October 3, 2025 Consultation with the Information and Communications Council on the Ideal Approach to a Smooth Transition of Fixed-line Telephone Services (hereinafter, the "Ideal Approach")

　The Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications (MIC) will consult the Information and Communications Council, chaired by ENDO Nobuhiro, Special Advisor to NEC Corporation, regarding the Ideal Approach.

1. Outline of consultation

　On September 29 this year, NTT East Corporation and NTT West Corporation (hereinafter, "NTT East and West") announced a phased transition of their subscriber telephone services using metal fixed lines (hereinafter "Metal Fixed-line Services") to optical and mobile telephone services. The shift is driven by declining usage, limitations in maintaining aging facilities, and difficulties in securing engineers and other personnel to support the metal network. In addition, maintaining the current service level is expected to become difficult around 2035.
　Although the number of subscribers to the Metal Fixed-line Services decreased by approximately 80% from its peak in FY1998, and call durations fell by 96% in FY2000, the services still had approximately 11 million subscribers at the end of FY2024. In addition, some carriers rely on NTT East and West’s metal equipment for their fixed-line telephone services. Furthermore, the line installation infrastructure, such as poles and conduits, is shared by NTT East and West’s optical fiber and metal equipment, and is used by many telecommunications carriers for their services.
　Given the current situation of the metal equipment, the transition may affect not only users of metal fixed-line telephone services and carriers providing competitive services using metal equipment, but also the fair competitive environment in the telecommunications market, including services using fiber-optic lines.
　In light of the above, we will consult on matters necessary to ensure a smooth transition of fixed-line telephone services.

2. Matters that should be included in the report

（1）The Ideal Approach
　・How to protect users affected by the transition
　・Impact of the transition on related businesses and how to address it
（2）Other matters deemed necessary

3. Preferred timing for reporting

　Around Spring 2028