An affiliate of Tokyo Electric Power Co and a major Japanese Web access provider have begun talks to integrate their broadband operations in a move that could rival market leader Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corp (NTT), a spokesman said yesterday.
The move would combine the some 200,000KM of fiber-optic lines operated by Poweredcom Inc, an Internet access provider controlled by Japan's 10 major power companies, and the Internet technology of Internet Initiative Japan Inc (IIJ), a spokesman said.
"It is true that we have been in talks with IIJ as to how best to utilize our respective strengths," said Poweredcom spokesman Yonosuke Takanori. "However, we are not at the point where we are ready to announce anything."
Both IIJ and Tokyo Electric confirmed talks were ongoing but that nothing had been decided.
Takanori said the group's fiber-optic network rivals the 260,000KM-long network of NTT's two regional carriers, but would be enhanced by the high-tech capabilities of IIJ.
The Nihon Keizai Shimbun estimated that if the group achieved its plan to buy the fixed-line network of Japan Telecom Co Ltd, the new firm would post roughly ?700 billion (US$6 billion) in group revenue, rivalling KDDI.
"The new entity is projected to post sales in amounts comparable to KDDI Corp, ranked second in the industry, but its growth potential far surpasses KDDI's," the Nihon Keizai Shimbun said.
KDDI's network extends slightly more than 20,000 kilometers, the paper said.
Poweredcom is an Internet access company capitalized at ?45 billion focusing on private lease lines for large businesses, and is majority owned by Japan's 10 power companies.
Tokyo Electric is Poweredcom's largest shareholder with a 32.06 percent stake, followed by Kansai Electric Power Co Ltd at 18.76 percent.
The agreement would merge IIJ and its affiliate Crosswave along with Poweredcom and Tokyo Telecommunication Network Co.
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