Aoki Village, UCV, JCC, and KCME Collaborate on Project to Advance Information and Communication Networks

AOKI Village, Nagano Prefecture
Ueda Cable Vision Corporation
Japan CableCast Inc.
KYOCERA Mirai Envision Co., Ltd.

Aoki Village (Chiisagata County, Nagano Prefecture; Mayor: Masao Kitamura), Ueda Cable Vision Corporation (UCV; Ueda City, Nagano Prefecture; Representative Director and President: Takuro Motai), Japan CableCast Inc. (JCC; Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo; Representative Director, COO and Acting President: Shigetaka Okuma), and KYOCERA Mirai Envision Co., Ltd. (KCME; Minato-ku, Tokyo; President: Hyngbae Kim) are pleased to announce their collaboration on Aoki Village's Project to Advance Information and Communication Networks and Systems (hereinafter referred to as the "Project"). On March 28, the parties signed an agreement to ensure smooth and effective joint work on this initiative.

Aoki Village, in collaboration with UCV, JCC, and KCME, will start the Project in fiscal year 2024 to address challenges related to information dissemination methods within the village and provide a user-friendly communication services tailored to the needs of all residents. The current information and communication equipment, which has been in operation since April 2011, is aging, and the recent frequent occurrence of large-scale disasters has highlighted the need to enhance emergency information delivery capabilities to villagers.

Key advancements of information and communication networks in the Project include:
1. Advanced IP notification terminals with senior-friendly usability, large screens, powerful speakers, and other enhanced features.
2. Enhanced television services with a dedicated local channel with rich information relevant to residents, tentatively called "Aoki Channel," and data broadcasting specific to the village.
3. Smartphone applications for receiving critical information anytime, anywhere, even during power outages.
4. Voice notification terminals operable on batteries for use in evacuation centers, during power outages, and in the event of a break in optical fiber cables.
5. A disaster broadcasting system and live cameras for monitoring roads and rivers, which can be utilized during disasters, for council meetings live streaming, and for providing information relevant to residents' daily lives.
6. Others: A comprehensive communication environment across the village that is secure, convenient, and supportive for villagers, enhancing their daily lives.

Photo of the signing ceremony

■ Message from Masao Kitamura, Mayor of Aoki Village

Since April 2011, Aoki Village has provided communication and broadcasting (television) services to our residents. As we approach the 13th year of operation, it is time to upgrade our aging infrastructure, particularly our IP phone system, which has become an integral part of our community's communication. A survey conducted in July 2023 revealed that our residents deeply value these services. Many consider our regular broadcasts a cultural cornerstone of Aoki Village life. Others appreciate the security and reliability of our local telephone network, which is effectively free from fraudulent calls, viewing it as an essential tool for community information sharing.
However, we also face challenges. We need to establish new communication channels for residents not subscribed to our IP phone service and ensure reliable information dissemination during power outages. The recent earthquake in the Noto Peninsula region has underscored the critical importance of robust emergency communication systems. We extend our heartfelt wishes for a swift recovery to those affected by the disaster. It is our duty as a local government to ensure that all residents receive timely and accurate information, especially during crises.
Our network upgrade aims to enhance the functionality of our information and communication infrastructure, enabling all residents to live with greater peace of mind and comfort.
As we embark on this project, we pledge to prioritize the needs and opinions of our residents. We will collaborate closely with our partners - UCV, JCC, and KCME - to deliver a system that truly serves our community.
We are committed to preserving and strengthening the unique community culture we have built over the years.

Masao Kitamura
Mayor
Aoki Village

■ Message from Takuro Motai, Representative Director and President of UCV

We are deeply honored to be selected as the lead contractor for the Project. This opportunity to contribute to the advancement of Aoki Village's communication infrastructure fills us with a profound sense of responsibility.
Ueda Cable Vision has been providing television, internet, and fiber-optic phone services to Ueda City, Tomi City, Sakaki Town, and Aoki Village. Our fiber network connects over half of the households in these areas, and we have earned high trust through our reliable services and dedicated support. In this project, we aim to ensure the delivery of essential information to all residents while also offering services that address growing concerns about disaster preparedness and the needs of an aging population. Our goal is to create a safer and more comfortable living environment for all. We will leverage over 50 years of technical expertise and experience in this initiative, collaborating closely with UCV and KCME.
Our approach will be to work hand-in-hand with the villagers, considering their needs and opinions throughout the development process. We are committed to preserving Aoki Village's rich history and community bonds while enhancing the quality of life for all residents. Ueda Cable Vision is dedicated to serving the people of Aoki Village. We look forward to working together.

