Telecommunications

February 2003

The European Union (EU) expresses concern over Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corp. (NTT) for an access fee hike. EU Trade Commissioner Pascal Lamy voiced concern about Japan's plan to allow NTT to raise the interconnection fee to charge other carriers for access its phone networks. The European reaction came following the strong U.S. opposition to the plan. The Ministry of Public Management, Home Affairs, Posts and Telecommunications officially released the plan to revise access fee charged by NTT's two regional phone units for fiscal 2003. The measure will result in an increase in NTT charges as a whole. Minister Hiranuma of Economy, Trade and Industry expressed concern about a possible new European regulation that would burden producers with the cost of safety examinations for chemical products. (February 15, the Japan Times, the Nihon Keizai Shimbun)