Communications minister Yoshihide Suga said Japan will start researching and developing technology for a new generation of network to replace the Internet.

The government would like to get the technology into commercial use by 2020, Suga said Friday in Brazil.

He said an organization will be established as early as this fall with cooperation from businesses, academia and the government to promote the technology.

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The Internal Affairs and Communications Ministry will seek ¥7.8 billion for the project in the fiscal 2008 budget, Suga said.

The new technology is envisaged as being faster and more reliable than the current Internet while being less susceptible to viruses and breakdowns.

The ministry is hoping Japan will take the lead in developing post-Internet technology and setting global standards.