Japan to ask operators to reveal access fee costs

TelecomPaper | Tuesday 28 December 2010 | 01:20 CET
The Japanese communications ministry will require mobile service providers to disclose how they calculate fees charged for network access. With the move, the ministry aims to lower mobile rates for consumers, the Nikkei writes. Three firms with shares of 25 percent or more of regional markets – NTT Docomo, KDDI, and Okinawa Cellular Telephone – will face mandatory disclosure while other players such as Softbank Mobile will be asked to reveal their access charge calculations. As of fiscal 2009, Docomo and Emobile charged access fees of JPY 24.3 per three minute local calls, while KDDI charged JPY 25.7. NTT, which is required to reveal how it calculates fees, charges only JPY 6.4 for access to its fixed-line network. According to the ministry, high connection fees are passed on to consumers and is contributing to the high mobile rates in Japan.
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