{"id":24515,"date":"2025-11-05T09:31:46","date_gmt":"2025-11-05T09:31:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.gsma.com\/newsroom\/?p=24515"},"modified":"2025-11-05T09:32:15","modified_gmt":"2025-11-05T09:32:15","slug":"gsma-unveils-japans-digital-nation-report-calling-for-targeted-action-to-unlock-the-countrys-next-wave-of-digital-growth","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.gsma.com\/newsroom\/press-release\/gsma-unveils-japans-digital-nation-report-calling-for-targeted-action-to-unlock-the-countrys-next-wave-of-digital-growth\/","title":{"rendered":"GSMA Unveils \u2018Japan\u2019s Digital Nation\u2019 Report, Calling for Targeted Action to Unlock the Country\u2019s Next Wave of Digital Growth\u00a0"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

New study ranks Japan third in the Asia-Pacific Digital Nations Index and urges targeted action on innovation, cybersecurity and digital-skills to realise the country\u2019s Society 5.0 ambitions<\/em> <\/p>\n\n\n\n

November 5, 2025, Tokyo:<\/strong> GSMA today published \u2018Japan\u2019s Digital Nation: Pathways for Transformation\u2019<\/em><\/a>, a new report that assesses Japan\u2019s readiness to deliver on its digital-transformation ambitions and outlines policy imperatives to close remaining gaps. Using the GSMA Intelligence Digital Nations Index, the study positions Japan as a \u201cLeading Digital Nation\u201d, third highest in Asia Pacific, with an overall score of 76, and highlights the country\u2019s global leadership in data governance and steadily improving cybersecurity posture. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

While applauding strong foundations in infrastructure and people, the report warns that persistent challenges in translating world-class research into market-driven innovation could constrain Japan\u2019s long-term competitiveness. It recommends a focused innovation strategy to commercialise next-generation networking concepts such as Innovative Optical and Wireless Network (IOWN) and Open RAN, deeper investment in cybersecurity resilience, and strategic human-capital programmes to expand the pool of advanced AI and cloud specialists. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cJapan has laid much of the groundwork for a truly digital society, yet our findings show that bold, coordinated action is now required to convert technical excellence into transformative, economy-wide outcomes,\u201d<\/em> said Julian Gorman, Head of Asia Pacific, GSMA. \u201cBy prioritising innovation-friendly regulation, reinforcing cyber resilience and deepening its digital-skills pipeline, Japan can move from leading to setting the global benchmark for digital nations.\u201d<\/em> <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The GSMA Highlights Three Policy Imperatives in the Report:<\/strong> <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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  1. Focused Innovation Strategy<\/strong> \u2013 Build on network-technology leadership (IOWN, Open RAN) by channelling venture capital and flexible data-governance tools into platform and service innovation that can scale commercially. <\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n
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    1. Completing Security Leadership<\/strong> \u2013 Couple Japan\u2019s rapidly rising security score with sustained investment in critical-infrastructure resilience standards and advanced cybersecurity-talent development to achieve world-class status. <\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n
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      1. Strategic Human Capital<\/strong> \u2013 In an ageing society, widen carrier-led digital-inclusion programmes and systematically upskill professionals in AI and cloud disciplines to ensure an inclusive, future-ready workforce. <\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n

        Further Insights from <\/strong>Japan\u2019s Digital Nation<\/em><\/strong> <\/p>\n\n\n\n