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The article focuses on the highlights of the 36th annual European Conference on Optical Communication (ECOC) held in Turin, Italy in September 2010. The goals of ECOC include the dissemination of new research results, the education of engineering and business leaders and the exhibition of optical fiber communication and networking products. Speakers at the event included Masataka Nagazawa of Tohoku University in Japan, who discussed developments related to optical communication technologies.

The article profiles Abbas Jamalipour, candidate for member-at-large of the Institute of Electrical & Electronics Engineers Inc. (IEEE) Communications Society. Jamalipour has been an educator at the Sydney University in Australia since 1998 and obtained his doctorate degreee from Nagoya University in Japan. He has written and co-authored seven books and holds two patents. He used to be the chair of Satellite & Space Communications from 2004-2006. Among the position statement of Jamalipour notes that he will promote a fast and fair review processing system for the publication of papers.

The article profiles Iwao Sasase, candidate for member-at-large of the Institute of Electrical & Electronics Engineers Inc. (IEEE) Communications Society. Sasase obtained his diploma and doctorate degree in electrical engineering from Keio University in Yokohama, Japan in 1979, 1981, and 1984 respectively. He is the chair and a professor at the Department of Information & Computer Science at Keio University and his research includes topics on broadband mobile, photonic networks, and wireless communications. His position statement notes that he aims to develop cooperation with Sister Societies and boost local chapters around the world.

The IEEE current membership priority is China, Japan, USA and India. In this issue of our magazine, I would like to highlight what our society is doing for its members in China. Of course we already have long-standing Sister Society agreements with the China Institute of Communications (CIC) and the China Institutes of Electronics (CIE). [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

In this article, we investigate the challenges in designing a communication network robust against earthquake-induced disasters. Due to the heterogeneity of local geology conditions, an earthquake may cause different devastating effects on network links at different locations. Therefore, the aim of this research was to develop a network design method that, based on actual seismic hazard information, finds appropriate geographical routes for network links under a cost constraint to maximize the robustness of the network. We carried out experiments on local as well as nationwide networks considering many possible earthquake scenarios in Japan. The results suggest that the shortest route is often the optimal route, and, in some cases, long detour routes can significantly reduce the average endto- end disconnection probability compared to the shortest route solutions. This gives a network operator guidelines to design a network that is resilient against earthquake disasters at the lowest possible cost. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

The creation of countermeasures against a large-scale disaster is an important focus of research for the future. This article briefly introduces some Japanese research and development activities for disaster-related technologies, including those carried out by the National Institute of Information and Communications Technology (NICT). First, we discuss lessons learned from the Great East Japan Earthquake that occurred on March 11, 2011. We show that the preferred communication tool in a disaster situation depends on the time that has elapsed after the disaster. We then summarize several research projects for developing robust and dependable communication networks, including an information distribution platform, and outline the research projects of NICT's Resilient ICT Research Center as well. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Recently serious natural disasters such as earthquakes, tsunamis, typhoons, and hurricanes have occurred at many places around the world. The East Japan Great Earthquake on March 11, 2011 had more than 19,000 victims and destroyed a huge number of houses, buildings, loads, and seaports over the wide area of Northern Japan. Information networks and systems and electric power lines were also severely damaged by the great tsunami. Functions such as the highly developed information society, and residents? safety and trust were completely lost. Thus, through the lessons from this great earthquake, a more robust and resilient information network has become one of the significant subjects. In this article, our information network recovery activity in the aftermath of the East Japan Great Earthquake is described. Then the problems of current information network systems are analyzed to improve our disaster information network and system through our network recovery activity. Finally we suggest the systems and functions required for future large-scale disasters. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Twice a year they assemble, regular as clockwork. They come from every continent, and they have met on every continent, save one (Antarctica). Their gatherings are thousands strong. They come to talk and listen, to argue and debate, to teach and learn. They represent every discipline and sub-discipline of their profession, and the excellence of their meetings is beyond dispute. No disaster, man-made or natural, has ever kept these meetings from happening (and we hope none ever will). Of whom do we speak? Of course, we speak of the members of the IEEE Communications Society (ComSoc) and others in our profession who attend the two flagship conferences of Com- Soc, the IEEE Global Communications Conference (GLOBECOM) and the IEEE International Conference on Communications (ICC). [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Roadside-to-vehicle and vehicle-to-vehicle communication systems have been proposed as part of ITS development to help achieve vehicle safety and realize more secure road traffic environments. In this article we first introduce several typical applications and their radio range requirements for vehicle safety communication systems to clarify the technical point of view. Then we show some field experiment results in an urban area in Tokyo to investigate and verify. the radio propagation characteristics and the quality of communications by using a wireless radio prototype system. Finally, we conclude that the current prototype system has potential to fulfill the radio range requirements of vehicle safety communications, but there are still lots of issues that need to be addressed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Japan was one of the world's early adopters of broadband Internet access technologies, notably ADSL. Although last year it lost its number one global ranking to China, ADSL deployment in Japan continued to grow. This growth has been tied to ever increasing ADSL bandwidths. Centillium Communications has been in the unique position for many years of a major contributor to this rapid growth, pioneering many new technologies in ADSL, with a ringside seat to observe how competition has stimulated some of these technology advances. This article reviews some of the technologies behind the rapid market growth and provides an overview of directions in which these technologies are shaping the future of ADSL in Japan. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Describes the Japanese telelcommunications market and its direction by referring to key statistical indicators. Details on the Japanese telecommunications market which is entering the digital era and is experiencing its second phase of competition; Factors that contributed to the digital era and second phase of competition; When the Japanese market was liberalized.

Reviews the progress of key technologies and the state of picture archiving and communication systems (PACS) in Japanese hospitals. Number of installations; Comparison with hospital information systems; Progress of PACS diffusion; Examples of large PACS in Japan.

Studies epoch-making decision in internetworking in Japan. Nippon Telegraph & Telephone Corp.'s declaration of network opening; Placement of the declaration in the public policy; Performance of the telecommunications market; Liberalization of the market; Possible effects of the declaration.

Information on the Fiber to the Home (FTTH) Council Asia-Pacific First Annual Conference held on July 11 to 14, 2006 at Makuhari, Japan is presented. The conference assessed the market potential of FTTH in the Asia-Pacific region. It featured exhibitions on broadband access services, live entertainment over FTTH, and remote education service.