Hitachi to join ITU-T Fiber-to-the-Premises Interoperability Showcase at Supercomm 2005

NORCROSS, GA, May 16, 2004 – Hitachi, Ltd. (NYSE: HIT) and Hitachi Telecom (USA), Inc. today announced that Hitachi will participate in an ITU-T-sponsored FTTP Interoperability Showcase at Supercomm 2005, to be held June 7-9, 2005 in Chicago, Illinois.

At the ITU-T Pavilion at Supercomm, Hitachi’s AMN1200 Optical Line Terminal (OLT) and AMN1200 ETU (Ethernet Termination Unit) Optical Network Terminal (ONT) will be part of a demonstration of B-PON interoperability, along with the products of other vendors. In addition, Hitachi will participate with NTT Advanced Technology Corporation in a demonstration of NTT’s conformance testing tool. Hitachi’s AMN1200 product family is the leading FTTP product worldwide, currently serving about 800,000 end users with up to 100 Mbps service speeds. Customers are currently operating a combination of high-speed data, VoIP, and IP video services over the AMN1200 platform.

The ITU-T FTTP Pavilion (Booth Number 76088) will feature passive optical network (PON) equipment built according to the ITU-T G.983 and G.984 series of Recommendations. PON technology is used in the local loop to connect residential and small business end user premises in an all-fiber network. A total of 17 vendors will show B-PON interoperability, products for G-PON, optical distribution networks, testing and performance, and video service equipment and set-top boxes.

With PONs, signals are generated by lasers and sent to their destinations over optical fiber cable without the need for active electronics between the endpoints. Carriers can realize significant savings with fiber sharing in the distribution network, equipment sharing in the Central Office and by eliminating the dependence on expensive active network elements in the distribution network. 

Hitachi also will exhibit in its own booth, No. 67019, where the company will demonstrate Legacy and IP triple play services – voice (POTS and VoIP), video (IP and RF), and high speed data.

About Hitachi Telecom ( USA), Inc.

Hitachi Telecom (USA), Inc., a subsidiary of Hitachi America, Ltd., develops, manufactures and markets telecommunications equipment for the North American market. The company offers access systems such as Ethernet B-PON and ITU-compliant ‘triple play’ B-PON for Fiber-to-the-Premises applications, and ultra high-speed optical networking equipment such as DWDM and SONET systems. For more information on Hitachi Telecom (USA), Inc., visit http://www.hitachitelecom.com.

Hitachi America, Ltd ., a subsidiary of Hitachi, Ltd., markets and manufactures a broad range of electronics and semiconductors, and provides industrial equipment and services throughout North America. For more information on Hitachi America, visit http://www.hitachi.us.

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 http://www.hitachi.com.

About ITU

ITU is a world-wide organization which brings governments and industry together to coordinate the establishment and operation of global telecommunication networks and services; it is responsible for standardization, coordination and development of international telecommunications including radiocommunications, as well as the harmonization of national policies.

To fulfill its mission, ITU adopts international regulations and treaties governing all terrestrial and space uses of the frequency spectrum as well as the use of all satellite orbits which serve as a framework for national legislations; it develops standards to foster the interconnection of telecommunication systems on a worldwide scale regardless of the type of technology used; it also fosters the development of telecommunications in developing countries.

ITU also organizes worldwide and regional exhibitions and forums bringing together the most influential representatives of government and the telecommunications industry to exchange ideas, knowledge and technology for the benefit of the global community, and in particular the developing world.