NEC America Introduces Next Generation Reconfigurable Optical Add/Drop Multiplexer —ROADM— At SUPERCOMM 2005; New Solution Right-Sizes the Optical Network, Reducing Carriers' Operational and Capital Expenditures

Business Wire, June 6, 2005

CHICAGO -- NEC America, Inc. (NEC), a leading provider of carrier-class communications products for optical networks announced today, the SpectralWave(TM) DW4240 Core/Edge reconfigurable optical add/drop multiplexer (ROADM). The new network device delivers dynamic bandwidth allocation of networked wavelengths with integrated transport, switching and multi-layer management at both the wavelength and SONET/SDH layers. Easy to deploy, and offering an efficient, reliable network operation system with advanced end-to-end wavelength provisioning, the NEC 4240 saves carriers on operational and capital expenditures (OPEX/CAPEX) and helps increase revenues by bringing high-speed services quickly to market.

As the first solution in NEC's new-generation optical networking platform, the NEC 4240 helps network operators overcome the design limitations of conventional metro dense wavelength division multiplexing (DWDM) systems. As an intelligent, automated solution, the NEC 4240 provides the support and network reliability necessary to deliver Gigabit Ethernet and complete voice, video and data triple-play services, including: Internet Protocol Television (IPTV) and Video on Demand (VOD) applications. Network operators will realize benefits in operational simplicity and lower operational expenses, as well as CAPEX savings in initial deployment and sparing costs.

"NEC is truly treating the ROADM as a market segment, and is delivering, as promised, a platform that is not a simple extension of legacy DWDMs, but the base for the next generation optical add/drop applications at all line rates," said Rocky Kler, general manager, Optical Network Systems Division, NEC. "We see the 4240 as the first of several steps in our new-generation optical networking plan, designed to meet carriers' desire to optimize their network boundaries."

Specifically, the NEC 4240 is a very compact system that offers full ROADM capability for flexible multiplexing and transport of up to 40 C-Band or L-Band optical wavelengths. The NEC 4240's feature set includes full add-drop capability at any node, full-band tunable transponders, integrated SONET-on-a-blade multiplexers, and upgradeability to wavelength cross-connect (WXC) configuration. Transport topologies supported by the NEC 4240 include optical rings, point-to-point, and linear-chain.

The NEC 4240 uses a single universal ROADM shelf type to support ROADM, Terminal, and In-Line Amplifier configurations. Both the Terminal and In-Line Amplifier configurations can be upgraded in-service to full ROADM configuration by simply adding units.

The NEC 4240 is the first available product in NEC's new-generation optical transport system. NEC plans to rollout additional products, services and software throughout FY2005 and FY2006. The NEC 4240 is generally available, with pricing approaching SONET mux levels in a basic configuration.

For more information on NEC's new optical networking technologies, or activities at SUPERCOMM 2005, please visit www.necamerica.com, or stop by booth #51010.

About NEC America, Inc.

NEC America, Inc., headquartered in Irving, Texas, is a leading provider of innovative communications products, solutions and services. NEC America serves all communications industries from carriers, to enterprise, to wireless and is an affiliate of NEC Corporation (Nasdaq:NIPNY), a Global Fortune 500(R) company and one of the leading patent producing enterprises in the world. For more information about NEC America, visit its website at www.necamerica.com.

SpectralWave(TM) is a trademark of NEC America, Inc.