Tokyo, 17 December: Sumitomo Electric Networks, Inc. (Tokyo, Japan, President:Shingo Hara) has started to ship "StreamCruiser" IP set-top boxes ("IP-STB") to NTT Communications Corporation for its "OCN Theater" video distribution service.

"OCN Theater" is an appealing video distribution service and exploits the broadband environment to deliver a large selection of video content, from Hollywood movie productions through Japanese movies to the currently popular Korean dramas, for on-demand television viewing. In addition to this VOD service, there is other entertainment content including video kara-oke and games; and other content supporting daily life including news, weather reports, maps and horoscopes.

With the start of this service, newly provided for subscribers to the OCN optical fiber "B FLET'S" service from Dec. 8, the StreamCruiser IP-STB developed by Sumitomo Electric Networks has been adopted as the dedicated terminal to view the service.

The StreamCruiser IP-STB connects to the TV set in the home as a set-top box using an FTTH or ADSL broadband connection to enable reception of the video channel services being distributed. The product uses Raptor high-speed, low-latency, packet-loss recovery technology developed through the collaboration between Sumitomo Electric Networks and the U.S. company Digital Fountain. In a "best-effort" IP network subject to packet losses, the possession of packet-recovery functions enables provision of a stable high-quality service. The adoption of a real-time operating system provides a combination of outstanding stability and rapid response, and the provision of a Java Virtual Machine (VM), web browser and Flash player forms a flexible and vibrant graphical user interface.

StreamCruiser is also available with NTT East Corporation's IPv6 network service (FLET'S.Net), and implements links with the Digital Rights Management (DRM) system using content encryption, supporting video distribution service on a fully commercial basis.

Sumitomo Electric Networks is committed to providing high-quality, easy-to-use products and solutions for the expected widespread diffusion of broadband networks.

*StreamCruiser is a registered trademark of Sumitomo Electric Networks, Inc.

*Other company and product names are the trademarks or registered trademarks of the companies concerned.

Further information on the StreamCruiser IP-STB is available at http://www.streamcruiser.com/product/200311_ip-stb_pE.html

About Sumitomo Electric Networks

Sumitomo Electric Networks, Inc. is a leading supplier of broadband access equipment, and its major product lines include ADSL, VDSL, VoIP (Voice Over IP), GEPON (Gigabit Ethernet Passive Optical Network) and CDN (Content Delivery Network) to cover a variety of broadband access services and applications. For more information. please visit www.sei-networks.com.

Contacts

Sumitomo Electric Networks, Inc.

Hiroyuki Munakata, +81-3-3423-5743

munakata@sei-networks.com