August 19, 1999

 

FOR INFORMATION

 

NTT Communications Corporation applied today to the Minister of Posts and Telecommunications for approval to offer Arcstar Value Access (Integrated Access) Service, an access service that can be used by integrating the access networks of various services. The proposed new service, which will utilize leased lines of NTT East Corporation and NTT West Corporation, is NTT Communications’ second step in its new local-access service program, following Arcstar Direct.

NTT Communications plans to begin providing the service nationwide starting in September.

In the future, NTT Communications will continue to diversify local-access services at lower prices by introducing wireless access.


Outline

The Arcstar Value Access Service is a service that, for the convenience of users, integrates NTT Communications’ extensive access lines into one line. Specifically, access networks that have been necessary for each service will be multiplexed into one network, which will enable reduction of users’ telecommunication network costs. To use this service, a user will need separate in-house multiplex equipment.

Available Services

The Arcstar Value Access Service will begin with the following services and will be expanded in the future.

(1) Synchronous Transfer Mode (STM) System	(2) Asynchronous Transfer Mode (ATM) System
High-Speed Digital Transmission Service (HSD*1, Digital Reach*2) Type-1 Frame Relay Service (Super Relay FR)*3	Type -1 ATM Leased-Line Service (ATM Mega Link) Type-2 Cell Relay Service (Super Relay CR)*4

*1: High Super Digital
*2: Digital access is included.
*3: Five different types of Super Relay FR Service are availableÅ\Plan 1 to Plan 5Å\depending on the type of connection and the charges therefor. Only Plan 1, however, will be available for Arcstar Value Access Service.
*4: Both the High-Speed Digital System and the ATM System are available for Super Relay CR Service. Only the ATM System will be available for Arcstar Value Access Service.


Available Access Lines

Leased lines provided by NTT East Corporation and NTT West Corporation are available.

(1) STM System	(2) ATM System
Leased lines for High-Speed Digital Transmission Service (normal class, economy class)	Leased lines for Type-1 ATM Leased-line Service

Users will use the STM-system access network for the STM service and will use the ATM-system access network for the ATM service.


Charges

Charges for Arcstar Value Access Service will be the sum of repeater section network charges (including a basic charge, charges between mutual interconnection points, communications charges, etc.) and network access charges. The new service will be able to enable users to reduce their fees by up to approximately 30%.

The charges for mutual interconnection points between Super Relay FR and Super Relay CR will remain unchanged. For the Arcstar Value Access Service, however, a new fee system that combines charges between mutual interconnection points and network access charges has been established for HSD, Digital Reach, and ATM MegaLink.

Access network charges will be the same as the leased-line charges of NTT East Corporation and NTT West Corporation.

Attachment 1: Example of Reduction in Monthly Charge
Attachment 2: Monthly Charges between Mutual Interconnection Points
Attachment 3: Diversification of Local Access