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Fujitsu Expands Manufacturing Capacity in North Texas
25-JUL-08 - Richardson, TX

RICHARDSON, Texas – July 25, 2008 – Fujitsu Network Communications, a leading supplier of innovative optical and wireless networking solutions, announced today that they are expanding manufacturing capacity at their Richardson, Texas, headquarters. In an era where many companies are outsourcing manufacturing to locations outside the U.S., Fujitsu is shifting manufacturing of key optical and electronic components from Europe and Japan to the U.S. In the process, 67 new professional and production jobs will be created in North Texas.

 

“In an environment where a majority of customer orders require delivery in under a week, and often within 24 hours, our manufacturing facility in Richardson is critical to our competitive advantage,” said Hans Roehrig, senior vice president of operations and manufacturing at Fujitsu Network Communications. “Fujitsu is one of only a few major optical networking vendors that manufactures its own equipment in North America. By optimizing our in-sourced supply chain and implementing highly-regarded manufacturing philosophies, we are able to respond faster to rapidly changing customer requirements and deliver industry-leading product reliability.”

 

Fujitsu is transferring manufacturing of optical and electronic assemblies for its market-leading FLASHWAVE® 4500 Multiservice Provisioning Platform (MSPP) and FLASHWAVE 7500 Re‑configurable Optical Add/Drop Multiplexer (ROADM) from Japan. Manufacturing of broadband and fiber access products from Europe are also being transferred to Richardson. In addition, hard disk drive logistics are being consolidated from a third party vendor. The transfer process for these manufacturing processes began in the first quarter of 2008, and is expected to be completed by the end of this year.

 

One of the key objectives of these moves is to improve Fujitsu’s ability to respond to highly variable global demand. By pooling production capabilities in fewer places, peaks and troughs of demand can be balanced to improve operating efficiency.

 

“The transfer of manufacturing requirements from Europe and Japan to Richardson is an affirmation of the success we have been able to achieve through a commitment to continuous improvement,” continued Roehrig. “Each year our employees implement more than 4,000 process improvements through our Kaizen reward program. Most changes are small improvements, but the combined impact of thousands of small ideas delivers impressive results. We welcome the addition of new employees to our manufacturing team, and look forward to their fresh perspectives and contributions that will reinforce our manufacturing facility as second to none in our industry.”

 

“Since helping to establish the Telecom Corridor® brand by locating their headquarters in Richardson in 1981, Fujitsu Network Communications has consistently demonstrated a commitment to our local economy,” said Steve Mitchell, mayor of Richardson, Texas. “Fujitsu was one of four founding members of the Metroplex Technology Business Council (MTBC), the largest technology trade association in Texas and a leading advocate for Dallas/Fort Worth’s high-tech industry. The expansion of Fujitsu’s manufacturing operations in Richardson is the latest in a series of events solidifying our status as a leading center of technology research, design, and manufacturing in the U.S.”

 

Fujitsu is currently the eighth-largest employer in Richardson with approximately 1,500 employees on its 143-acre campus.

Nth Air, Inc. and Fujitsu Deploy Broadband Network on 3.65 GHz Spectrum in Las Vegas
15-JUL-08 - Richardson, TX

 Nth Air, Inc., a provider of next-generation wireless communication services, and Fujitsu Network Communications, a leading supplier of innovative optical and wireless networking solutions, announced today the launch of the Nth Air wireless broadband solution across Las Vegas for delivery of high-capacity video, voice and data services. The new fixed point-to-multipoint network brings high availability 3.65 GHz wireless broadband to Las Vegas businesses. This network will also be demonstrated live at the NXTcomm08 conference and exhibition in Las Vegas, June 17 – 19, in the Nth Air booth, #SL8016G.

Nth Air plans to provide broadband services nationwide over a 3.65 GHz WiMAX network in underserved markets. Nth Air provides completely integrated, end-to-end wireless broadband solutions from business-class connectivity to transport access, disaster recovery, broadband properties solutions, professional services, and managed services. Up to 1 Gbps symmetrical, dedicated, scalable services are delivered to support subscriber needs. Nth Air is committed to extending the network reach of individuals and businesses that need to be connected any time, any place and anywhere.

“We’re excited to launch the Las Vegas network so we can bring Nth Net business-class Internet connectivity and other services to the area,” said Craig Niemeyer, chief executive officer and president of Nth Air. “Fujitsu was the first vendor that had the products and technology available to deploy in this spectrum, as well as the knowledge and resources to plan and deploy the network quickly. Plus, the Fujitsu solution allows us to easily and cost-effectively reconfigure this network from fixed to mobile WiMAX when the technical standards are finalized, giving our Las Vegas customers even more options in the future.”

Traditionally, rural and underserved markets have always been difficult and challenging environments for operators to successfully deploy services due to high infrastructure costs and low rate of return. By using the 3.65 GHz frequency, problems with public spectrum are overcome and through the FCC’s registration database, a means to coordinate with other operators is available. This, in combination with robust WiMAX technology, allows the operator to provide superior service, making rural broadband access a reality.

“Nth Air’s network in the 3.65 GHz band underscores Fujitsu’s leadership in WiMAX technology since Fujitsu develops the major components of the WiMAX value chain, including silicon solutions, radio access network solutions, professional services and backhaul infrastructure solutions,” said Jim Orr, principal network architect at Fujitsu Network Communications. “Our WiMAX solution allows carriers to work with one strategic partner for all of their broadband wireless requirements, which helps them offer the leading-edge services their customers are demanding for anytime, anywhere voice, video and data communications.”

Fujitsu has an alliance with Airspan Networks (NASDAQ: AIRN) to market and support the portfolio of FCC-certified 3.65 GHz solutions, including macrocells, picocells and customer premise equipment. This is an extension of the co-supply agreement in place to bring high powered mobile WiMAX base stations to the global market.

Fujitsu Network Life Cycle Services will be an integral part of the Nth Air network solution. These services are available to help carriers such as Nth Air create and extend their WiMAX footprint by utilizing planning services such as RF engineering, site acquisition and site preparation. When carriers are ready to build their network, Fujitsu offers a full line of deployment services, which include installation and test/turn-up services, as well as backhaul and back-office connectivity provisioning. Fujitsu will manage even the most detailed logistics of deployment, including all local permits, inspections, and contracts needed to deploy the network. Carriers can also opt to have Fujitsu monitor and maintain their wireless network with Network Operations Center (NOC) services and provide full network statistics so carriers maintain full visibility to the inner workings of their network. Full maintenance and support is also available 24x7, with rapid deployment of on-site technical assistance personnel and spares management as needed.

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