FUSION COMMUNICATIONS EXPANDS NETWORK WITH DWDM SOLUTION FROM HITACHI AND ADVA OPTICAL NETWORKING

Martinsried/Munich, Germany, and Mahwah/New Jersey, USA – October 29, 2002 – ADVA Optical Networking (German Neuer Markt: ADV), a leading global provider of optical networking solutions, today announced that Japanese telecommunications carrier Fusion Communications Corporation has selected ADVA’s Fiber Service Platform (“FSP”) -II/2000 for deployment of metro network infrastructure in their central offices. ADVA’s Original Equipment Manufacturer (“OEM”) partner Hitachi Ltd. markets and sells the FSP-II/2000 as the AMN601A in Japan.

Fusion Communications entered the Japanese market as an alternative service provider in April 2001, building the country’s first all-Internet Protocol (“IP”) network. They have continued to expand this nationwide network and utilized it as a foundation for offering voice and data services at highly competitive rates – resulting in more than 1.9 million subscribers to-date. Steadily increasing voice and data traffic combined with a growing number of subscribers generated a significant need for greater network capacity. ADVA’s FSP-II/2000 product, based on Dense Wavelength Division Multiplexing (“DWDM”) technology, maximizes Fusion Communications’ existing leased dark fiber infrastructure by increasing the amount of traffic by up to 32 times per fiber pair. In addition to providing a lower total cost of ownership compared to the expense of leasing additional dark fiber from national carriers, the FSP-II/2000’s flexibility and scalability enable Fusion Communications to adapt and upgrade their network infrastructure as end customer demand evolves further.

“Fusion Communications recognized the clear cost advantages of deploying DWDM-based solutions to increase their network capacity and lay the foundation for expansion to meet growing customer demand tomorrow,” noted Jürgen Hansjosten, Chief Sales Officer at ADVA Optical Networking. “Fusion Communications represents a solid customer win for Hitachi with ADVA’s FSP-II/2000, and signifies the growing recognition for our solutions in the Japanese market.”

ABOUT FUSION COMMUNICATIONS CORPORATION
Fusion Communications Corp. (headquartered in Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo, President Tadahisa Tsunoda) is a pioneer in offering full-scale Voice over IP (VoIP) service in Japan. Established in March 2000, the company started offering VoIP services in April 2001, and its aim is to offer a variety of services at low prices by combining network resources for voice communications, data communications and Internet services. It also plans to integrate these capabilities in order to launch additional new services. Further information about Fusion Communications: www.0038.net/index_e.html

ABOUT HITACHI
Hitachi, Ltd., headquartered in Tokyo, Japan, is one of the world's leading global electronics companies, with fiscal 2001 (ended March 31, 2002) consolidated sales of 7,994 billion yen ($60.1 billion). The company manufactures and markets a wide range of products, including computers, semiconductors, consumer products and power and industrial equipment. For more information on Hitachi, Ltd., please visit Hitachi's Web site at http://global.hitachi.com.

ABOUT ADVA OPTICAL NETWORKING
ADVA Optical Networking is a leading global provider of optical networking solutions for rapid and cost-effective provisioning of high-speed data, storage, voice, and video services in the metropolitan area. ADVA’s carrier-class portfolio is comprised of the Fiber Service Platform family of products - explicitly designed to ensure the lowest total cost of ownership. ADVA’s solutions have been deployed at over 60 carriers and service providers (including PTTs, RBOCs, LECs, and IXCs) and more than 500 enterprises worldwide. ADVA’s products are sold through an international network of blue-chip distribution partners in addition to its own direct sales force. Further information about ADVA Optical Networking: www.advaoptical.com.