Fujitsu Telecommunications Europe Ltd, the leading supplier of high performance telecommunications solutions based in Birmingham, UK, has signed an agreement with AFC that will incorporate AFC's Next Generation Digital Loop Carrier products into Fujitsu's Multi-Service Access portfolio with both parties contributing their expertise to develop broadband solutions for European markets.

Shigeyuki Unagami, managing director of Fujitsu Telecommunications Europe, commented: "This is an important step for both Fujitsu and AFC, providing both companies with a firm foundation on which to build and extend our market penetration. We look forward to a long and successful relationship, based on a close working partnership."

"AFC is delighted to form an alliance with Fujitsu," said John Schofield, AFC's President and CEO. "It opens a significant channel for AFC to deliver its multi service access solutions internationally by complementing Fujitsu's comprehensive product portfolio. This agreement is the beginning of a long-term strategic relationship, benefiting our customers by enabling us to offer high quality full-scope, turn-key, end-to-end telecommunication solutions."

About Fujitsu
Currently employing over 1,100 staff around Europe, Fujitsu Telecommunications Europe is a strategic division of Fujitsu Telecommunication of Japan, one 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 the complete network installation, implementation, and ongoing maintenance.

Headquartered in Birmingham, UK, Fujitsu Telecommunications Europe includes 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.

About AFC
Advanced Fibre Communications Inc (AFC) designs and manufactures end-to-end distributed multi-service access solutions for the local loop. Its Universal Modular Carrier (UMC1000â) product family consists of a variety of industry-leading multi service access platforms and New Generation Digital Loop Carriers with integrated optics and intelligent CPE. The platform utilizes a hybrid ATM/TDM architecture which provides the full range of narrowband, wideband and broadband loop interfaces over various feeder transmission options, including copper, fiber, and wireless.

AFC is the first vendor to ship broadband line interface modules that integrate broadband circuits, narrowband circuits, and splitters onto a single line card for environmentally-hardened Multi Service DLC Systems. This enables integrated service delivery of broadband services for end-users who are not served directly from a central office. Additional information on AFC can be found on the web at http://www.afc.com.

For further information, please contact: