NEC’s Compact Microwave Communications System, PASOLINK, Secures Top Global Market Share for the Second Consecutive Year

Tokyo, March 31, 2009 - NEC Corporation announced today that its compact microwave communications system, PASOLINK, secured the industry’s top global market share (*1) for 2008, thereby maintaining the system’s top global ranking for the second consecutive year.

Starting from the early 1980s, NEC’s continued research, development, production and sale of the PASOLINK system have made it a reliable foundation for the essential backhaul lines required by mobile phone and fixed line data services. Most notably, in conjunction with the rapid growth of global mobile phone markets, demand for wireless access devices that connect mobile phone base stations has also increased. Accordingly, the PASOLINK system has surpassed more than 1 million total shipments, including nearly all of the world’s leading telecommunications carriers (*2).

Additionally, the use of PASOLINK has enabled communication lines to be installed in less time and at a lower cost than traditional fixed lines and cables, which has contributed to the remarkable increase in mobile phone subscribers throughout Asia, the Middle East, South America, Eastern Europe and Africa. Most recently, the launch of full-scale WiMAX services has also increased demand for PASOLINK, which is used for the mobile backhaul of WiMAX networks.

Currently, the PASOLINK NEO series has become the driving force behind the expansion of a wide variety of product applications’ ability to handle different operating conditions, such as increasing data capacities and interfaces, without installing new hardware.

Moreover, PASOLINK’s production base, NEC Wireless Networks, Ltd., has adopted manufacturing procedures from Toyota as part of improving the company’s integrated productivity. As a result, PASOLINK boasts of a portfolio that includes more than 1,000 function combinations, which strengthens its ability to satisfy the diverse range of worldwide customer needs and shortens lead time to deliver client orders.

It is widely anticipated that demand for PASOLINK's advanced technologies will continue to grow as the need for base station access increases in response to the rapid global growth of mobile phone subscribers, the spread of mobile Internet services and the creation of new broadband markets. Looking forward, as a business leader among ultra-compact microwave communications innovation, NEC will continue the proactive development and marketing of these versatile systems.
 

 

About NEC Corporation
NEC Corporation is one of the world's leading providers of Internet, broadband network and enterprise business solutions dedicated to meeting the specialized needs of a diversified global base of customers. NEC delivers tailored solutions in the key fields of computer, networking and electron devices, by integrating its technical strengths in IT and Networks, and by providing advanced semiconductor solutions through NEC Electronics Corporation. The NEC Group employs more than 150,000 people worldwide. For additional information, please visit the NEC website at: http://www.nec.com.  

(*1) Sky Light Research; 27.5% annual share
(*2) 137 countries and territories worldwide as of the end of February 2009

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