Yahoo! BB ADSL
with vs. without
NTT Phone Service

Yahoo! BB ADSL Internet Service is carried over NTT's traditional metal telephone wiring system but it may be used with or without NTT's phone service being connected.

Question: Is it better to get Yahoo! BB ADSL service with or without NTT phone service?

Answer: There are pros and cons both ways. Without NTT is, in most cases, slightly cheaper (but not the big bargain that most users expect). For users who do not speak Japanese well or who may be moving their residence in the future, Yahoo! BB with NTT will probably be the best choice.

Following is a comparison chart with the pros and cons of both types of service, including a distinction between owned and rented NTT phone service. At the end is a price sampler comparing the services.

Cost of Yahoo! BB with vs. without NTT

ADSL service runs over NTT's wires and--one way or another--NTT gets paid for that. If you don't pay them for phone service then they charge Yahoo! BB for the use of the lines and Yahoo! BB passes the cost on to you. Details of the difference in cost are below.

Jump down to application forms

Pro & Con Comparison Chart
Yahoo! BB ADSL with vs. without NTT

Pro (positive) points in Green; Con (negative) points in Red; Neutral in Black

With NTT Service

Without NTT Service

Usual time to Connection?

Home visit for Yahoo! BB connection?

Is Japanese language needed to apply for service?

Are there Connection Charges?

Are there any calling restrictions?

With NTT Service

Without NTT Service

What Identification Documents are required for application?

You need:

• Alien Registration Card

Not accepted:

• Foreign Passport
• Diplomatic documentation
• Military Identification Card

Procedure when moving residence?

Pause service while on vacation to save money?

Is the phone number portable? (Keep same 050 number when you move anywhere in Japan?)

NTT "Lite"
Rented Line
(Note 6)

NTT "Regular"
Owned Line
(Note 6)

Without NTT Service

Monthly Cost?
(Inc. all YBB & NTT billed fees ex. tolls for calls.)

Notes on Prices:

BBapply handles applications for Yahoo! BB internet access and NTT land line telephone service.

Which type service would you like to request?

Yahoo! BB (have NTT Phone service already)

Yahoo! BB and NTT Phone service

Yahoo! BB without NTT Phone service

Back to Comparison of NTT vs. no NTT

Notes:

1. In order to comply with Japan's consumer privacy law, Yahoo! BB requires the applicant (him or herself) to make certain contacts with the company. For most account-related matters, the English Account support line can handle the call, but arranging the visits by technicians is only done over the Japanese-language support line, because only they have access to the schedules of the technicians. Hence, that must be done in Japanese. Normally, having a bilingual friend or associate standing by the phone to assist will be acceptable but having someone else (e.g., BBapply.com) make the call without the applicant present is not.
   
   
2. Cases of additional NTT connection costs are actually somewhat rare. The most common reason for extra charges is customer request to move a jack to a different part of the residence. In any case, if extra charges apply, the installer will attempt(!) to communicate that fact to you and get approval. (Pay attention if they start stringing wires!) Yahoo! BB connection charges are prorated over 60 months (¥84/month) and forgiven if service is ended before 60 months.
   
   
3. The comment on moving procedure for users with NTT phone service assumes that the NTT phone service at both the old and new locations have the same keiyaku-sha meigi-nin (the Contracting Party who arranged the phone service).
   
   If you are the Contracting Party or the Contracting Party allows moving the service, then the number and service, etc., will be portable and transfer can be arranged by phone without reapplication.
   
   The Contracting Party will (probably) be you if the phone service was arranged either by BBapply.com or by you yourself (not your employer or landlord, estate agent, etc.).

If (1) the NTT service was arranged by your school or employer without need for you to provide an ID to NTT, or (2) the NTT meigi-nin will change for any other reason, or (3) if the NTT service is not transferred but rather is stopped and then restarted, then the procedure when moving to a new address will be the same as if there were no NTT service.

To verify the keiyaku-sha meigi-nin for the line, you can call NTT. Instructions are here.

4. The comment on moving procedure without NTT service assumes you have non-NTT YBB service and will continue with that at the new location.
   
   If you decide to change to YBB with NTT service at the new location then net access can be arranged a bit more quickly--about two to three weeks after you move. In some cases, it may even be possible to have the service connected within a few days of the move. Include a comment on your application that you are moving and BBapply.com will advise on how to get connected most quickly.
   

5. Comment on the portability of the 050 telephone number for NTT users assumes that the NTT line kanyu-ken meigi-nin on the new service will be the same as the meigi-nin for the prior location, i.e., situation is the same as for moving procedure. If the NTT meigi-nin changes, then the 050 number must also change. (See Note 3 for more info.)
   
   
6. Traditionally, "buying a phone line" (actually, a "phone subscription right") has been quite expensive. NTT charged ¥72,000 for them until late in 2004 when the price was dropped to 36,000 yen. In the last few years, NTT has been subjected to increasing competition and the market has forced the street prices for 'phone lines' to drop to the lowest levels ever.
   
   As of this writing, BBapply can arrange the purchase of NTT phone line subscriptions for about Y13,860, including tax. This can be arranged at the same time we arrange your phone service. No meeting or visit to an NTT office is needed. The lines are guaranteed 'clean' (i.e., no outstanding unpaid bills) and the subscription right is registered in the name of the buyer. When you are finished using the phone service, you may sell the subscription right to anyone at the market prices in effect at that time.
   
   
7. NTT monthly phone rates vary according to the population of the service area and type of line (tone or pulse). Rural areas and small towns are the lowest and large cities are the highest. Pulse is cheaper in rural/small towns but the same as tone in large cities. See either the NTT East or NTT West sites for detailed NTT pricing info (English).
   
   
8. When used with NTT phone service, Yahoo! BB internet service may be paused while on vacation, etc., to save money. The service may be paused for any length of time but only full calendar months will be credited and there is no pro-rating for partial months. For example, if the service is paused from July 20th until September 5th, the month of August will not be charged but full charges will apply for July and September.
   
   

*Fine print, important notices, disclaimers, etc.