Fujitsu Network Communications, Inc.

Fujitsu Packs More Capacity, Flexibility to the Edge

Multiservice Access Device -- FLASHWAVE® 4100 --To Support Gigabit Ethernet, DCS Functionality and Higher Speeds

Atlanta, GA, June 2, 2003 — Fujitsu Network Communications Inc., the leader in the optical telecommunications market, today announced at SUPERCOMM 2003 (Booth #11340) significant enhancements to its popular FLASHWAVE® 4100 multiservice optical access platform.  New capabilities include an OC-48 line unit, OC-12 and Gigabit Ethernet service units, DS3 transmux, and higher capacity STS and VT1.5 switching. These enhancements will allow service providers to build higher capacity access networks, offer next-generation optical services and dramatically reduce recurring operational expenses.  Each of these new carrier-class features can be easily introduced into existing access networks with a seamless, in-service upgrade.

The platform can be used for a wide variety of access applications, including traditional SONET transport, private line business offerings and transparent Local Area Network (LAN) Ethernet services.  Traditional DS1 through OC-48 connectivity, next-generation 10/100Base-T and Gigabit Ethernet services are now supported.  

The FLASHWAVE 4100 platform, available in two form factors with six or twelve service unit slots, allows carriers to optimize their access offerings for Multiple Tenant Units (MTU) and campus environments.  In-service upgrades from OC-3 through OC-48, optical hubbing, full hairpinning capabilities at both the STS and VT1.5 levels, NEBS Level 3 compliance, remote memory backup and restoration, and gateway network element capabilities with no additional hardware further raise the bar for carrier-class equipment.

“These latest enhancements allow service providers to offer new high-value and high-margin services that take advantage of existing capacity on their network,” said George Chase, group president and COO for Fujitsu Network Communications.  “Our implementation of EPORT, an OSMINE-supported Ethernet over SONET provisioning technology, makes the introduction of carrier-grade, ‘edge-to-edge’ Ethernet services as simple to deploy as a DS3.  When carriers add FLASHWAVE 4100 nodes to the edge of their existing SONET networks, they can provision Ethernet across their whole network, making wide scale deployment of 10/100Base-T and Gigabit Ethernet services a reality.”

Additional features include an enhanced STS and VT switching fabric, DS3 Transmux functionality and integrated test access capabilities to allow the FLASHWAVE 4100 platform to function as a small Digital Cross-connect System (DCS) for distributed traffic grooming applications.  The FLASHWAVE 4100 system contains one of the largest VT1.5 switching fabrics available in an optical transport product, allowing up to 6,720 VT1.5 cross-connections within a single shelf.  The addition of DS3 Transmux capabilities allows this powerful VT1.5 switch fabric to combine DS1 traffic from multiple customers across different networks into fully utilized DS3 circuits, reducing Interoffice Facility (IOF) transport and equipment tie pair requirements.  Consolidating traffic before it enters a DCS maximizes its switching efficiency and helps service providers postpone or eliminate the costly capital expense of adding or expanding a DCS.  Integrated test access replicates another key DCS function to provide the testing and monitoring that ensures high reliability for service provider networks.

This new FLASHWAVE 4100 release also includes support for Generic Framing Procedure (GFP), Ethernet alarm propagation, auto concatenation and multiple security enhancements.

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About Fujitsu Network Communications Inc.

Fujitsu Network Communications Inc. delivers next-generation optical transport and photonics solutions optimized for metropolitan, regional, long haul and ultra long haul, high capacity applications.  The company’s comprehensive consulting and network services offer support at any network development, deployment and maintenance stage.  The company is the leading optical transport equipment vendor in the metro ADM market with 56%¹market share.  Fujitsu Network Communications is a division of Tokyo-based Fujitsu Limited (TSE: 6702), a leading provider of customer-focused IT and communications solutions for the global marketplace.  Fujitsu Limited reported consolidated revenues of 4.6 trillion yen (US$38 billion) for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2003
For more information, please see: http://us.fujitsu.com./telecom

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FLASHWAVE® is a trademark of Fujitsu Network Communications Inc. (USA) All rights reserved.  All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

¹ RHK findings for total 2002 metro ADM market share in North America.