Cable & Wireless IDC Inc. said Friday it has applied to the Posts and Telecommunications Ministry for approval to offer long-distance telecom services in Japan.
The Japanese unit of Britain's Cable & Wireless PLC plans to start the service, using its own telecom facilities, by the end of this year.
Cable & Wireless IDC now operates in Japan exclusively as an international carrier.
The decision to launch long-distance telecom services follows a Japan-U.S. agreement last month to lower interconnection fees charged by NTT Corp.
International Digital Communications Inc. (IDC) was taken over by C&W in June 1999, and Cable & Wireless IDC currently operates as an international carrier.