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Japan telephone system fears New Years Eve crash

The Japanese telephone system is preparing for a New Year's meltdown.

As Tokyo correspondent Mark Simkin reports, mobile phone companies plan to limit their services.

"Almost everyone in Japan has a mobile phone and phone companies are concerned that the usual steady stream of calls and mobile emails will become a flood tomorrow morning as people send New Year's greetings. Its feared demand will be so great, entire phone networks will crash. As a result the major telecommunications companies have announced plans to slash network capacity. Only a small percentage of calls or emails will be allowed to get through. The restrictions will apply from midnight until 2 am. "

1/01/02 4:15:16 | ABC Radio Australia News

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