Embargoed until 12 noon Friday 24 January 1997

MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC OPENS NEW DIGITAL TECHNOLOGY R & D CENTRE IN GUILDFORD

Mitsubishi Electric, one of the world*s leading manufacturers of electrical and electronic equipment, announces the opening of its new Visual Information Laboratory (VIL) in Guildford, Surrey. The VIL is the latest facility within Mitsubishi Electric*s Information Technology Centre Europe. Known formally as ITE VIL, the laboratory is dedicated to the research and development of digital technologies.

The objectives of Mitsubishi Electric*s ITE VIL are to research and develop future generations of digital broadcasting and consumer information technologies. The laboratory is currently involved in a number of European projects relating to Digital Audio Broadcasting (DAB) and Digital Video Broadcasting (DVB). Other activities included collaborative projects aimed at developing digital satellite (TV / Multimedia) technology and digital audio / multimedia receivers. Advanced research is being assisted by Mitsubishi Electric*s founder membership of the Virtual Centre of Excellence in Digital Broadcasting and Multimedia Technology; a UK Government initiative to create collaborative research linking the industry with key UK university research teams.

Dr. Paul Ratliff, recently appointed General Manager of ITE VIL, says *This is clearly an exciting challenge for me as well as for Mitsubishi Electric. The timing is right for the establishment of such an R & D facility in Europe and underlines the importance Mitsubishi Electric attaches to local involvement in a rapidly developing market sector in which Europe plays a leading role.*

1. Mitsubishi Electric created the first facility of the Information Technology Centre Europe (*ITE*) on 23 October 1995 as a focal point of the Corporation*s R & D activity in Europe.

ITE currently comprises two units:

TCL (Telecommunications Laboratory) based at Rennes in Brittany. Its remit is the development of the next generation of telecoms technologies including interactive and mobile multimedia communications services. Its new General Manager is, Jean-Pierre Coudreuse, formerly research leader in ATM and broadband technologies at CNET, France.

VIL (Visual Information Laboratory) based at Guildford in Surrey. Its remit is the development of a broad range of digital audio visual technologies.

The establishment of these two facilities highlights Mitsubishi Electric*s strong determination to become a European company. The Corporation*s activities in Europe have grown dramatically during the past 20 years, to the current position of operating from 28 locations across Europe with 7 manufacturing facilities including the production of mobile telecommunications products, semiconductors, PCs, VCRs, CTV and air conditioners.

Mitsubishi Electric employs 3,500 persons in Europe and is the largest Japanese employer in Scotland.

2. Dr. Paul Ratliff joined Mitsubishi Electric in October 1996 from BBC R & D where he was the senior R & D Manager.

Formerly a BBC Research Scholar, Dr Ratliff joined the BBC Research Department in 1972, since which time he has worked on a wide variety of projects in audio and television engineering, becoming Head of the Radio Frequency Group in 1984 and pioneering many developments in digital video transmission, DBS and DAB. Dr Ratliff has served on national and international technical committees in several capacities, including UK delegate to the ITU World Radio Conferences and Chairman of the joint EBU/EUREKA 147-DAB System Standardisation Group. He was also EBU Project Manager for the B/DAB Group, co-ordinating EBU studies of advanced digital systems for sound broadcasting, and Chairman of the Field Trials and Frequency Planning Groups of the UK National DAB Forum.