For Immediate Release
July 9, 1997
NTT to Open Local Switches to Advanced Telecom-Service Providers
Nippon Telegraph & Telephone Corporation (NTT) announced on July 2 that the corporation will upgrade the capabilities of its local switches to let providers of advanced telecommunication services combine preinstalled basic functions needed to offer advanced services, beginning in January 1999. The preinstalled basic functions will be called functional menus.Until now, operators wishing to provide advanced telecommunication services had to request NTT to make changes in a switch's software and network, causing long delays before the services could start. To remedy the problem, NTT will preinstall the software and hardware for common basic functions and enable providers to combine these basic functions in a specified sequential order to offer advanced services. The provider will connect with the switch via a signaling network and use its service control point (SCP) to choose the required functional menu installed in the switch.
Opened local switches will ensure a level playing field for competition between NTT and other telecommunications operators, in addition to freeing operators from having to arrange for NTT to reconstruct local switches. Moreover, increased competition in advanced telecommunication services using SCPs will lead to more diverse services, increased convenience for users and an expanded market scope.
NTT has been promoting open networks as part of the corporation's efforts to digitalize its network. NTT first opened its local network in September 1995.
The interface selected by NTT will be the Intelligent Network Application Protocol (INAP), an international standard.
NTT has publicly announced all information pertaining to changes in network and interface functions, as well as related seminars and other information, in the July 3 issue of Kanpo, the government's official gazette, in accordance with corporation policy. A seminar to explain the above changes will be held as follows:
| Date & Time: | 1:30 p.m., Wednesday, July 30 |
| Place: | Fuji Hall, 42nd fl., Keio Plaza Hotel 2-2-1 Nishi Shinjuku, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo |
| Fee: | Free |
All materials handed out at the seminar will be made available for viewing from July 10 at NTT's Information Station (1st fl., NTT Shinjuku Headquarters Lower Building, 3-19-2 Nishi Shinjuku, Shinjuku-ku Tokyo). To receive these materials by mail, please contact the Public Relations Department listed below (materials are only available in Japanese).
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