Universal communications - Towards ubiquitous networked society

First, some statistical data in Internet and mobile communications in the world will be shown. By these data, it will become very clear that our social activities are depending more and more on networks. Mobile phones and Internet have become essential social infrastructures in our societies. These networked societies are expanding more and more to include any kinds of social services such as online government, net baking, online hospitals, and cashless shopping. What is the next era of networked society? In Japan, Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications (MIC) has published a new strategy of information and communications technology of UNS (Universal communications, New generation network and Security and Safety). Beyond the present networked society, we call it Ubiquitous networked society. According to this new strategy, NICT is now carrying out R&D programs. Some R&D programs such as ubiquitous home, ad-hoc networks will be introduced by demonstration videos. Also, key technologies such as RFID, UWB in the ubiquitous networked society will be introduced.