A Japanese daily says North Koreans will be allowed to use cell phones from April.

The Tokyo Shimbun quoted a North Korean official as saying Monday that Pyongyang will remove a ban on mobile phone usage from April. Pyongyang imposed the ban in April 2004 after an accidental train explosion in Ryongchon.

The paper said the North will work together with an Egyptian communication firm to provide third-generation mobile phone services, including high-speed data transmission.

The report added that North Korean authorities plan to allow cell phones to be used first in areas surrounding Pyongyang. They will then gradually expand the scope to other areas.