Use of mobile lines for mountainous areas and remote islands landline telephones Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications Experts' Meeting October 18 15:48

With regard to “Universal Service” that requires NTT to maintain a fixed telephone network throughout the country, an expert meeting of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications proposes a report that allows limited use of mobile phone lines in mountainous areas to reduce costs. Is summarized.

According to the draft report compiled by the Organic Affairs Council of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications, which is considering the ideal way of the telecommunications business, maintaining the fixed telephone network in a sparsely populated area with a large number of users will increase capital investment, He points out that the economic efficiency will be extremely low.

In addition, in order to reduce costs, it is recommended that the law be revised to allow a method for wirelessly connecting home landline phones and mobile phone base stations in mountainous areas and remote islands.

The Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications will examine the details in the future and aim to revise the NTT Law at next year's ordinary Diet session.

In addition to the above, the draft report also includes that the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications verifies whether the usage fee for borrowing a telephone line from a major mobile phone company is appropriate for a low-cost smartphone company, and requests a review if necessary. The

The Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications will summarize the contents of the system during the current fiscal year, aiming to reduce the mobile phone charges, in light of the fact that the charge level is unclear and remains high.