Emergency Communications Training in FY2026 Disaster Drills
Overview
The Central Emergency Communications Council and local emergency communications councils across Japan will participate in FY2026 comprehensive disaster preparedness drills held in each region and promote efforts to ensure smooth communications during emergencies. Their main activities include training to secure information transmission through privately operated communications networks when ordinary communications networks are unavailable, training to transport mobile communications equipment for disaster response, and exhibitions and public awareness activities concerning disaster preparedness. The emergency communications councils comprise approximately 2,290 members, including relevant ministries and agencies, local governments, designated public institutions, and radio station licensees.
Key points
- The central and local emergency communications councils will participate in FY2026 comprehensive disaster preparedness drills.
- Assuming a situation in which ordinary communications networks cannot be used, the councils will secure communications through privately operated communications networks.
- They will conduct training to transport mobile communications equipment for disaster response, as well as exhibitions and public awareness activities.
- The emergency communications councils comprise approximately 2,290 members.
Overview
The Central Emergency Communications Council (Chair: Naohiko Ogiwara, Director-General of the Telecommunications Infrastructure Bureau, Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications) and local emergency communications councils across Japan will participate in FY2026 comprehensive disaster preparedness drills held in each region and promote efforts to ensure communications during emergencies.
Impact
These efforts are intended to contribute to securing smooth communications during emergencies.
Details
Emergency communications training assumes a situation in which information cannot be transmitted from a disaster-affected area to a prefecture or the national government because telecommunications carrier lines or prefectural disaster prevention administrative radio systems are unavailable. Privately operated communications networks owned by other organizations will be used to secure and operate communications.
Training to transport mobile communications equipment for disaster response assumes a situation in which local government communications equipment has been damaged by a disaster, disrupting the contact system, and involves transporting the equipment. In addition, communications equipment and other items useful for disaster recovery activities and support for disaster victims will be exhibited, and public awareness activities concerning disaster preparedness will be conducted.
The emergency communications councils comprise the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications, relevant ministries and agencies involved in emergency communications, local governments, designated public institutions, radio station licensees, and others, with the central, local, and district emergency communications councils organizing and operating the system.