The Future of Mobile Internet Japan: Lessons from the 2011 Disaster

hMr. Tadashi Onodera, Chairman of KDDI Corporation, one of Japan's leading telecommunications firms, examines future possibilities for mobile Internet services while reflecting on lessons learned from the 3-11, 2011, triple disaster -- earthquake, tsunami, and nuclear disaster -- that hit Japan.  Japan's mobile Internet market has been one of the most highly developed in the world since the late 1990s, and KDDI has been a major innovator in providing services and a platform for content.  Now, the advent of smartphones is again rapidly transforming the industry in Japan.  Mr. Onodera has been Chairman since June 2005, previously also serving as President from June 2001 through November 2010.  He joined the predecessor of KDDI in November 1984, just before the Japanese telecom market was deregulated, helping his firm become the winner among various challengers to the Japanese incumbent telecom giant NTT.  Since then he has been involved in a wide variety of projects, including the construction of a nationwide microwave network and the development of cellular phone networks.  He has devoted great effort to the implementation of CDMA technology and mobile data services.  Mr. Onodera received the "Industry Leadership" of 2005 in the 3G CDMA Industry Achievement Awards.