Japanese government says it has the cheapest broadband

Japan's broadband subscribers at the end of March 2004 reached 14.95 million, and the monthly fees are much cheaper than those in other nations, according to a recent government report. Price comparisons show that the monthly fee of US$0.09 per 100kbps offered in Japan was also the least expensive among all. Some 16.7% of Japan's towns and villages are not provided with broadband services as of March 2004. Penetration rates are especially low in depopulated areas in Japan -- about 40% of such areas were not able to subscribe to any of the broadband Internet services.