Q9How did broadband Internet access spread in Japan?

A9 The Japanese government's target of transforming Japan into a nation with cutting-edge information technology (IT)

Increasing broadband penetration helped promote the spread of broadband. The telecommunications company Softbank Group, lead by Masayoshi Son, contributed significantly to the spread of broadband to households.

In September 2001, the group started the low-priced Yahoo! BB broadband Internet service, which cost 2,280 yen per month including the Internet access fee. This wasabout half what other similar services cost at thattime.

Subsequently, the company introduced Internet technologies that allow its customers to make free telephone calls using Internet protocol (IP) telephones. Softbank staff even handed out ADSL modems on the street to further encourage the use of ADSL broadband services and IP telephony.