A state panel on information technology agreed Thursday to a review of Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corp. to allow for fair competition in the telecom sector, while using IT to promote public welfare and regain economic competitiveness.

Working under the so-called e-Japan strategy headed by Prime Minister Yoshiro Mori, the IT Strategy Council worked on measures intended to make Japan one of the world's most advanced IT countries within five years.

The council states in the plan that promoting fair competition will benefit users by allowing them access to inexpensive and high-speed telecom services.