SPARTANBURG, S.C. -- AFL Telecommunications announces the opening of a new Spartanburg, SC- based R&D Center in April 2006 that will further its advancement into the fiber optics industry.

A collaboration between AFL Telecommunications and Fujikura Ltd. of Japan, AFL’s parent company, the new R&D Center will develop new products and invest in new technologies, meeting US market demands and establishing the foundation for the future of AFL. Key to its success will be the ability to interact closely with customers, providing rapid response and feedback.

“Building on the strength of Fujikura technologies, the new R&D Center will be a critical element for growth for AFL Telecommunications, combining technologies to create solutions to many different applications for our customers,” said Jody Gallagher, President of AFL Telecommunications. “We’re excited about this investment and commitment as it will lead us into a promising future.”

The mission of the Center is to promote the development of products based on Fujikura technologies and to search for potential new products and opportunities in the US market by expanding AFL’s future business. New markets including automotive and medical will be explored. In addition, the Center plans to collaborate with local research universities to further its studies in the field of optics.

“The US market is at the forefront of advanced technologies and AFL Telecommunications will now have an active role in the advancement of the industry,” said Masatoshi Kuroda, Chairman of AFL Telecommunications. “The R&D Center will be designed to

AFL Telecommunications