This IDC study (which is a translation of the Japanese report #J6060104) analyzes the results of the Japan WAN Managers Survey 2006 conducted among network managers of companies with more than or equal to 100 employees. The main services covered in this study are WAN services like leased lines, wide area Ethernet, and IP VPN remote access. The survey results are also cross tabulated in this study by industry. The current Japan WAN Managers Survey is the fifth of such surveys conducted by IDC. Comparisons with the previous year's survey results are conducted where necessary.

"The trends illuminated by the current survey include the rapid expansion of low-cost Internet VPN and the tendency among users to continue using leased lines which offer higher reliability. While IP VPN is approaching maturity, wide area Ethernet continues to show stable growth. However, due to the maturation of the overall WAN market, providers are finding it increasingly difficult to attract new users. In the future, it will be necessary for providers to offer WAN services with stronger appeal in the corporate market," observes Hiroyuki Kadowaki, senior communications market analyst, Communications Group, IDC Japan.