News Release

Furukawa Electric LatAm has just been selected as a supplier for a very significant project with izzi telecom, a telecommunications company of the Mexican Grupo Televisa. The company is migrating from cable TV HFC (Hybrid Fiber Coax) network to FTTH (Fiber to the Home) in its Monterrey plant.

The project is expected to last two years and will provide optical cables and connectivity accessories, as well as training in design and in installation of the solution.

"Furukawa was chosen for its cascade, pre-terminated, fusion-free solution," said Foad Shaikhzadeh, President of Furukawa Electric LatAm and Corporate Senior Vice President, Furukawa Electric Group. "The greatest advantage of this system is the possibility of gradual investment in the pay-as-you-grow concept, in addition to the faster implementation compared to other technologies," he adds.

The project will start in Monterrey and will be as the basis for izzi Telecom to define its commercial offer strategy, as well as its network topology. In total, the project will provide 8,000 kilometers of optical cables - which will replace the carrier's hybrid cables (HFCs). The new network has potential to reach 1.6 million homes passed.

izzi Telecom provides services in more than 60 cities in 29 states of Mexico through a network of more than 30,000 kilometers of fiber optic cables and 77,000 kilometers of coaxial cables.

Furukawa Electric (TSE; 5801, ISIN; JP3827200001) Group started business in 1884, when its copper-smelting facility and wire manufacturing factory was established. Since then Furukawa Electric has become pioneers in the latest technologies by addressing diverse technological issues. Furukawa Electric has released products in a number of areas, including telecommunications, electronics, automobiles, and construction, with the three types of materials it works with at their core, namely, optics, plastics, and metals. Many of these products have attained the top global market share, and all of its products have contributed to society in numerous business areas. Furukawa Electric reported consolidated revenues of JPY 967.3 billion (approximately USD 8.7B) for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2018.

The main differentials of Cascade System are related with increase in the speed of construction of the network, and its topology, that allows the modular growth of the network, according to the "Pay as you Grow" concept.

This fast deployment solution is based on the application of two basic concepts, first, the use of balanced and unbalanced splitters in the same network for an FTTH (Fiber To The Home) application and the second, the use of cables and pre-connectorized boxes. These two concepts together applied to an FTTH network, bring a greater speed in the construction of networks, in addition to making it simpler and safer. Eliminating faults and field rework. An additional advantage is ease of maintenance, since the use of standardized and pre-connectorized products provides a much simpler, easier and faster job.

The development of the project requires training for the application of the network modules integrated to the modular topology, but once learned the designer develops the project easily. In the same way the installation requires training for its correct application, however, the use of external boxes and pre-connectorized cables makes the application simple.

To all those dedicated to the exploitation of telecommunications services, especially for HFC network or Copper network migration to FTTH, where simplicity and ease of construction of the new network allow rapid replacement.

Once the solution meets international standards, its use can be extended to other emerging markets, to which Furukawa Latam is dedicated to developing sales channels.