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.