Japan's five steps to a 5G world www.asia.nikkei.com

TOKYO -- Japan's mobile carriers are gearing up for the global shift to fifth-generation wireless communications.

The new technology offers a chance for Japan to re-emerge as a key player in the industry. For this to happen, Japanese companies will have to take an active role in the development of 5G technology and its application, and the government and mobile carriers should support these efforts.

The successor to 4G is expected to be widely available globally by 2020, dramatically raising transmission capacity and creating new possibilities for networks. For Japan, that target year conveniently coincides with the Tokyo Olympics, providing a valuable opportunity to showcase its technology to the world.

The new 5G technology promises ultrahigh-speed, ultrahigh-capacity wireless transmission. In particular, it will reduce the time lag between sender and receiver to just thousandths of a second for many applications. These fast transmission speeds are crucial if the internet of things -- a huge network of internet-enabled devices -- is to reach its full potential.

Mobile carrier NTT Docomo began trial runs in May of ultrahigh-definition 8K video at Tokyo Skytree tower in collaboration with Tobu Railway. The company is also experimenting with control systems for self-driving buses using 5G on the Kyushu University campus in a joint project with DeNA, an internet services provider.

On May 29, Kazuhiro Yoshizawa, president and CEO of Docomo, highlighted the new business opportunities 5G will create in a keynote speech to the Global Digital Summit 2017, a Tokyo event co-hosted by Nikkei Inc. and Japan's communications ministry. "We don't just want to provide telecommunications services, we also want to create new ecosystems by working with various businesses," Yoshizawa said.

Rival KDDI is also putting 8K video through its paces, sending images to a moving bus. Another player, SoftBank, is experimenting with self-driving buses using 5G in Nanjo, on the southern island of Okinawa.

There are five important issues that need addressing if Japan's 5G strategy is to pay off. The first is rapid development of technology. Both the International Telecommunication Union and Japan have set a deadline of 2020 for putting the technology to widespread, practical use. But overseas carriers are not letting themselves be bound by that timetable. They are pushing ahead with trials in hopes of creating industry standards. Japanese players must keep an eye on these developments.

Second is the issue of technical compatibility. Japanese technology is not readily adaptable to the 24 gigahertz to 86GHz frequency band that was agreed to for 5G by the ITU. Japanese carriers have been forced to go along with U.S. and European standards established in 5G trials. This is an area where the government should take the lead to protect the interests of Japanese industry.

The third issue for Japan is encouraging software development. At present, the world leaders in 5G are device makers such as Sweden's Ericsson, Nokia of Finland and China's Huawei Technologies. These are the companies that provided the technology for the trials conducted by Japanese carriers.

While it may be wise for Japan to enlist the support of these companies in building communications infrastructure, such as upgrades to mobile base stations, it should also encourage its own tech companies, such as NEC, to develop their own technologies for linking devices so that they can compete in the global marketplace.

Fourth is the question of how best to integrate telecommunications and broadcasting, an issue that has already been debated in Japan. The communications ministry has set a target for full-fledged introduction of 4K and 8K broadcasts by 2020, the same as for 5G. The ministry envisions use of communications satellites and broadcasting satellites for these ultrahigh-resolution video specifications, but 5G is a more viable option as it has broader applications and is more readily adaptable to a paid services model than is broadcasting technology. The government should rethink how telecommunications and broadcasting can be integrated for optimum results.

Finally, rules must be worked out for the use of data, and steps taken to enhance security as 5G transforms the network landscape. The amended personal information protection act, which addresses the use of big data, went into effect in late May. The new rules make it easier for businesses to take advantage of the huge amounts of data obtained from smartphones. But as 5G greatly expands data transmission capacity, traffic will grow apace.

It will therefore be necessary to set rules on who owns the data, and the scope and purposes for which it can be used in specific applications, such as internet of things and health care.

Amazon to buy Whole Foods for $13.7bn in all-cash deal www.rt.com

Amazon has announced plans to acquire leading US organic food grocer Whole Foods Market for $13.7 billion. The e-commerce giant is making a huge bet on physical stores and the business of food.

In a deal that is set to be sealed in the second half of the year, Amazon will pay $42 per share in cash for the upmarket grocery chain.
On Thursday, Whole Foods shares were halted at $32.77 in premarket trading, while Amazon's shares were up 0.5 percent at $969.
Whole Foods’ co-founder and chief executive officer John Mackey will continue to run the chain with the headquarters of the company to remain in Austin, Texas, the companies said.
Whole Foods has been put under pressure by Jana Partners, one of the investors, and money manager Neuberger Berman. They criticized the company for poor performance and suggested the chain be sold.
“This partnership presents an opportunity to maximize value for Whole Foods Market's shareholders, while at the same time extending our mission and bringing the highest quality, experience, convenience and innovation to our customers,” said Mackey in a statement.
This is Amazon's second attempt to take over the grocery chain, according to a source familiar with the situation, as quoted by Bloomberg.
“Amazon clearly wants to be in grocery, clearly believes a physical presence gives them an advantage. I assume the physical presence gives them the ability to distribute other products more locally. So theoretically you could get five-minute delivery,” said Michael Pachter, an analyst at Wedbush Securities Inc.

