Students to be exempt from extra cellular phone charges

Amid an expected increase in classes on the web for students as a result of coronavirus outbreak, the three major mobile carriers - NTT Docomo Inc., KDDI Corp. and SoftBank Corp. - are determined to offer part of their services cost-free.

In major price plans currently provided by the mobile carriers, communications speed is constrained when data quantities exceed certain limits. Maintaining speed requires an extra fee. Therefore, many students will need to pay extra if indeed they watch long classes on the web every day. However, with the aim to reduce the financial burdens of communication charges, the mobile operators will provide a service where students aged 25 and under will be exempt from spending the extra cost at least through April.

The Internal Affairs and Communications Ministry has asked telecommunications operators to take flexible measures to ensure a communications environment necessary for students. The operators will consider extending the period of the service according to the situation.