Japan, EU to cooperate in 4G service, digital broadcasts
TOKYO, Mar 05, 2003 (Kyodo via COMTEX) -- Japan and the European Union (EU) have agreed to step up cooperation on research and development into fourth-generation (4G) mobile phone service and on shifting from analog to digital broadcasting, a Japanese official said Wednesday.
The two sides also agreed to cooperate in promoting competition in the telecommunications area during bilateral information technology talks held in Tokyo on Tuesday, the first such meeting in two years, the official said.
The talks were led by Fabio Colasanti, director general for information society at the European Commission, the executive body of the EU, and Shinichi Nabekura, vice minister for policy coordination at Japan's Ministry of Public Management, Home Affairs and Posts and Telecommunications.
According to the official, the two sides agreed to strengthen cooperation in development and standardization of 4G and third-generation (3G) cellular phone service, which is not yet available in some parts of Europe.
As for telecommunications issues, Japan and the EU only stated their positions on the Japanese telecom ministry's plan to allow Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corp. (NTT) to raise the interconnection fees it charges other carriers to access its phone lines, he said.
The EU asked Japan to explain the plan that would allow NTT to raise the fees by an average 5%, effective April 1, a move fiercely opposed by the United States.2003 Kyodo News (c) Established 1945
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