TOKYO, Feb 27, 2026 - (JCN Newswire via SeaPRwire.com) - NEC Corporation (NEC; TSE: 6701) has successfully demonstrated a technology in which Agentic AI autonomously manages the entire lifecycle of the User Plane Function (UPF)*, a primary function of 6G/5G core networks, from design, construction, and deployment through to operational monitoring. This research achievement was realized in collaboration with Amazon Web Services (AWS).Based on NEC’s expertise and experience in communications service provider networks, this demonstration was achieved by leveraging "Kiro," an AWS agentic AI with an integrated development environment (IDE) and command-line interface (CLI). As a result, NEC confirmed that the time required from network design to initial service launch, which previously required several weeks with manual configuration by network operators, can be significantly reduced to just a few hours. In addition, automated anomaly detection and self-healing operations without human intervention were also verified using an AWS AI tool. These results demonstrate that automated orchestration of UPF utilizing an AWS AI tool contributes to reducing deployment burden for communications service providers (CSPs), improving operational efficiency, and accelerating service rollout.Traditionally, building and deploying network functions required extensive manual configuration and advanced technical expertise, placing a heavy burden on network operators at CSPs. These manual processes also increased the risk of human error, which complicated fault isolation and recovery during network incidents. These issues contributed to longer service rollout timelines and rising operational costs.Key Features1. Autonomous UPF Deployment and Operation Enabled by AIDrawing on expertise gained through designing, building, and operating commercial carrier networks, NEC embedded this knowledge into AI models capable of automatically generating and executing UPF deployment procedures. This enables not only automation of operational tasks but also supports truly autonomous network operations suitable for production environments.2. Flexible Deployment Enabled by Cloud-Based Operational ModelsBy leveraging AWS, NEC can apply cloud-native operational models directly to CSP environments, enabling flexible deployment across networks, including edge locations and on premises systems.Benefits / ValueReduces network function deployment time from weeks to hours—from network design to initial service launch (compared to traditional manual deployment methods at NEC)Minimizes human error and improves operational quality through automationAllows personnel without deep technical expertise to deploy and operate network functions, helping address labor shortagesSupports CSPs with rapid service launches and maximizes revenue opportunitiesThis initiative represents an important achievement as a foundational technology for realizing autonomous network operations required in the future 6G era. Looking ahead, NEC will continue to take on new technological challenges based on its vision of being "AI Native," addressing the challenges that communications service providers may face both today and in the future as networks become increasingly complex.A demonstration based on the verified environment will be showcased at the AWS booth during MWC Barcelona 2026 (March 2–5, 2026), the world’s largest mobile industry event."The telecommunications industry is at an inflection point where AI-driven automation is becoming essential to build a competitive advantage by serving the end-customers faster and reducing the operating costs. NEC's breakthrough in autonomous UPF orchestration demonstrates how AWS AI services can fundamentally transform network operations, enabling communications service providers to deploy complex 5G infrastructure in hours rather than weeks. This level of automation democratizes advanced network deployment capabilities, allowing operators to serve the ever-increasing capacity needs and focus their innovation efforts on service differentiation rather than manual configuration and operational tasks. This collaboration with NEC exemplifies the intelligent automation that will define the next generation of telecommunications infrastructure."-Amir Rao, Global Director, GTM and Telco Solutions at Amazon Web Services"Validating the automation of UPF deployment and operations using AI and GitOps in an AWS environment is an important accomplishment for NEC. This technology does more than just improve operational efficiency. By embedding the design and operational expertise that NEC has cultivated through commercial networks into AI, we aim to enable autonomous operations and achieve a significant improvement in end-to-end efficiency across UPF deployment and operations, including on-site activities. NEC will continue to contribute to the realization of autonomously operable mobile networks that are required for the 6G era, providing environments that allow communications service providers to focus on creating service value."- Takashi Sato, Corporate Senior Vice President and Managing Director, Network Solutions Business Division of NEC CorporationA portion of the technologies used in this project were obtained from a grant program (No. JPJ012368G50701) by the National Institute of Information and Communications Technology (NICT), Japan.(*) User Plane Function: The processing of user data traffic in the 5G Core Network (5GC).About NECThe NEC Group leverages technology to create social value and promote a more sustainable world where everyone has the chance to reach their full potential. NEC Corporation was established in 1899. Today, the NEC Group’s approximately 110,000 employees utilize world-leading AI, security, and communications technologies to solve the most pressing needs of customers and society. For more information, please visit https://www.nec.com, and follow us on LinkedIn and YouTube. Copyright 2026 JCN Newswire via SeaPRwire.com. All rights reserved. www.jcnnewswire.com

