Japan to call for NTT access charge cut

TOKYO, June 12 (UPI) -- Japanese regulators reportedly will soon urge NTT to lower its access charge for its fiber-optic network as early as the 2008 fiscal year.

Sources in the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications told the Kyodo News Service that the formal recommendation would be presented in July when the ministry releases its report on telecom competition in Japan.

Kyodo said Monday that lower access charges are seen as a way to spark competition and expand services in the broadband market.

The recommendation would run counter to NTT's stance that its access rates are actually too low in the context of its plans to expand fiber-optic services to 20 million subscribers by 2010.