TTNet applies for long-distance rate cut

Tokyo Telecommunication Network Co. (TTNet) applied to the Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications to cut its long-distance telephone service rates on Friday.

In the application, the carrier plans to charge 63 yen per three minutes for weekday daytime (8 a.m. to 7 p.m.) calls over more than 100 km, down 12.5 percent from the current 72 yen. At night (7 p.m. to 11 p.m.), TTNet plans to charge 54 yen for three minutes over more than 170 km; it currently charges 63 yen.

The same rate is to be applied to daytime calls on Saturdays, Sundays and holidays. The carrier also plans to decrease the charge between 11 p.m. and 8 a.m. to 45 yen for the same distance, from the current 54 yen.

TTNet started offering what is touted as the most inexpensive rates for general users mainly in the Kanto region last month, drawing more than 1 million applicants since August. However, the carrier decided to further lower its rates to meet intensifying competition because other carriers started to cut back on their long-distance rates to compete with TTNet's rates earlier this month.