(L-R) British Telecommunications PLC (BT) Chief Exexutive Sir Peter Bonfield, Japan Telecom Co Chair.., 1999...

(L-R) British Telecommunications PLC (BT) Chief Exexutive Sir Peter Bonfield, Japan Telecom Co Chairman Koichi Sakata, Japan Telecom Co President Haruo Murakami, and AT&T President John D. Zeglis join hands after concluding a news conference in Tokyo April 25. The major Japanese telecom company Japan Telecom Co said it reached a partnership deal in which global heavyweights BT and AT&T Corp will each take 15 percent stakes in the major Japanese telecom firm. The two companies will pay 220 billion yen (.85 billion) for their stakes in Japan Telecom, which will be acquired through a new share issue, the company said.