IP Convergence: Beyond VoIP, Beyond Cost Savings

The recommendation for the break up of NTT came from a government panel, not NTT. While I am not naive enough to think that the government and NTT are completely separate, the fact is that this was not NTT's first choice and they do in fact oppose the recommendation. And Japan isn't the only country looking at this option. The UK considered it for BT, but instead opted for a watered down version requiring BT to create a separate subsidiary after vigorous opposition from BT. Why would anyone voluntarily relinquish a monopoly?