Photo/Illutration The building housing NTT’s head office in Tokyo’s Chiyoda Ward (Asahi Shimbun file photo)

Japan’s top telecommunications service provider is planning to change its Japanese name next year to enhance its brand strength.

Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corp., commonly known as NTT but formally called Nippon Denshin Denwa Kabushiki Kaisha in Japanese, plans to adopt a new name in June, pending shareholder approval at its general meeting, sources said.

The new name is expected to be announced as early as May, the sources said.

The holding company controls mobile carrier NTT Docomo Inc., regional fixed-line carriers NTT East Corp. and NTT West Corp. and long-distance and international carrier NTT Communications Corp., among other companies.

The group’s predecessor was Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Public Corp., a state-owned company. Next year marks the 40th anniversary of its privatization in 1985.

The revised NTT Law was enacted in April, which enabled the company to change its name.

NTT officials had asked for the revision, saying that neither “denshin” (telegraph) nor “denwa” (telephone) signifies the company’s mainstay business.

At a news conference in May, NTT President Akira Shimada said changing the company’s name is a significant challenge in defining its brand in the future.

Operating under the new name, the company plans to internationally promote the Innovative Optical and Wireless Network (IOWN), its next-generation telecommunications infrastructure, and other services.

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