CompressorTOKYO, Feb 27, 2026 - (JCN Newswire via SeaPRwire.com) - Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Compressor Corporation (MCO), a part of Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) Group, has acquired all shares of AST Turbo AG (AST), a Swiss company specializing in rotating equipment maintenance services, as of February 27.AST is engaged in maintenance, inspection, and field services for rotating equipment such as compressors and steam turbines that drive compressors, used in resource and energy development sites, including in the oil and gas sectors. The company has highly experienced technical supervisors and advanced engineering capabilities, such as virtual assembly technology utilizing 3D laser measurement(*1). AST has a proven track record of projects in Europe, North America, the Middle East, and other regions worldwide. Through this acquisition, MCO aims to strengthen its field service system in international markets.Turbo machinery such as compressors requires indispensable after-sales services, including replacement of consumable parts, repairs, and inspections following installation. In recent years, customers have increasingly requested shorter inspection intervals to improve equipment uptime, along with greater use of virtual assembly technology and deployment of experienced supervisors. MCO and AST have a long established and collaborative relationship and have jointly provided field service on several projects to date. Following the acquisition, under the leadership of AST's current management team, the company will leverage its existing customer and business base, while integrating MCO's and the MHI Group's technological expertise and know-how to further enhance service quality and expand business operations.With this acquisition, MCO is committed to better meeting customer expectations and delivering high-quality services to customers worldwide.This acquisition is an example of the partnering initiatives promoted by the MHI Group. The Company will continue to build strategic partnerships globally to incorporate external expertise through partnering efforts and deliver its technologies, products, and services to a wider range of customers.(*1) Virtual assembly technology refers to a technique that uses 3D data to simulate the product assembly process on a computer. This enables the omission of certain on-site assembly steps, resulting in shorter inspection periods, maintaining plant high availability.About AST Turbo AGCompany Name: AST Turbo AGHeadquarters: Altendorf, SwitzerlandFounded: 2012Core Business: Maintenance and field services including installation for rotating equipment such as compressors and steam turbines that drive compressorsFor more information, please visit https://www.ast-turbo.com/About MHI GroupMitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) Group is one of the world’s leading industrial groups, spanning energy, smart infrastructure, industrial machinery, aerospace and defense. MHI Group combines cutting-edge technology with deep experience to deliver innovative, integrated solutions that help to realize a carbon neutral world, improve the quality of life and ensure a safer world. For more information, please visit www.mhi.com or follow our insights and stories on spectra.mhi.com. Copyright 2026 JCN Newswire via SeaPRwire.com. All rights reserved. www.jcnnewswire.com

TOKYO, Feb 27, 2026 - (JCN Newswire via SeaPRwire.com) - NEC Corporation has expanded the capabilities of its User Plane Function (UPF, *1) for telecom operators by adding support for second-generation AWS Outposts racks (*2), further strengthening its multi deployment model. With this enhancement, NEC’s UPF can now operate consistently across on-premises environments, the cloud, edge locations, and AWS Outposts racks installed within operators’ network sites. This enables flexible deployment design that is tailored to traffic characteristics and service requirements.NEC’s UPF is designed for lightweight, high performance operation in telecom networks, achieving 200 Gbps throughput while limiting CPU usage to only 20% of total CPU cores on second generation AWS Outposts racks. This lightweight architecture enables easier coexistence with other workloads on second-generation AWS Outposts racks and supports the deployment of low-latency, edge-based services such as network slicing and service application integration. These capabilities have been achieved through close collaboration with Amazon Web Services (AWS).Another key feature of NEC’s UPF is its unified software architecture, which delivers a consistent experience from edge sites to centralized deployments. The same software can be used when deployed on second generation AWS Outposts racks, ensuring network wide consistency in design and operations. With a cloud optimized approach that incorporates continuous updates and automated operations, NEC enables labor efficient, stable, large scale network operation. This supports telecom operators’ diverse network strategies, from leveraging existing infrastructure to adopting cloud native architectures.With edge deployments expected to accelerate in the 6G era, NEC has combined expanded cloud adoption options enabled by second-generation AWS Outposts racks with the space- and power-efficient design of its UPF to achieve efficient edge rollouts and the integration of edge environments with cloud services.The provision of this solution helps to advance NEC’s "AI Native" vision for society and contributes to solving social challenges."NEC's innovative approach to User Plane Function deployment exemplifies how AWS Outposts enables telecommunications operators to modernize their infrastructure without compromising on the application's mission-critical performance or the operational consistency delivered by the cloud. With second-generation AWS Outposts, NEC delivers the cloud-native agility that operators need while maintaining the low-latency, high-throughput performance that 5G services demand. This collaboration demonstrates AWS's commitment to helping telecommunications partners build mission critical, high-performance, flexible, and scalable networks that will power the next generation of connected experiences."- Amir Rao, Global Director, GTM and Telco Solutions at Amazon Web Services"Enabling NEC’s UPF, which is designed for multi-platform environments, to run on second-generation AWS Outposts racks will expand the range of choices that communications service providers have for network design and operations. The UPF supports both rapid service deployment and stable operations while minimizing design and operational complexity, thereby strengthening service providers’ ability to deliver reliable services. Going forward, NEC will continue to pursue the realization of network platforms that seamlessly and pragmatically integrate cloud and network technologies, contributing to value creation for communications service providers."