Japan must take bold, coordinated action to translate its technological strengths into global digital leadership, a new GSMA report released this month urged.
While Japan remains a leader in next-generation connectivity, frontier technologies and applied innovation, persistent structural challenges are limiting productivity growth and economy-wide digital impact.
In the report, GSMA said addressing these constraints will be critical if Japan is to shift from a cautious technology adopter to a global standards setter.
A recent Tokyo accord was signed at Digital Nation Summit by Japan’s mobile network operators – KDDI, NTT DOCOMO, Rakuten Mobile and SoftBank – alongside the three APAC 6G Alliances, Globe and LG U+, with a vision to shape the 6G era.
The accord brings together pioneering operators and alliances to advance open, interoperable and trusted digital ecosystems. It calls for coordinated action, with additional operators expected to join through future summits.
GSMA sees 2026 as a critical inflection point. While targeted interventions have mitigated the worst of Japan’s Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry's (METI) 'digital cliff' risks, deeper structural issues remain.
Stagnant productivity, a widening digital services deficit and persistent gaps in translating research excellence into scalable innovation continue to constrain Japan’s long-term competitiveness.
As global discussions on 5G and 6G accelerate, the report highlights Japan’s opportunity to play a leading role by aligning spectrum strategy, R&D investment and international standards engagement with broader digital transformation goals. Positioning next-generation connectivity as a platform for innovation, productivity, and resilience will be central to securing long-term global leadership.
Priority areas for action
The report identifies three areas requiring urgent, coordinated action across government and industry:
- Completing the 5G journey. While Japan was an early adopter of 5G, nationwide deployment of 5G standalone (SA) remains uneven. Accelerating rollout is essential to unlock advanced capabilities and lay the foundation for future 6G evolution.
- Closing the grey digital divide. Japan faces a significant digital inclusion challenge, with about a third of its population aged 65 and over. Mobile operators are playing a key role through digital skills programmes, alongside government initiatives such as the Myna App and digital support schemes.
- Strengthening digital trust. Fraud and scam losses reached US$2.1 billion in 2025, with cases at an all-time high. This underscores the need for stronger domestic safeguards and deeper international cooperation, including secure-by-design and trust-by-design approaches.
“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,” said Julian Gorman, Head of Asia Pacific GSMA.
Across infrastructure, innovation, data governance, security and skills, the report highlights both strong digital foundations and persistent gaps. It sets out three strategic pathways for Japan’s next phase of digital development: building on comparative strengths in next-generation connectivity and frontier technologies; applying global best practices to accelerate deployment and trust; and deepening international cooperation to shape global standards across AI, cybersecurity, semiconductors and future connectivity.
