Axerra Networks' Pseudo-Wire Solutions Enable the Foremost Japanese Insurance Company to Migrate to IP Network.

Axerra Brings the Benefits of Business Service Delivery over Packet-Based Networks to Nippon Life Insurance Company 

TOKYO & BOCA RATON, Fla. -- Axerra Networks, Inc., "The Pseudo-Wire Company([R])" and leading provider of circuit emulation and service emulation solutions over packet access networks, and NTT Advanced Technology Corporation (NTT-AT), the distributor of Axerra Networks solutions in Japan, announced today that it has completed the project to migrate the VPN network of Nippon Life Insurance Company (Nissay) in Japan to a new IP network.

With Axerra Networks' Pseudo-Wire solutions distributed by NTT-AT, NTT Communications (NTT-Com), and Nissay, the foremost life insurance company in Japan, and Nissay Information Technology (Nissay IT), the system integrator of Nissay network, were able to migrate the legacy Frame Relay network covering about 300 sites all over Japan to the high-quality IP-VPN network named Arc Star IP-VPN provided by NTT-Com.

"Axerra's Pseudo-Wire solutions were the enabling technology we needed for this project to succeed," said Mr. Yoshida from Nissay IT. "With AXN, we are able to gain the benefits of IP networks without having to replace existing equipment or change our configuration. We are very happy with the performance of the Axerra solution."

AXN Pseudo-Wire Gateways and Access Devices[TM] provide the most comprehensive set of Pseudo-Wire services in the industry, including Circuit Emulation Pseudo-Wires, Frame Relay and HDLC Pseudo-Wires, ATM Pseudo-Wires, Ethernet Pseudo-Wires, and Legacy + IP aggregation with Layer 2 separation, security, and QoS/CoS over next-generation networks. Axerra's solutions enable the widest range of traditional business services, and maps them onto MPLS / Carrier Ethernet, cable HFC, xDSL, EPON/GPON, and WiMAX, creating a full-service alternative to TDM access and SDH backhaul. AXN Pseudo-Wire Gateways and Access Devices enable a greater degree of efficiency in existing networks and a smooth migration strategy to a single converged packet-based network without stranding any revenue streams from legacy services.

"Axerra's Pseudo-Wire solutions are being utilized by Nissay in about 300 sites to provide service delivery over a packet access network," said Gil Itkin, VP Sales - APAC for Axerra Networks. "With the addition of our Pseudo-Wire solutions, migrations such as the one just completed, can be accomplished no matter what legacy or emerging voice and data services are involved."

About Nippon Life Insurance Company

Nippon Life Insurance Company, the foremost Life Insurance company in Japan, was founded in 1889, has 66,437 employees (2006) and contracts with over 10 million customers throughout Japan. The company provides a full lineup of products to meet customers' needs that change over time. For more information, please visit: www.nissay.co.jp/english/index.html.

About Nissay Information Technology Co., Ltd.

Nissay Information Technology Co., Ltd. is supplying new services and creative, maximum-fit solutions in areas from insurance, finance and nursing care to systems integration and network building. For more information, please visit: www.nissay-it.co.jp/english/index.html.

About NTT Communications

NTT Communications Corporation (NTT Com) provides information and communications technology (ICT) solutions worldwide with dedicated professionals stationed in 21 countries. Renowned as an IPv6 technology pioneer and managed service expert, NTT Com offers diverse high-quality IP, Web-based, and managed network solutions combining network management, security, ubiquitous, Web portals/engines, and global services. Its world-class Tier 1 Internet backbone and secure closed networks with over 98,000 MPLS ports, combined with the networks of partner companies around the world, connect more than 200 countries. The company earned non-consolidated revenues exceeding one trillion yen (about US$1.2 billion) in fiscal 2005 ended March 31, 2006. NTT Com started as a long-distance phone company in 1999 after the reorganization of the NTT Group, and is the wholly-owned subsidiary of NTT, one of the world's largest telecommunications companies. Please visit www.ntt.com.

About NTT Advanced Technology

NTT Advanced Technology Corporation (NTT-AT) was founded in 1976 as a subsidiary of NTT, the largest telecommunications service provider in Japan. Since then it has grown rapidly, largely due to its close links with NTT Laboratories and its success in the technology transfer business. In the 1990s, the advent of the multimedia age caused our business to expand explosively. It now covers almost the entire range of information and telecommunications technologies, including a variety of research/consulting services, sales of new products and system/network integration services based on state-of-the-art technologies. Please visit www.ntt-at.com/company/profile.html.

About Axerra Networks, Inc.

Axerra Networks, "The Pseudo-Wire Company[TM]," is the leading provider of circuit emulation and service emulation solutions over packet access networks. Axerra's Pseudo-Wire Gateways and Access Devices[TM] enable incumbent carriers, mobile wireless operators, cable MSOs, and competitive access providers to extend IP + legacy data & voice services in native format over Ethernet, IP, and MPLS networks. The result is greater operational efficiency, new revenue opportunities, and a smooth migration strategy to a single converged network, without losing any revenue streams from profitable legacy services.

With Axerra's Pseudo-Wire solutions, service providers can convert any packet access network (carrier Ethernet, broadband wireless including WiMAX, cable HFC, etc.) into a full-service alternative to TDM access. For more information, please visit: http://www.axerra.com.