Contact:	Alexandra Manning Marketing Communications Specialist Sumitomo Electric Lightwave 78 Alexander Drive, Research Triangle Park, NC, 27709
Phone: Email: Website:	919-541-8100 amanning@sumitomoelectric.com www.sumitomoelectric.com

Research Triangle Park, NC, March 10, 2000 - Sumitomo Electric Lightwave Corp. (SEL), a leading manufacturer of optic fiber cable and related products, today announced the arrival of its new president, Mr. Yasuo Sakata. Appointed by SEL's parent company, Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd. (SEI), Sakata succeeds Mr. Hiroaki Horima, who had held the president's position since 1994.

Prior to his appointment as SEL's president, Sakata was the general manager of the Cable Engineering Department in the Communications Division of Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd. in Yokohama, Japan. During his employment with SEI's Cable Engineering Department, Sakata was instrumental in the research, design and development of optical fiber cables and related products for the company's global market. He had also led the FTTH (Fiber To The Home) development projects for one of SEI's largest customers, Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation (NTT).

Fred McDuffee, Senior Vice President of Optic Cable, welcomed Sakata. " Mr. Sakata's extensive experience in the field of optical fiber and system engineering will ensure the continued success and steady growth that Sumitomo Electric Lightwave has experienced under the leadership of Mr. Hiroaki Horima." McDuffee continued, "It is the appointment of such strong leaders from our parent company that positions SEL as a major player in the competitive telecommunications industry."

During Horima's six years in office, SEL experienced an unprecedented 151 percent growth in revenues. Horima will be returning to Japan at the end of March to begin a new assignment with SEI's Fiber Optic Division.

Sumitomo Electric Lightwave (SEL), located in Research Triangle Park, NC, was established in 1983. It is the North American operation within the global network of Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd. (SEI). SEI employs over 60,000 people in its worldwide network, with other operations in Asia, Africa, Europe, North America, and Central and South America. Established in 1897 to manufacture bare copper wire systems, SEI has become one of the world's leading edge forces in the R&D and manufacturing of advanced fiber optic cable and related products. Among its accomplishments, SEI's optical fibers exhibit the world's lowest transmission loss, and its fusion technology is considered to be the best in the industry. Dedicated to the advancement of local and long-distance telecommunications, cable TV, and broadband technologies, Sumitomo Electric Lightwave is a leading supplier and manufacturer of optical fiber cable, interconnect assemblies, fusion splicer products, FutureFlex‘ Airblown Fiber, and electro-optic devices and components for WDM systems solutions.