Fujitsu's Photonics to Merge

Fujitsu Ltd. and subsidiary Fujitsu Access Ltd. announced today that they plan to merge and reorganize their photonic systems sales, development and manufacturing businesses in July in response to increasing competition in the Japanese photonics market. The plan was approved today by Fujitsu's board of directors.

Fujitsu develops photonic systems including wavelength division multiplexing (WDM) and SONET (synchronous optical network) backbone network systems, while Fujitsu Access created the GE-PON (Gigabit Ethernet passive optical network) access network for customers in Japan. Evolution in the market, the company said, has blurred the line between backbone and access networks, necessitating the need to combine the capabilities of the two businesses, particularly for the development of next-generation photonic systems for the Japanese market.

The two businesses' Japan sales divisions will be combined into one Fujitsu sales division. The Japan product development divisions of Fujitsu and Fujitsu Access and all the companies' photonics manufacturing divisions will be merged and reorganized to streamline and accelerate operations.

Fujitsu will continue to develop products for markets outside Japan; the power electronics business of Fujitsu Access, including its sales division, will continue to be managed by Fujitsu Access.

The businesses said more details on the merger and reorganization will be announced mid-May.

For more information, visit: www.fujitsu.com