Japan urged to speed 5G rollout & boost digital trust

GSMA has called on Japan to take coordinated action to strengthen its digital economy in a new report on the country's digital transformation.

The study says Japan retains strong positions in next-generation connectivity, frontier technologies and applied innovation, but structural weaknesses are limiting productivity growth and the broader economic gains of digital adoption.

It says Japan has reduced some of the risks tied to the so-called digital cliff identified by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, but deeper constraints remain. These include weak productivity, a growing digital services deficit and difficulty turning research strength into innovation at scale.

The report identifies three priorities for immediate action by government and industry: rolling out 5G standalone networks, improving digital inclusion for older citizens and strengthening digital trust.

5G rollout

Japan was among the early adopters of 5G, but nationwide deployment of 5G standalone remains uneven, the report says. It argues that faster rollout is needed to support more advanced services and lay the groundwork for later 6G development.

6G also featured in a separate industry agreement announced alongside the report. KDDI, NTT DOCOMO, Rakuten Mobile and SoftBank signed the Tokyo Accord with three Asia-Pacific 6G alliances, Globe and LG U+, as a shared commitment to help shape the next generation of mobile standards.

The accord points to a broader effort to align operators and industry groups around open, interoperable systems. It also reflects Japan's ambition to play a larger role in international standards-setting as debate over future telecoms networks intensifies.

Ageing society

The report places particular emphasis on what it describes as a grey digital divide. Japan's ageing population presents a major challenge for digital inclusion, with 29% of the population aged 65 and over.

Internet use falls sharply among older age groups, reaching 59.6% for people aged 70 to 79 and 25.6% for those aged over 80. The study says these figures highlight the need for more accessible digital services and broader support for digital skills.

Mobile operators are already involved in training programmes, while public sector efforts include the Myna App and other support schemes. The report argues that more human-centred service design will be needed if digital services are to reach a larger share of the population.

Trust and security

Digital trust is the third urgent priority. Fraud and scam losses in Japan reached JPY324.1 billion in 2025, equivalent to about USD $2.1 billion, while the number of reported cases hit a record high.

The study says those figures underline the need for stronger domestic protections and closer international cooperation. It points in particular to secure-by-design and trust-by-design approaches as part of a broader response to cyber risks.

The report also links digital progress to wider policy choices on spectrum, research spending and international engagement on standards. It argues that Japan has an opportunity to connect its work on 5G and 6G more directly to goals around productivity, resilience and industrial competitiveness.

Policy direction

Across infrastructure, innovation, data governance, security and skills, the study sets out three strategic paths for Japan: building on strengths in advanced connectivity and frontier technologies, applying global best practice more quickly, and deepening international cooperation on standards in areas including artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, semiconductors and future networks.

The framework suggests a broader shift in emphasis from technical excellence alone to execution across the economy. The report contends that leadership in connectivity will not by itself secure a stronger digital position unless deployment, adoption and trust improve at the same time.

Julian Gorman, Head of Asia Pacific at GSMA, put it directly: "Japan has many of the foundations required for digital leadership, from advanced connectivity and research excellence to strong data governance. The challenge now is execution. This week's Digital Nation Summit provides an important moment for policymakers and industry leaders to align the actions needed to translate technical leadership into real economic and societal outcomes. By harnessing its comparative advantages and deepening international cooperation, Japan can position itself as a confident global standards setter for digital nations."