*** For immediate use February 27, 2015

Tokyo, February 27, 2015 - NEC Corporation (NEC; TSE: 6701) announced today a partnership agreement with U.S.-based F5 Networks, Inc. (F5; NASDAQ: FFIV) in the field of traffic management.

Based on this partnership, the two companies integrate F5's virtual application delivery controller (ADC) into NEC's Traffic Management Solution (TMS) and globally provide an integrated product to communication service providers (CSP) as an appliance. By introducing the product, CSPs can reduce hardware costs and product footprints by approximately 50% and shorten lead time for installation by approximately 40% when compared with deployments featuring hardware ADCs. This product's small-scale configuration, low-cost implementation and scalability for future expansion make it ideal for start-up MVNOs that are introducing TMS.

In addition, the two companies are establishing global sales and support efforts around the solution. This enables both companies to jointly provide high quality support services for CSPs in a timely manner globally.

With mobile traffic skyrocketing in recent years, CSPs are under high pressure to improve quality of experience (QoE), network coverage and throughput. In this environment, traffic management is attracting a great deal of attention from CSPs in order for them to remain competitive. NEC and F5 recognized these growing needs and agreed to become strategic partners.

The improvement of QoE using TMS has helped to increase end-user traffic and improve CSP revenue from the growth in data traffic. Additionally, TMS improves network efficiency and reduces CSPs' CAPEX for network infrastructure. As a result, TMS contributes to maximizing the ROI for CSPs.

"Changes in the CSP market are being driven by the desire for services that better address customers' evolving interests and new economic models. We are delighted with the opportunity to partner with NEC, to improve end-users' quality of experience in accessing and using applications, while controlling capital investment in network infrastructure by CSPs," said Robert Pizzari, Senior Director Sales of F5 Networks, Inc. "F5's BIG-IP platform enables CSPs to accelerate the transition from just providing connectivity to delivering enhanced, differentiated mobile experiences for subscribers."

"Through this partnership, we are integrating the technologies and the operational know-how that both companies have developed in the telecommunications industry to jointly provide high-quality support for TMS," said Masaki Nakano, General Manager of Second Carrier Services Division of NEC Corporation. "Going forward, NEC and F5 aim to share information regarding our respective product roadmaps to further enhance our technological cooperation."

For more information about NEC's Traffic Management Solution, please visit http://www.nec.com/en/global/solutions/nsp/tms/index.html

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About NEC Corporation
NEC Corporation is a leader in the integration of IT and network technologies that benefit businesses and people around the world. By providing a combination of products and solutions that cross utilize the company's experience and global resources, NEC's advanced technologies meet the complex and ever-changing needs of its customers. NEC brings more than 100 years of expertise in technological innovation to empower people, businesses and society.  For more information, visit NEC at http://www.nec.com.

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