NTT planning to cut fiber-optic broadband service charges

Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corp is planning to lower its fiber optic broadband service charges around next spring to increase use of such services. It is also considering cutting interconnection charges for other telecom companies accessing NTT’s fiber optic cables. The Internal Affairs and Communications Ministry threatened earlier this month to restructure the NTT group unless it made progress on increasing access to fiber optic cable services and NTT is seeking to emphasize its positive contribution through service charge reductions. The ministry has vowed to make fiber optic broadband cable services available to all households in Japan through competition in the private sector. NTT controls more than 70% of existing fiber-optic cables in Japan.