About Universal Service Fee

Along with the start of operation of the Universal Service Fund System, the SOFTBANK Group, starting in January 2007, will be imposing monthly surcharge of fixed Universal Service Fee per telephone number ^*1 for all customers subscribing to the SOFTBANK Group’s mobile phone service, IP telephony service and direct connection voice service.

The Universal Service Fund System is a system stipulated in the Telecommunications Business Law that requires 56 telecom firms to share necessary expenses proportionately in a collectively cooperative manner to ensure an environment to provide impartial and stable nationwide use of Universal Service (subscribed telephone, public telephone, emergency telephone and other telephony services that are essential for people’s life) provided by Nippon Telegraph and Telephone East Corporation (hereinafter “NTT East”) and Nippon Telegraph and Telephone West Corporation (hereinafter “NTT West”). It is a necessary system to continue smoothly operating highly public Universal Service and customers are kindly required to join in it. Customers' understanding and cooperation are highly appreciated.

Universal Service Fee per telephone number is to be reviewed semiannually (in January and July) by Telecommunications Carriers Association, which is a support institution of Universal Service. Therefore the fee to be charged to customers is subject to the review result. Fee per telephone number is shown on the Web site of Telecommunications Carriers Association (Japanese version only). Universal Service Fee collected by each operator will be paid to NTT East and NTT West through Telecommunications Carriers Association.

SOFTBANK Group’s services in scope