondly, Japan has a relatively high ARPU and Data share of ARPU compared to countries like Germany and United Kingdom.
Asia is considered to be the biggest regional cell phone market. The Asia-Pacific region accounts for more than half of the world’s share when it comes to mobile phone shipments. In the region, Samsung has the highest market share. In Japan, Apple has the highest market share with more than 34% of individuals who prefer to use Apple phones. Japanese companies and other global brands have the following market share:
- Sharp – 15%
- Sony – 14%
- Fujitsu – 10%
- Samsung – 8%
- LG, NEC, Panasonic make up 10% of the market share
When it comes to the Content market, it was valued at approximately 11.3 trillion yen in 2013. With E-commerce gaining prominence across sectors, there is potential among the online consumer market with Japan being the 4th biggest e-commerce market. With the given data, there is no doubt that Japan is a huge ICT market from their country data. From cyber security to e-commerce development, there are innumerable opportunities awaiting professionals and investors.
