TOKYO, Japan, BRISBANE, Calif., and LONDON, U.K. --- The Information Systems & 
Computer Group of Hitachi, Ltd. (NYSE:HIT) today announced the expansion of its 
GR2000 Gigabit Router family with five new models which substantially boost the power and 
scalability of its existing router lineup.  The Hitachi GR2000 targets applications ranging 
from corporate enterprise networks to carrier and Internet Service Provider (ISP) core 
networks.

	Designed to ensure ultra-high speed IP routing capability, the new high-end model 
achieves a maximum effective routing performance of 40 million packets per second, four 
times that of existing models. The lineup also includes compact, cost-effective units for 
enterprise remote locations and service provider edge access.  All of the GR2000 models 
feature advanced Quality of Service (QoS) technology, which guarantees high-performance, 
high-quality Internet connectivity, critically important for delay-sensitive applications such as 
voice and video.  Network throughput is further enhanced by the GR2000's support of 
Multiprotocol Label Switching (MPLS), Multicast, and Internet Protocol version 6 (IPv6), 
the emerging Internet Protocol latest standard.  

	The recent Internet/intranet explosion has caused a sharp increase in network traffic 
and considerable growth in the scale and capacity of both private corporate and public 
networks, accompanied by proliferation of Virtual Private Networks (VPNs), Application 
Service Providers (ASPs) and multi-user web hosting data center sites. The resulting network 
diversity and expansion is rapidly driving the requirement for faster, larger capacity and more 
reliable routers with QoS control functions to guarantee performance.  In addition to QoS, 
Hitachi has implemented other performance-related features - including filtering, traffic 
control, and multicast - into specialized silicon to ensure that maximum packet forwarding 
rate is maintained with these features enabled, unlike competing products which exhibit 
significant performance degradation under similar conditions.  
	
	The five new GR2000 models consist of three H-models - the GR2000-20H, 
GR2000-10H and GR2000-6H, featuring high performance, reliability and functionality; and 
two S models - the GR2000-4S and GR2000-2S, designed for compact size and highly 
competitive price/performance. The flagship GR2000-20H achieves maximum effective 
performance of 40 million packets/second.  With 20 interface slots, it supports a high density 
of network connections, for example 80 OC-3/STM-1 or 160 100Mb Fast Ethernet.  The 
new GR2000 models support a wide range of line interface modules with speeds up to OC-
48/STM-16 (2.4G bit/sec). The entire GR2000 family shares a common architectural 
platform and feature set, including QoS, and interchangeable system components that 
facilitates easy expansion, while reducing network maintenance and operation costs.  
Offering a performance range from 0.5 million packets/sec (GR2000-2S) to 40 million 
packets/sec (GR2000-20H), the Hitachi router family is the most scalable in the industry. 

	Designed for demanding high-capacity backbone applications, the GR2000 features 
carrier-class reliability.  Redundant, hot standby modules and hot-swap power capability 
increase dependability and the GR2000 is NEBS (Network Equipment Building System) 
compliant for installation in the carrier Central Office (CO) facility.

	Hitachi began shipping Japan's first gigabit routers with ultra-high speed 
Internet/intranet connectivity in February 1999.  The initial GR2000 models were an 
immediate hit with users attracted to their QoS control capability in addition to high speed 
and reliability.  Carriers/ISPs and enterprise customers have been installing these routers at 
an accelerating pace.

	The GR2000-20H, GR2000-10H and GR2000-2S models will be available in July 
2000, and the GR2000-6H and GR2000-4S will be available in September. 


Hitachi, Ltd., headquartered in Tokyo, Japan, is one of the world's leading global electronics 
companies, with fiscal 1998 (ended March 31, 1999) consolidated sales of 7,977 billion yen 
 ($65.9 billion*).  The company manufactures and markets a wide range of products,  
including computers, semiconductors, consumer products and power and industrial 
equipment. For more information on Hitachi, Ltd., please visit Hitachi's Web site at  
http://www.hitachi.co.jp.
 * At an exchange rate of 121 yen to the dollar.


 Contact:				
       Atsushi Konno (Japan)			
       Hitachi, Ltd.				
       <81>(3)3258-2056			
       atskonno@cm.head.hitachi.co.jp	

       Terry Kubo (U.S.A)			
       Hitachi America, Ltd.			
       <1>(650)244-7900			
       tatsuya.kubo@hal.hitachi.com		
       
       Masao Takebayashi (U.K.)
       Hitachi Europe, Ltd.
       <44>(0)1628-58500
       mtake@hitachi-eu.comM