Fujitsu Telecommunications Europe Limited, the leading supplier of high performance telecommunications solutions, continues to play a highly significant role in making broadband services available to homes and businesses across the UK. Fujitsu is supplying ADSL (Asymmetrical Digital Subscriber Line) exchange-based and customer premises equipment to Ignite - BT's international broadband IP business. A strategic supplier to BT throughout its entire ADSL programme, Fujitsu is involved with multiple aspects of the project - from initial network planning, through the 2000-line trial in NW London, to the launch of the initial ADSL-based portfolio in June this year and the recent launch of the entry-level service, BT IPStream 500, at the end of August 2000. Fujitsu has more than 20 engineering teams working non-stop in full support of BT's aggressive and on-going roll-out programme, which has implemented ADSL facilities in over 500 exchanges to date.

The ADSL systems supplied and implemented by Fujitsu have enabled BT's network capacity rollout plans to be fulfilled in the shortest possible time, with Fujitsu's range of customer premises equipment ensuring that residential and business applications can take full advantage of broadband services quickly and efficiently. Ignite's Broadband Services are aimed at a wide variety of services providers and Corporates, enabling them to provide customers and teleworkers respectively with access to services at up to 40 times the speed of conventional modems. Fujitsu's position as a global provider of Internet-focused IT solutions, complemented by its experience of providing broadband systems in other territories - including the USA and Japan - has contributed significantly to the success of this project. In addition, Fujitsu is an ISP in its own right, through its ownership of @nifty, Japan's largest ISP.

Commenting on the key role being played by Fujitsu in BT's ADSL programme, Chris Gibbs, Vice President, Ignite Broadband Products, said: "Fujitsu continues to demonstrate its capability and commitment to BT's aggressive ADSL programme, with the delivery of innovative DSL Products that enable us to continue forging the way ahead towards delivering a Broadband Britain and beyond. As a strategic supplier of ADSL technology to BT, Fujitsu has worked closely with us to ensure that our Network Rollout Plans are optimised wherever possible to meet these launch requirements. Our companies' Supply Chain Management programmes are closely integrated, and underwritten by significant ongoing investments by both parties, to ensure the continued availability and growth of these exciting new services."

In reply, Fujitsu's BT Sales Director, Simon Taylor, commented: "We are delighted to be making such a significant contribution to Ignite - both through our range of broadband technology solutions, and the immense effort on the part of our engineering teams. The project has come to fruition in just three years from initial discussions to on-line availability - a timeframe that represents something of a record in telecommunications. Our on-going input to the project - in terms of equipment, management systems and engineering resources - will help ensure that the full benefits of broadband can be delivered to an ever-widening audience. Our excellent working relationship with the BT Broadband Services team has been a major factor in the project's success, and represents a firm platform for the continuing efforts on both sides."

Fujitsu's broadband technology capabilities are delivering a proven, leading edge high-speed digital service over ADSL, in line with BT's extensive investment programme. Ignite's recent launch of BT IPStream 500 reflects the ongoing strategic relationship between the two companies, following Fujitsu's £multi-million contract win from BT in 1999, to provide a range of ADSL access technology and Network Management systems. BT is currently on target to provide coverage to 50% of UK households by the middle of 2001. Fujitsu will continue to support Ignite's aggressive roll-out programme with ADSL technology and engineering resources.

Fujitsu's innovative broadband access technology and Network Management systems have already proved themselves in BT's successful ADSL trials. As a flexible, multi-service solution, Fujitsu's ADSL technology provides fast access to broadband communications services, together with the optimum building blocks to incorporate future network requirements. This versatile approach is complemented by Fujitsu's Access Network Management System - FENS AN - which offers comprehensive remote-access facilities.

Ignite's Broadband Services based on ADSL provide fast access over ordinary phone lines, enabling the efficient use of existing twisted-pair network infrastructure to providing both data and telephony simultaneously. ADSL can be connected directly to routers, bridges, and Ethernet switches, and can be used for circuit-switched, packet-switched, and ATM-switched data. Fujitsu is providing a fully integrated solution, combining its ADSL access multiplexer (DSLAM) central office and remote customer premises equipment with its Access Network Management System (FENS AN). These solutions complement Fujitsu's overall xDSL capability, which also encompasses SDSL and VDSL technologies.

Currently employing 1,230 staff around Europe, Fujitsu Telecommunications Europe is a strategic division of the Telecommunications Group, Fujitsu Limited, Japan - one of the world's largest communications equipment suppliers. Fujitsu's customer base includes wide-ranging contracts across the breadth of modern telecommunications networks. Focused on providing strategic end to end solutions, Fujitsu offers a complete turnkey service - from project planning, community liaison, cable laying and civil engineering, to installation, implementation and ongoing maintenance.

Headquartered in Birmingham, Fujitsu Telecommunications Europe has extensive research and development facilities and also operates as part of Fujitsu's global manufacturing resource. The company has a long-established track record for product and service innovation, with extensive expertise in the field of leading edge optical transmission and telecommunications switching technology. This ranges from the development of the most advanced Photonic Network Solutions; to Passive Optical Networks; Fibre Access Systems; Synchronous Digital Hierarchy (SDH) networks; Digital Subscriber Line (DSL) solutions; Radio Access Systems and IP Applications; in addition to its TMN-compliant Network Management Systems.


About Ignite

Ignite is BT's new international broadband IP business focused on corporate and wholesale markets in the UK and Continental Europe, and through AT&T and Concert, worldwide. It has the largest broadband network in Europe and plans to invest around £4 billion over the next three years to expand its Broadband IP network, web hosting and application service provider (ASP) capabilities. This investment also supports its strategy to provide city fibre rings, xDSL and wireless local loop broadband access across Europe. Ignite also includes BT's international solutions businesses, Syntegra and Syncordia Solutions. Ignite businesses include both wholly owned operations and joint venture partnerships throughout the world: Inmarsat; Eutelsat; Intelsat; Impsat; Cegetel (France); Viag Interkom (Germany) New Skies; Esat / Ocean (Eire); Mahindra BT (India); Albacom (Italy); BT Telecomunicaciones (Spain); AT&T Holdings Canada; Sunrise (Switzerland); Telenordia (Sweden/Finland); BT Belgium; Clear (NZ); Commerce One; VerticalNet; I.NET (Italy); Al Saudia; Vio; Bharti-BT; The Fantastic Corporation.

For further information, please contact: