Fujitsu FLASHWAVE(R) 6100 GPON Platform Enables Broadband Access & Protects Service Provider Investment; Unique Hybrid GPON Architecture Meets Performance, Cost, and Density Needs for Fiber-to-the-Premises (FTTP) Applications Today and Tomorrow.

RICHARDSON, Texas -- Fujitsu Network Communications Inc., a leading supplier of wireline/wireless networking and IT solutions, today announced the availability of its new FLASHWAVE(R) 6100 Gigabit Passive Optical Networking (GPON) platform. Fujitsu has leveraged global experience in the residential and business access markets to create a broadband access platform that uniquely provides industry leading density and channel capacity, seamless inter-working with legacy networks and packet infrastructure, and the ability to inexpensively respond to future bandwidth requirements. The Fujitsu GPON family consists of the FLASHWAVE 6100 Optical Line Terminal (OLT) and a series of FLASHWAVE 6100 Optical Network Terminals (ONTs). A live demonstration of the complete FLASHWAVE 6100 GPON solution will be provided next week in the Fujitsu booth (No. 10031) during the GLOBALCOMM 2006 conference and exhibition in Chicago.

The FLASHWAVE 6100 GPON platform supports dual- and quad-port GPON cards within a 9U (15.75") chassis to provide broadband services to up to 10,240 homes and businesses per standard rack. In stark contrast, current Broadband Passive Optical Networking (BPON) systems typically support 75% fewer homes per rack when compared to the capacity of the FLASHWAVE 6100 GPON system. Full compliance with the ITU-T G.984 standard guarantees full compatibility and interoperability for the FLASHWAVE 6100 system.

To complement the FLASHWAVE 6100 OLT system, the FLASHWAVE 6100 series ONTs directly address all the performance, cost and deployment requirements for end customer locations. Fujitsu provides a full complement of ONT options for a variety of premises needs. All Fujitsu GPON ONT solutions include an integrated Multimedia over Coax Alliance (MoCA) interface, which uses existing coaxial wiring within a home to provide a broadband distribution network.

One of the goals for the FLASHWAVE 6100 platform is to allow seamless integration with existing networks. In addition to the new GPON service units, the FLASHWAVE 6100 platform supports all service interface cards from the widely deployed FLASHWAVE 4100 Multi-Service Provisioning Platform (MSPP). This capability gives service providers the option of deploying traditional MSPP, Ethernet, and GPON services from a single multi-service access node. The integrated Time Division Multiplexing (TDM) gateway function enables the provisioning of both packet and TDM services, allowing providers to manage the transition to a carrier-class packet-based network efficiently, and, most importantly, on their own timeframe.

"In today's broadband access market, telecom and cable service providers face intense competition to provide a new generation of rich, interactive, and personalized voice, video and data services," said Jim Hintze, senior vice president of marketing at Fujitsu Network Communications. "Our new FLASHWAVE 6100 GPON solution overcomes many of the limitations of legacy fiber-to-the-home solutions that are based on BPON technology, while providing a 75% increase in density."

The FLASHWAVE 6100 GPON system provides 2.488 Gbps of downstream bandwidth and 1.244 Gbps of upstream bandwidth, allowing for residential speeds of up to 75 Mbps per home. While Fujitsu and leading service providers believe this is sufficient bandwidth for enhanced triple-play services in the immediate future, tomorrow's applications and network demands are unknown. With the Fujitsu Hybrid GPON architecture incorporated into the initial release of the FLASHWAVE 6100 platform, service providers can offer an 8x increase in bandwidth to a service area without requiring truck rolls to replace ONTs.

"After spending billions of dollars on an FTTP infrastructure, the last thing service providers need is another expensive build-out in five or ten years," continued Hintze. "Our Hybrid GPON approach lets service providers inexpensively meet future bandwidth needs without replacing ONT equipment, thereby completely eliminating the equipment and labor costs of a truck roll to customer premises."

Teresa Mastrangelo, principal analyst at broadbandtrends.com, agrees, adding, "Telecom operators who fail to plan for future bandwidth demands will suffer from wasted capital investments and will have to play catch-up in order to meet customer demands. Equipment that is architected with the inherent ability to seamlessly upgrade to fatter pipes without re-deploying the entire broadband infrastructure is the key to future-proofing the network."

The impressive Fujitsu entry into the broadband access space reflects expertise and technology from its widely deployed Gigabit Ethernet Passive Optical Networking (GEPON) program in the Asian market. Fujitsu is also the primary supplier of Multi-Service Access Node (MSAN) solutions and IP Digital Subscriber Line Access Multiplexers (DSLAMs) for the British Telecom 21CN network in the U.K.

End-to-end network management and operations for the FLASHWAVE 6100 GPON platform is provided by the Fujitsu NETSMART(R) 1500 Element Management System (EMS), a software package that lowers service provider costs by consolidating and automating operations including provisioning, alarm monitoring, visibility, control, remote software upgrades and database backups. The NETSMART 1500 EMS supports all Fujitsu FLM and FLASHWAVE Synchronous Optical Networking (SONET) and Wavelength Division Multiplexing (WDM) products, providing a common interface for management and provisioning of a unified Fujitsu transport network.

About Fujitsu Network Communications Inc.

Fujitsu Network Communications Inc. delivers robust wireline and wireless solutions that power next-generation communication networks. With an unequalled portfolio of IT and telecom products and the support of Fujitsu Limited, a $40.6B company with over 150,000 professionals in more than 100 countries, Fujitsu helps its customers fuse information and networking technology with commercial value. Over 320,000 Fujitsu network elements have been deployed by all major carriers across North America. Fujitsu is illustrating innovation at work through its well-established and highly-regarded position as a market leader in both SONET and ROADM technology, the fundamental building blocks of next-generation networks. For more information, please visit http://us.fujitsu.com/telecom.

FLASHWAVE(R) and NETSMART(R) are trademarks of Fujitsu Network Communications Inc. (USA). FUJITSU (and design) (R) and THE POSSIBILITIES ARE INFINITE(TM) are trademarks of Fujitsu Limited. All rights reserved. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.