Orders for NEC's ultra compact "Pasolink" microwave communication system on the rise in African markets

Construction of an Africa based telecommunications engineering center

Tokyo, May 29, 2008 - As the scale of Africa's mobile phone markets rapidly advance, new orders from the region for NEC's ultra compact microwave communication system, "Pasolink," also continue to surge.

The economies of African nations are presently undergoing considerable expansion as national stability returns following the end of civil strife in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Angola and Sudan. The discovery of such resources as petroleum and rare metals in Angola and Nigeria has also brought a good deal of new wealth to the region.

These growing economies have attracted increasing interest from Middle Eastern port enterprises, including Kuwait's MTC, and UAE's Etisalat, as well as proactive expansion of investment from global operators. These diversified interests have significantly contributed to the rapid growth of mobile phone subscribers in Africa, supported by the construction and maintenance of mobile phone infrastructure. These same influences have given rise to the growing adoption of Pasolink, and its advanced ability to connect communications between local mobile phone base-stations.

In order for NEC to continue expanding its delivery of Pasolink centered telecommunications infrastructure systems to African markets, the company is currently planning to establish a locally based telecommunications engineering center by the end of 2008. Beginning with Pasolink, the center will concentrate on providing comprehensive training programs for technical personnel from African telecom carriers. The programs will cover everything from fundamental information to maintenance/support of NEC's telecommunications systems, and are expected to contribute significantly to the creation and longevity of engineering frameworks. Locations for the facility are currently being reviewed.

NEC has been contributing to the development of telecommunications infrastructure in African markets for nearly 35 years. Starting with the development of a South African based satellite ground station in 1974, NEC's services in Africa have undergone considerable growth, and now include Pasolink systems in 38 countries spanning the entire continent.

In 2007, the NEC Pasolink system held top share in its class (30% annually) according to studies carried out by Sky Light Research.

It is widely anticipated that demand for Pasolink's advanced technologies will continue to develop as the need for base stationaccess grows in response to the rapid global growth of mobile phone subscribers, the spread of mobile internet services and the creation of new broadband markets. NEC, as a business leader among ultra compact microwave communication systems, will also continue the proactive development and marketing of these versatile systems.