Edition: U.S. / Global

N.T.& T. Aims to Provide 3-Continent Phone Links

Published: January 9, 1997

Nippon Telegraph and Telephone disclosed plans yesterday to provide communications links between Asia, Europe and the United States, a month after the telephone company, the world's largest, said it would split into three companies.

N.T.& T. has applied for telecommunications licenses in Britain, France and Germany, and plans to submit a similar request to the Federal Communications Commission by the end of the month. This is the company's first step toward offering international phone service, something it is now barred from doing under Japanese law.

Before it can begin in the United States, the F.C.C. will study whether American carriers have similar competitive opportunities in Japan.