Russian Bank Launches Drone Delivery Scheme www.themoscowtimes.com

Russia's largest bank has launched a pilot program which could see cash delivered by drone.

AIIB chief says US, Japan welcome to join www.nhk.or.jp

The President of the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank says the organization is keeping the door open for the United States and Japan to join.

Jack Ma says Alibaba will be bigger than economies of UK & France in 20yrs www.rt.com

The founder of Chinese e-commerce giant Alibaba, Jack Ma, says his company will be worth more than the world’s fifth-largest economy by 2036. Alibaba is already bigger than some countries, including Sweden, Poland, Iran, Norway, and Austria.

World's largest cashmere factory burnt in Mongolia www.russianconstruction.com

On Wednesday, on June 14, in the Mongolian capital of Ulan Bator the world's largest plant for the production of cashmere, Gobi, caught on fire. The alert reports about the fire were recorded in local emergency services at 22:46 local time.

Takata reportedly preparing for bankruptcy www3.nhk.or.jp

Sources say struggling Japanese auto parts maker Takata is taking final steps to file for bankruptcy as early as this month. The company is one of the world's top 3 airbag producers but has been involved in a worldwide recall since 2013.

Mongolia, Russia and China trade representatives meeting in Mongolia www.montsame.mn

The 13th high-level meeting of Chambers of Commerce and Industry of Mongolia, Russia and China is being held in Ulaanbaatar. Over 300 business delegates of the three countries are exchanging views on trilateral trade cooperation and investment and defining their future goals.

Zara founder’s $361mn donation to fight cancer stirs controversy amid tax evasion claims www.rt.com

Zara’s founder is sharing his wealth by donating $361 million worth of state-of-the-art cancer fighting equipment to Spanish hospitals, but his goodwill is being slammed by those who believe the retail chain’s parent company is guilty of tax avoidance.

The donation made by Amancio Ortega, the store’s founder and the richest man in Europe, has been sharply criticized since the Green Party accused Zara’s parent company, Inditex, of employing “aggressive” tax strategies and techniques to avoid paying €585 million ($653 million) in taxes from 2011 to 2014 – a claim that Inditex denies.
The Federation of Associations for the Defense of Public Health Services has also hit out at Ortega, with spokesperson Luisa Lores telling AFP that the donation is a “way to avoid paying taxes,” as part of the donation is tax deductible.
The federation also made its platform clear earlier this month, saying in a statement that Ortega should “not be demonstrating his philanthropy but his desire to contribute to public finances in a way that is proportional to his profits.”
However, people actually battling cancer have expressed gratitude, including a patient named Inma Escriche who took to Facebook to say she hopes those who have condemned the donation never have to experience what she is going through.
“I just wish that neither they nor any loved one (in the hypothetical case that they are capable of loving someone) are in the position of needing it,” she wrote, referring to the donated equipment.
The billionaire’s donation represents eight percent of last year’s public health budget for Spain, a country which sees more than 200,000 cancer cases diagnosed annually, according to Ortega’s foundation, which is carrying out the donation.
Hospitals in Galicia and Andalusia have already received machines used for screening and radio therapy treatment of breast cancer, according to Reuters. Ortega’s foundation told AFP that it will continue to arrange delivery of the equipment to other hospitals across the country.
Ortega’s foundation was set up in 2001 with proceeds from Inditex’s stock market flotation. It has previously funded other charitable projects, including scholarships for students to study abroad and the construction of early learning centers in Ortega’s home region of Galicia.
Earlier this year, Forbes ranked Ortega as the fourth richest man in the world, boasting a personal wealth of $71.3 billion. However, much of that wealth fluctuates based on the stock market valuation of his 60 percent majority stake in Inditex.
Inditex, which owns eight retail chains, experienced an 18 percent jump in net profit in the first quarter of 2017, reaching €654 million ($729 million). The company has 7,385 shops in 93 countries, the Financial Times reported on Wednesday.

Mongolia cuts interest rate by 200 basis points to 12 pct - central bank www.kitco.com

ULAANBAATAR, June 15 (Reuters) - Mongolia has cut benchmark interest rates by 2 percentage points to 12 percent, the country's central bank told Reuters on Thursday.