Joint press release with the Ministry of Internal Affairs and CommunicationsBasic Survey on the Information and Communications Industry

(1) Profile of companies engaged in the information and communications business

1. The number of companies engaged (primarily or otherwise) in the information and communications business was 5,371. Their sales from the information and communications business in FY 2011 were ¥41,078.1 billion (total sales of all these companies were ¥62,406 billion), and the sales from this business of the companies which answered the survey for two consecutive years among them were ¥38,720 billion (a 1.6% increase from the previous fiscal year). Telecommunications reported the highest sales, followed by computer programming and other software services and data processing and information providing services. These three sectors accounted for 77.4% of sales in the information and communications business.
2. The number of companies classified as information and communications companies (companies whose sales predominantly come from the information and communications business) was 4,643, and their sales totaled ¥42,270.5 billion (of which ¥38,711.9 billion comes from the information and communications business).

Sales per company were ¥9.1 billion (a 5.3% decrease from the previous fiscal year), with the highest figure indicated by telecommunications, followed by newspaper companies and publishers.

(2) Telecommunications and broadcasting business

The number of companies engaged in the telecommunications and broadcasting business was 961, and their sales for FY 2011 totaled ¥16,302.5 billion. The companies which answered the survey for two consecutive years among them recorded sales of ¥15,582.9 billion (a 0.5% decrease from the previous fiscal year). When classified by business, the sales figure was ¥13,255.5 billion for telecommunications business, ¥1,902.5 billion for private sector broadcasting business, and ¥444.7 billion for cable television broadcasting business.

(3) Broadcast program production business

The number of companies engaged in broadcast program production business was 299, and their sales for FY 2011 totaled ¥256.8 billion. Sales of the companies which answered the survey for two consecutive years among them amounted to ¥202.3 billion (a 2.4% increase from the previous fiscal year). Companies capitalized at less than ¥50 million accounted for more than 70% of them, and those with less than 100 workers accounted for over 90%.

(4) Internet based service business

The number of companies engaged in Internet based service business was 523, and their sales for FY 2011 amounted to ¥1,255 billion (a 6.9% increase from the previous fiscal year), marking increases for two consecutive years. The companies which answered the survey for two consecutive years among them recorded sales of ¥1,099.9 billion (a 13.4% increase from the previous fiscal year).
Sales per company increased to ¥2.4 billion (a 4.9% increase from the previous fiscal year).

(5) Information service business

The number of companies engaged in information service business was 3,312, and their sales for FY 2011 were ¥13,097.5 billion (a 8.0% increase from the previous fiscal year), marking increases for two consecutive years. The companies which answered the survey for two consecutive years among them recorded sales of ¥11,460.3 billion (a 3.7% increase from the previous fiscal year). When broken down by sector, the number of customized development software companies marked the highest figure.

Sales per company increased to ¥3.95 billion (a 0.3% increase from the previous fiscal year), marking increases for two consecutive years.

(6) Video picture, sound information, character information production and distribution business

The number of companies engaged in video picture, sound information, character information production and distribution business was 613, and their sales for FY 2011 were ¥2,595.9 billion (a 16.7% increase from the previous fiscal year), marking increases for two consecutive years. The companies which answered the survey for two consecutive years among them recorded sales of ¥2,007 billion (unchanged from the previous fiscal year). When broken down by sector, the number of newspaper companies marked the highest figure.

Sales per company decreased to ¥4.23 billion (an 8.8% decrease from the previous fiscal year). The sales figure decreased in all sectors except newspaper companies.

Note: The data indicated in this document are preliminary and are subject to change.

Sales of information and communication industry in FY2011

(1) Purpose

To identify enterprise activities in the information and communications industry of Japan and thereby obtain fundamental data for information and communications policies

(2) Surveying organizations

METI and MIC

(3) Business types and criteria for the survey

Businesses engaged in the information and communications industry (communications, broadcasting, broadcasting program production, Internet based services, information service, video picture, sound information, character information production and distribution) and capitalized at ¥30 million or more*

* Regardless of this amount, the survey covers all registered telecommunications carriers in the communications business, all private sector broadcasters in the broadcasting business, and all broadcasting program production companies (television and radio program production companies).

(4) Survey items

(a) Common survey sheet for all businesses: Number of workers, line of business, situation concerning business transactions and outsourcing, R&D, etc.

(b) Business-specific survey sheet: Sales by type of service, capital investment by type of business, etc.

(5) Survey method

Both mail and online surveys

(6) Survey date

March 31, 2012

(7) Survey period

From May 16 to July 15, 2012

(8) Status of collection

October 31, 2012

• Enterprise Statistics Office, Research and Statistics Department, Minister's Secretariat, METI
• Economic Research Office, ICT Strategy Policy Division, Global ICT Strategy Bureau, MIC