Faced with competition on two fronts, Kokusai Denshin Denwa Co is to lower its international telephone rates by an average 20% from October 1, by an average of 20%, with charges to the US going down a substantial 28%: the high profits the company has been able to make on the back of the soaraway yen has led to widespread complaints at the big differential in charges for international calls compared with other countries – charges in the US are said to be about 72% of Japanese charges; the two independents, International Digital Communications, led by Cable & Wireless and C Itoh, and International Telecom Japan are due to start service next spring and the price cuts will be less welcome to them, because they will have maintain their rates below whatever Kokusai decides to ask.
