Basic policy on the implementation of the operational Quasi-Zenith Satellite System (QZSS) project

Cabinet Decision on September 30, 2011

The Quasi-Zenith Satellite System (QZSS) will strengthen industrial global competitiveness and make industry, daily life, and public administration more sophisticated and efficient. The QZSS will also contribute to the welfare of the Asia-Pacific region, an enhancement of Japan‘s presence there, strengthening the Japan-U.S. partnership, and a broad range of security including the improvement of the capacity to respond to natural disasters.

Given the fact that other countries are already developing navigation satellite systems, the Government of Japan has decided to accelerate the deployment of the operational QZSS as expeditiously as possible.

More specifically, four satellites constellation shall be established by the late 2010s. In the future, seven satellites constellation shall be completed to enable sustainable positioning.

The Cabinet Office shall develop, deploy and operate the operational QZSS, based on the achievement of the first QZSS satellite (named "Michibiki"), and shall submit a budget request to cover relevant costs. The Cabinet Office shall coordinate with relevant ministries, agencies, and industries to promote this project at each stage of development, deployment, operation, utilization, and global dissemination.

Legal amendments shall be made in order for the Cabinet Office to fulfill such a role in time for budget implementation.

The implementation section in the Cabinet Office should be carefully established so as to avoid excessive organizational expansion of government administration.