Salira Names Former Corning Executive Yanming Liu as President and CEO; Industry Veteran to Make Salira an Integral Component of Hitachi's Optical Access Strategy

Business Wire, Oct 11, 2005

SANTA CLARA, Calif. -- Salira Systems, Inc., the leading provider of Gigabit Ethernet Passive Optical Network (GE-PON) systems, today announced that Dr. Yanming Liu has been named President and CEO of the company. Dr. Liu has more than 10 years of experience in R&D, product development, marketing, business development and M&A for both Fortune 500 companies and startups. Liu has held several management positions, including VP Business Development at Optovia and VP Marketing and Strategic Development at Walsin Management Company. Prior to this, Dr. Liu was Director, Communication Electronics and Integration at Corning Incorporated.

"We are committed to further developing our business especially in China and gaining a more widespread knowledge of our strengths in this country," said Yoshihiko Miyano, Chairman, Salira Systems, Inc. and VP and Director, Hitachi Communication Technologies, Ltd. "The unique experience and understanding which Dr. Liu brings to this important role will help us to enhance our position and achieve our potential."

Dr. Liu was inventor and one of the principal developers of Corning's award-winning LEAF fiber. Subsequently, he led the international technical marketing of the LEAF fiber, which became a multi-billion dollar product line. LEAF fiber has been selected as one of the most important product developments in the fiber optics industry and won four major awards, and it has been deployed throughout the world. Dr. Liu holds an MBA from MIT's Sloan School of Management and a Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering from Princeton University, as well as a B.E. degree from Tianjin University.

In addition to his executive responsibilities, Liu will also serve on Salira Systems, Inc.'s Board of Directors. He is also Chairman, CEO and President of Salira Optical Network Systems Ltd. ("Salira China") in Shanghai.

"I am delighted to join Salira Systems at this time. Salira has developed a comprehensive Gigabit Ethernet PON (GE-PON) product suite and established market leadership in China," said Dr. Yanming Liu, Salira's CEO. "The strategic investment from Hitachi further strengthens Salira's position in China and enables Salira to pursue opportunities in the global optical access market. Salira is poised to enter a stage of significant growth."

Hitachi Communication Technologies, Ltd. and Hitachi, Ltd. have jointly established Salira Systems, Inc. as a wholly-owned subsidiary. Hitachi expects to position Salira as a premier development base in the global expansion of Hitachi's optical access systems business. To achieve its market expansion objectives, Hitachi plans to drive the global adoption of GE-PON and related optical access products.

About Salira Systems, Inc.

Based in Santa Clara, California, Salira is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Hitachi Communication Technologies, Ltd. and Hitachi, Ltd. Salira builds Gigabit Ethernet Passive Optical Network (GE-PON) systems that are used to deliver traditional TDM services and advanced IP-based broadband services (voice, video and data) to business and residential customers. For more about the company, visit www.salira.com.

About Salira Optical Network Systems, Ltd.

Salira Optical Network Systems, Ltd., (Salira China) is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Salira Systems, Inc. Headquartered in Shanghai, P.R.C., Salira China is responsible for critical aspects of product development, and for marketing and sales in the Asia Pacific region. For more on Salira China, please visit www.salira.com.cn

About Hitachi Ltd.

Hitachi, Ltd., (NYSE:HIT), headquartered in Tokyo, Japan, is a leading global electronics company with approximately 347,000 employees worldwide. Fiscal 2004 (ended March 31, 2005) consolidated sales totaled 9,027.0 billion yen ($84.4 billion). The company offers a wide range of systems, products and services in market sectors including information systems, electronic devices, power and industrial systems, consumer products, materials and financial services. For more information on Hitachi, please visit the company's Website at www.hitachi.com.

About Hitachi Communication Technologies, Ltd.

Hitachi Communication Technologies, Ltd., headquartered in Tokyo, Japan, is a wholly owned subsidiary of Hitachi, Ltd. Fiscal 2004 (ended March 31, 2005) sales totaled 119.3 billion yen ($1.1billion). The company develops, designs and manufactures a wide range of information and communication systems-related products.