press release

Fujikura Ltd. (Director, President and CEO Masahiko Ito) recently received a letter of appreciation from Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation (NTT) in recognition of its contributions to the development and standardization of the multi-fiber MPO connector ^*1, which was recognized as an "Optcal Fiber connector with physical contact connection using a push-pull fastening method" by NTT, which received an IEEE Milestone in March 2021. The presentation ceremony was held at our headquarters, and Director Yuji Aoyagi of NTT Access Service Systems Laboratories was in attendance, who presented the letter of appreciation to our Corporate Officer Tatsuya Sakano.

The "IEEE Milestone" that NTT received from the IEEE ^*2 is an award that recognizes historical achievements that have contributed greatly to the development of society and industry and that have been in development for at least 25 years. NTT's "Optcal Fiber connector with physical contact connection using a push-pull fastening method" is a technology and product that has significantly simplified Optcal Fiber connections in backbone and access networks and data center, and has played a major role in the spread of optical communications. Even today, 30 years after its practical application, it still holds the largest share of the multi-fiber connector market, which is mainly used for wiring between devices.

MPO connectors are currently widely used in optical infrastructure supporting FTTH, 5G/6G, and IoT, as well as in the rapidly increasing number of hyperscale data center (HSDCs), etc. We hold the top global share in the supply of MT ferrules ^*3, a key component of MPO connectors, and are a world leader in this field.

Comment from Tatsuya Sakano, Corporate Officer of our company
We would like to congratulate NTT on receiving the IEEE Milestone Award. We are also very grateful for their recognition of our contributions to the development of the MPO connector. We are extremely pleased that the push-pull fastening connector, which we helped develop over 20 years ago, has been recognized for its significant contribution to the construction of today's Optcal Fiber networks. We will continue to work closely with NTT and other partners to develop innovative technologies and products, and contribute to the development of an advanced information society through their practical application.

Glossary
*1 MPO connector: An optical connector that can connect multiple Optcal Fiber at once.
*2 IEEE: The world's largest academic research organization and technical standardization organization in the fields of electrical and information engineering, headquartered in the United States.
*3 MT ferrule: A ferrule that connects Optcal Fiber together with high precision and high density.

Reference
NTT Press Release dated March 5, 2021:
" Optcal Fiber connector with physical contact connection using push-pull fastening method" that supports global communications infrastructure is recognized as a globally prestigious IEEE Milestone