The government plans to step up pressure on the country's largest mobile-phone carriers to offer cheaper plans as surging profits show they have room to reduce costs for customers, an official at the communications ministry said.
Minister of Internal Affairs and Communications Sanae Takaichi may make a new round of requests to carriers, according to the official, who asked not to be named because the plans have not been announced. If successful, any cuts would build on previous recommendations by a panel the government formed to study lower fees, the official said.
A ministry spokesman declined to comment.