SUNNYVALE, Calif. -- Juniper Networks, Inc. (Nasdaq: JNPR) today announced that it has signed a strategic alliance agreement with Japanese-based networks and business solutions provider NEC Corporation (Nasdaq:NIPNY). The agreement expands upon an existing reseller relationship and provides for original equipment manufacture (OEM) in the future.

"This is a further and very positive step forward in the relationship between NEC and Juniper Networks," said Mr Kazunori Kiuchi, senior vice president of NEC Corporation.

A global provider of Internet, broadband network and enterprise business solutions, NEC employs more than 140,000 people worldwide and had net sales of approximately $40 billion in the fiscal year ended March 2003. NEC has resold Juniper Networks routing platforms in Japan since August 2000 and has long-standing relationships with major customers.

The partnership agreement, signed in Tokyo yesterday, reflected Juniper Networks commitment to the Japanese market.

"Japanese carriers and service providers not only represent some of our largest customers, but they are also among the world leaders in IP networking, including the deployment of IPv6 applications, VDSL and wireless data," said Scott Kriens, chairman and chief executive officer of Juniper Networks.

"This agreement provides a framework for joint cooperation in IP infrastructure closely focused on the continuing transformation of the already highly progressive Japanese networking market. It also underscores our commitment to working with our key application and infrastructure partners to make our infranet vision for an intelligent high performance infrastructure for all services a reality."

NEC Corp.

Juniper Networks Inc.