2 Regional NTT Units to Start IP Phone Service for Houses

Tokyo, Nov. 9 (Jiji Press)–The two regional fixed-line units of Nippon Telegraph & Telephone Corp. said Tuesday they will start Internet Protocol-based telephone services for houses via their optical fiber cable networks in 2005.

After obtaining approval from the Internal Affairs and Communications Ministry, NTT East Corp. plans to begin such services in January 2005 and NTT West Corp. in April.

The two firms said they have yet to set their rates for the services.

The new services will be offered to those subscribing to the companies’ planned high-speed Internet access services using the fiber-optic networks. Subscribers to the IP phone services can continue using their present phone numbers.

NTT East and NTT West have already launched IP phone services for corporate clients and condominiums.END