The number of public telephones is expected to decrease significantly in the future.
The government is expected to relax the installation standards and reduce it to about one-fourth of the current level, but in order to secure a means of communication in the event of a disaster, the policy is to promote the spread of public telephones for disasters that are deployed in advance at evacuation shelters. ..
National rules require that one payphone be installed every 500 meters square in urban areas and one payphone every one kilometer square in other areas. Currently, more than 100,000 public telephones are installed nationwide. I will.
However, as the use of mobile phones is decreasing due to the spread of mobile phones, the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications has been considering reviewing the rules at a meeting of experts.
According to the draft report presented at the meeting on the 26th, the rule was relaxed to about 1 in 1 km square in urban areas and 1 in 2 km square in other areas, which is about a quarter of what it is now. It is said that it will be reduced to about 17,000 units.
On the other hand, in order to secure a means of calling in the event of a disaster, the policy is to promote the spread of public telephones for disasters that are deployed in advance at evacuation shelters and convenience stores in local governments, and all telephone users will bear the cost. It is said that it should be compensated from the universal service fee to be paid.
In the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications, after having heard the views and opinions from the general, it is organize policy a final conclusion to the prospect June.