TOKYO, July 3, 2008 - Tokyo, July 3, 2008 - NEC Corporation announced today the commencement of construction of an Ocean Bottom Seismograph (earthquake observation) System (OBSS) for the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA). Once completed, the system will provide valuable undersea seismic information from the waters off the Tokia and Tonankai shores of Japan.

The new 220 km system will be laid west of the existing OBSS, also inthe Tokai area, and will add five ocean bottom earthquake monitoring devices, bringing the regional total to nine, and three Tsunami monitoring devices, making a total of four in the region. The equipment will enable JMA to gather valuable new seismic information from even the smallest of ocean trench earthquakes taking place throughout these waters.

The OBSS will be placed on the seabed 1,000 to 2,000 meters beneaththe ocean surface and will gather seismic activity data around the clock. Information will be sent in real-time through a fiber optic submarine-cable to the ground-based observation center.

"With the acquisition of OCC today by NEC and Sumitomo Electric, weaim to firmly establish our presence in the market of optical components and materials for the submarine fiber-optic network construction industry that is forecast to grow," said Dr. Shigeru Tanaka, Managing Director of Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd.

"Ever since 1979, when NEC provided JMA with the first OBSS off theshores of Tokai, we have been cooperating with the agency and other users to provide services that range from the planning stages to the construction of seven OBSS in the adjoining areas. Each of the OBSS has continuously provided valuable seismic information without failure. We are proud to support JMA by being a part of the 'Earthquake Early Warning System*'," said Osamu Harada, General Manager of NEC's Submarine System Division, "and we will continue contributing to global seismic studies through the deployment of our OBSS."

*Seismograph: also known as "Seismometer"*About the Earthquake Early Warning System On October 1, 2007, The Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) began providing residents of Japan with Earthquake Early Warnings. For further information, please visit www.jma.go.jp

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