Takuro Motai
Representative Director and President
Ueda Cable Vision Corporation

■ Message from Shigetaka Okuma, Representative Director, COO and Acting President of JCC

We are excited to participate in the Project through this business cooperation agreement.
Our company provides a range of services, including paid multi-channel distribution for cable TV operators nationwide, data broadcasting for community channels, and local and disaster information distribution services utilizing television, smartphone apps, and IP notification terminals provided by KCME. Our strength lies particularly in our ability to deliver local and disaster prevention information, including municipal notifications, J-Alert, and L-Alert, at a granular level down to individual municipalities and districts. We can distribute this information through various devices via both broadcast and communication networks.
When attending the residents' briefing session alongside UCV before the start of this project, I was impressed by the prominent level of interest and enthusiasm shown by the local people. Through this initiative, we aim to collaborate with UCV and KCME to provide an information transmission system that delivers detailed, relevant information to residents, thereby supporting the creation of a safe and comfortable community.

Shigetaka Okuma
Chief Operating Officer
Japan Cable Cast Co., Ltd.

■ A Message from Hyngbae Kim, President of KCME

We are delighted to announce our participation in the Project through the signing of a business cooperation agreement.
At KCME, our vision is to become a global company that helps to create communities where people can enjoy their lives without disparities, focusing on data platforms and network solutions. Our core business includes the implementation, development, and provision of IoT, AI, big data, and cloud environments. We recognize that the digital transformation (DX) initiative, which Aoki Village has set as a key project theme, is also a significant strategic focus for our company.
Our information distribution platform service, 'ShiraseaI,' which has been selected for this project, was launched in 2018 as Japan's first cloud service of its kind. In addition to updating existing notification terminals as required by the Project, we aim to leverage our expertise in applying the latest digital technologies to areas such as transportation, logistics, elderly care, and local economy, which we have cultivated through projects in other municipalities.
Together with UCV and JCC, we are committed to supporting Aoki Village's vision of creating a sustainable and adaptable community. We will strive to deliver high-value services tailored to the needs of Aoki Village residents.

Hyngbae Kim
President
KYOCERA Mirai Envision Co., Ltd.

■ About Aoki Village
Located in eastern Nagano Prefecture, about 12 km west of Ueda City, Aoki Village is a picturesque, agricultural mountain village. Surrounded by the iconic "Aoki Three Mountains," the village is predominantly forested, with 10% of the area dedicated to agriculture. Aoki's primary industries are rice, mushrooms, fruits, and flowers. Archaeological evidence suggests the area has been inhabited since the Jomon period. This gives Aoki Village a rich historical legacy.
URL：http://www.vill.aoki.nagano.jp/

■ About UCV
Company name: Ueda Cable Vision Corporation
Address: 6-12-6 Chuo, Ueda City, Nagano Pref. 386-0012
Representative Director and President: Takuro Motai
Established: May 1971
URL：https://ucv.co.jp

Ueda Cable Vision Corporation (UCV) is a leading cable TV company serving communities in Nagano Prefecture, including major parts of Ueda City, Tomi City, Sakaki Town, and Aoki Village. Since its establishment in 1971, during the dawn of the cable TV era, UCV has provided unique services and expanded business through collaborations with partners. Having marked our 50th anniversary in 2021, we are progressing toward another leap forward, aiming to be a trusted and favored company in the region by constantly offering up-to-date services to contribute to the community.

■ About JCC
Company name: Japan CableCast Inc.
Address: Hibiya Park Front 9F, 2-1-6 Uchisaiwaicho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 100-0011
Representative Director, COO and Acting President: Shigetaka Okuma
Established: October 2002
URL：https://www.cablecast.co.jp/

Japan CableCast Inc (JCC), a member of the BroadBand Tower Group, commenced operations in 2002. JCC provides a variety of services that deliver videos and information to support local customers, including JC-HITS multi-channel distribution platform for cable television operators, JC-data datacasting service for community channels, Channel 700 channel service for cable television, and Regional Disaster Prevention DX service for local governments to distribute local and disaster prevention information. We aim for sustainable growth with our customers and communities, by helping develop and liven up communities where people smile.

■ About KCME
Company name: KYOCERA Mirai Envision Co., Ltd.
Address: Sumitomo Realty & Development Tokyo Mita Garden Tower 20F, 3-5-19 Mita, Minato-ku, Tokyo 108-0073
President: Hyngbae Kim
Established: April 1, 2011
URL：https://www.kcme.jp/en/

KYOCERA Mirai Envision, a member of the Kyocera Group, provides network infrastructure construction, solution products, and devices to support community development. Our mission is to support communities across seven key areas: telecommunications, security, healthcare and eldercare, education, transportation and logistics, population decline, and regional economies. By combining our long-cultivated telecommunications engineering expertise and the latest ICT technologies, we deliver unique solutions for enterprises, governments, and telecom operators.

Contact for inquiries:
◆General Affairs and Planning Department, AOKI Village
TEL： +81 268-49-0111
E-mail：somu@vill.aoki.nagano.jp

◆Sales Planning Department, Ueda Cable Vision Corporation
TEL：+81 268-23-1600 (main line)

◆Regional DX Department, Sales Division, Japan CableCast Inc.
TEL：+81 3-6910-2903
E-mail：pfcontact@cablecast.co.jp

◆Sales Management Department, KYOCERA Mirai Envision
TEL：+81 3-3455-4110
E-mail：public-relations@kcme.jp

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*Product and services are subject to change without notice.