TOKYO, JAPAN --- NTT Communications Corporation (NTT Com) and 12 leading Asian telecom companies offering Arcstar global network services renewed their commitment to further enhance service quality during the sixth Arcstar Carrier Forum held in Tokyo from November 12 to 14.

The goal of conference, first held in 2000, is to review and strengthen quality of operations and delivery amongst Arcstar Partners.

At this year's Forum, held under the theme "On-Time Delivery and Quick Recovery," the participants shared case histories and other information with the aim of finding common ways to improve service quality. They also agreed to the following goals:

• Increase network availability: 99.9% or above (varies by country)
• Reduce recovery time in the event of access-line failure to 2 - 4 hours (varies by country)
• Reduce extended network disorders and related human error by more than half
• Meet delivery deadlines strictly

The participants also exchanged information about the common challenges that network operators face and the IT-infrastructure needs of their multinational customers. Kimberly-Clark, an NTT Com customer, attended the forum as a special guest and delivered a presentation on what multinationals expect of telecom carriers, giving the all Arcstar Partners the opportunity to hear directly from premier customers.

Trans TeleCom, Russia's largest data-communication carrier, and Etisalat, the largest carrier in the United Arab Emirates, joined the Forum for the first time.

Please see the attachment for the names of the companies that took part in the Forum.

*Corporate details are as follows:

Kimberly-Clark Corporation.
http://www.kimberly-clark.com/

About NTT Communications
NTT Communications Corporation (NTT Com) provides information and communications technology (ICT) solutions worldwide with dedicated professionals stationed in 21 countries. Renowned as an IPv6 technology pioneer and managed service expert, NTT Com offers diverse high-quality IP, Web-based, and managed network solutions combining network management, security, ubiquitous, Web portals/engines, and global services. Its world-class Tier 1 Internet backbone and secure closed networks with over 98,000 MPLS ports, combined with the networks of partner companies around the world, connect more than 200 countries. The company earned non-consolidated revenues exceeding one trillion yen (about US$10 billion) in fiscal 2006 ended March 31, 2007. NTT Com started as a long-distance phone company in 1999 after the reorganization of the NTT Group, and is the wholly-owned subsidiary of NTT, one of the world's largest telecommunications companies. NTT is listed in Japan, London and New York stock exchanges. Please visit www.ntt.com.