ASIA Japan : NEC Corporation has signed a framework contract with a leading Polish telecom carrier, Netia, for the supply of advanced, point-to-point wireless access systems, PASOLINK NEO. The new systems will be supplied to the 3G mobile operator P4 Sp.z.o.o.("P4"), a mobile operation arm of Netia SA ("Netia").

P4, a new 3G mobile operator that started service in Poland earlier this year, is accelerating improvement of its network infrastructure to enable provision of stable and high quality 3G services. PASOLINK NEO will be employed to carry out transmission among mobile base stations. P4 plans to install around 10,000 hops in the next 5 years, and NEC expects to provide around 1,000 hops to mainly northern and middle areas of Poland, as well as to Warsaw, to fulfill the initial demands of the framework contract.

"One of the advantageous features of NEC's PASOLINK NEO, as compared with other wireless access systems, is its ability to handle different transmission speeds and interfaces with the same platform. This flexibility allows easier and more cost efficient expansion of networks when operators need to increase capacity or change a configuration," said Tadashi Ugajin, General Manager of International Carrier Sales & Marketing Division, NEC Corporation. "Furthermore, NEC's ability to carry out full development, from customized LSI to mass production, ensures a highly reliable system of superior quality, which achieves an average failure rate of less than once in every century that will contribute P4 to save OPEX of mobile network dramatically. This class of reliability is why carriers worldwide are choosing NEC as their supplier of choice for wireless access systems."

The winning of this framework contract can be attributed to the superior quality of PASOLINK, as well as NEC's long-standing experience, competence, advanced and high-quality technologies, and leading position in the global microwave communication systems market. NEC has earned a highly respected reputation in the telecommunications field as a supplier of reliable and leading quality telecom equipment, such as backbone microwave systems and fiber optic transmission systems etc, which are now being employed by telecom carriers worldwide.

The demand for microwave communication systems is expected to increase even further in the future with the accelerating global expansion of mobile subscribers and mobile internet services, as these systems enable rapid installation of telecommunication infrastructure.

NEC will continue to drive its advantageous position in the mobile and wireless communication systems market to expand its growth and business operations worldwide.