Japan wants high-speed net links in every home

Japan is hatching a plan to become one of the world leaders in internet technology.

The E-Japan project is expected to include measures aimed at ensuring that all homes have high-speed net connections.

The programme hinges on bringing down the cost of local telephone calls.

It is due to become government policy by the end of the month.

Kenji Kondo, a Cabinet official overseeing the programme, said: "Japan hopes to join the club of the world's most advanced IT nations within five years."

More than half of American homes are hooked up to the net, compared with a third in Japan.

Flat-fee access to the net is rare in Japan and the relatively high cost of local telephone calls makes net surfing a costly pastime.

But critics say the government's programme is too little too late because Japan has fallen too far behind other nations.

Hironao Kawashima, a Keio University professor and expert in internet technology, said: "Government help in setting up the infrastructure is good news.

"But that doesn't mean Japan is going to catch up instantly with Singapore or the United States."