Fujitsu Unveils Splitterless DSL Solution

Plug and Play Option for SPEEDPORT™ Shown at ComNet

WASHINGTON, D.C., January 26, 1998 – Fujitsu Network Communications, Inc., announced today a prototype "splitterless" version of its SPEEDPORT™ ADSL (asymmetric digital subscriber line) solution. The version will be demonstrated at Fujitsu’s booth, #760, at the ComNet trade show.

The demonstration is in line with recent industry efforts toward making DSL service offerings more cost-effective for service providers.

This version of the SPEEDPORT DSL access multiplexer represents an extension of core technology from Fujitsu’s development partner Orckit Communications (NASDAQ: ORCTF). Orckit is the only company in the world that was able to resolve a previous splitter technical challenge – enabling DSL to share a line simultaneously with basic rate ISDN or digital pair gain systems. That solution has been proven in European installations.

Eliminating the POTS (plain old telephone service) splitter feature from the current product will make the customer’s modem easier to install, and may eliminate the need for a provider’s personnel to visit the customer’s site for installation. That saves the service provider the cost of an installation visit and reduces the setup charge to consumers, further encouraging widespread rollout of DSL services.

Using Fujitsu’s splitterless SPEEDPORT version enables ADSL service at rates from 384 kbps to 1 Mbps. It preserves lifeline telephone service, but without a splitter at the customer site.

"Because splitterless ADSL handles the POTS signals differently, your maximum speeds will be lower than the 8 Mbps typically associated with ADSL," explained David Self, director of corporate business development for Fujitsu Network Communications.

"But since splitterless ADSL is focused on residential Internet access applications, the lower speeds are not an issue," Self added. "In fact, it is the logical next step as service providers strive to make DSL services affordable. The current wide interest in the technology is in line with Fujitsu’s economic models for DSL services, which show that they can be offered to customers for an attractive price of $50 to $60 per month."

Fujitsu’s Business Case model demonstrates that a mix of ADSL and SDSL (symmetric DSL) services can be used to bring residential customers 384 kbps access to the Internet or to their company’s network at an affordable

price. The data rate is close to the Internet’s average maximum throughput of about 400 kbps.

The SPEEDPORT solution, jointly developed by Fujitsu and partner Orckit Communications (NASDAQ: ORCTF), is based on a common 23-inch shelf, designed for NEBS compliance. It accepts rate-adaptive SDSL and DMT ADSL modem line cards and features 72 SDSL lines or 48 DMT ADSL modems per shelf, with IP or ATM concentration and management interfaces. Customer modems have 10Base-T or ATM-25 interfaces.

Fujitsu Network Communications, Inc., designs and manufactures fiber-optic transmission and broadband switching platforms and develops software that allows customers to perform in-service management and monitoring of the telephone network. Its customers include local exchange carriers, interexchange carriers, competitive access providers and cable TV operators, as well as large private networks in North America. Fujitsu Network Communications is part of Fujitsu Limited, a $36 billion global technology leader in computers, communications and microelectronics. Product information is available by calling 800-777-FAST. Its World Wide Web site is at http://www.fnc.fujitsu.com.

Orckit Communications develops, manufactures and markets a wide range of high-speed local loop communications systems, including HDSL, ADSL, SDSL and VDSL. Orckit is an active participant in many standards bodies concerning ADSL. Orckit is a strategic partner of Fujitsu Network Communications, Inc., in North America. For more information about Orckit or its xDSL technologies, visit the company’s World Wide Web site at http://www.orckit.com.

SPEEDPORT™ is a trademark of Fujitsu Network Communications, Inc.