- Takashi Sato, Corporate Senior Vice President and Managing Director, Network Solutions Business Division of NEC CorporationA portion of the technologies used in this project were obtained from a grant program (No. JPJ012368G50701) by the National Institute of Information and Communications Technology (NICT), Japan.*1)User Plane Function: The processing of user data traffic in the 5G Core Network (5GC).*2)AWS Outposts is a family of fully managed solutions that brings AWS infrastructure and services to virtually any on-premises or edge location for a consistent hybrid experience. Second-generation AWS Outposts racks deliver up to 40% better compute performance than the first generation, simplify network operations, enable cost-efficient scaling of on-premises workloads, and are optimized for ultra-low-latency, high-throughput requirements.About NECThe NEC Group leverages technology to create social value and promote a more sustainable world where everyone has the chance to reach their full potential. NEC Corporation was established in 1899. Today, the NEC Group’s approximately 110,000 employees utilize world-leading AI, security, and communications technologies to solve the most pressing needs of customers and society. For more information, please visit https://www.nec.com, and follow us on LinkedIn and YouTube. Copyright 2026 JCN Newswire via SeaPRwire.com. All rights reserved. www.jcnnewswire.com

Kawasaki, Osaka, Japan, Feb 27, 2026 - (JCN Newswire via SeaPRwire.com) - Fujitsu Limited and H2O Retailing Corporation today announced the successful implementation of a wireless tablet POS system utilizing Fujitsu's POS solution across all 15 Hankyu Hanshin Department Stores. This initiative marks one of the largest deployments of a tablet POS system in a department store in Japan, with approximately 5,000 tablet units introduced in non-food sales areas and about 400 dedicated POS units in food sales areas.The system enables sales associates to provide seamless, one-stop[1] service from customer engagement to payment without leaving their sales floor. This allows sales associates to dedicate more time to customers, to enhance service quality and deliver a high-value shopping experience unique to department stores.Going forward, H2O plans to integrate other business applications into these tablet units at Hankyu Hanshin Department Stores including customer relationship management tools and customer service support tools to create a higher quality one-stop customer experience.Fujitsu, under its Uvance business model to address societal challenges, is committed to solving customer and societal issues through data and AI, focusing on both the purchasing experience and supply chains. By linking the experience cycle, which supports comfortable purchasing experiences for customers and improved operational efficiency for employees involved in purchasing, with the supply chain cycle, which aims to realize sustainable and resilient purchasing supply chains, Fujitsu will integrate complex customer touchpoints and achieve centralized information management across all channels. This will enhance customer and consumer experiences and contribute to the realization of a sustainable society.Overview of the SystemThe system implemented in this initiative incorporates a POS solution from Unified Commerce, an offering within Fujitsu's Uvance business model that aims to centralize customer touchpoint information. By establishing this system as a common platform, the screen displays and operability of both stationary and mobile POS systems have been unified.This achieves the following three points, leading to improved operational efficiency and enhanced customer experience:Reduced burden of learning multiple operating methods and decreased training labor hours for sales associates due to a unified operating system.Establishment of a one-stop operation within the same sales area, from customer engagement to payment, through the introduction of wireless tablets. Provides customers with a smoother and more comfortable shopping experience.Utilization of SIM-equipped tablet units to increase flexibility by expanding POS systems outside stores for special events, external sales activities, and mobile sales, while maintaining the same service quality as in-store systems.The system is built in a cloud environment and adopts a pay-per-use licensing model based on the annual number of transactions. This allows for flexible adjustment of POS system resources according to sales floor fluctuations and demand, balancing appropriate cost management with stable operation. It ensures a stable payment environment even during peak seasons, offering customers a comfortable and smooth shopping experience.[1] Not including tax-free procedures.About FujitsuFujitsu’s purpose is to make the world more sustainable by building trust in society through innovation. As the digital transformation partner of choice for customers around the globe, our 113,000 employees work to resolve some of the greatest challenges facing humanity. Our range of services and solutions draw on five key technologies: AI, Computing, Networks, Data & Security, and Converging Technologies, which we bring together to deliver sustainability transformation. Fujitsu Limited (TSE:6702) reported consolidated revenues of 3.6 trillion yen (US$23 billion) for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2025 and remains the top digital services company in Japan by market share. Find out more: global.fujitsuAbout H2O Retailing CorporationThe H2O Retailing Group engages in a variety of retail-related business, including department stores, supermarkets, shopping centers, specialty stores and convenience stores, primarily in the Kansai region of Japan.Hankyu Hanshin Department Stores operate a total of 15 department stores, including Hankyu Department Store and Hanshin Department Store. We strive to become the No.1 fun department store to make our customers lives also fun and enriched by energizing their future. In addition to the flagship Hankyu Umeda Main Store, we have a wide variety of stores, including the Hanshin Umeda Main Store, Kobe Hankyu, and Hakata Hankyu stores in the city center, as well as suburban stores that are close to the lives of the community.Press ContactsFujitsu LimitedPublic and Investor Relations DivisionInquiries Copyright 2026 JCN Newswire via SeaPRwire.com. All rights reserved. www.jcnnewswire.com