In response to plans by rival companies to slash their rates, Japan Telecom Co. said Thursday that it will create new rate categories for some calls within a prefecture, reducing charges in a number of areas by 44 percent on average.

Starting on Oct. 1, daytime calls within a prefecture over a distance of between 30 km and 60 km will be reduced from 40 yen for every 45 seconds to 30 yen, Japan Telecom said.

Nighttime charges for calls over 30 km or more will all be reduced to 20 yen for every 90 seconds, the company added.