Internet Initiative Japan : IIJ Named Microsoft 2016 Hosting Partner of the Year

June 2, 2016

TOKYO-June 2, 2016-Internet Initiative Japan Inc. (IIJ, NASDAQ: IIJI, TSE1: 3774), one of Japan's leading Internet access and comprehensive network solutions providers, today announced that it received the Hosting Partner of the Year award in the 2016 Microsoft Worldwide Partner Awards.

The Microsoft Worldwide Partner Awards are presented to partner companies that use Microsoft products as a platform for providing excellent solutions and services. This year, IIJ has been recognized for providing a hybrid cloud that allows connections via private networks among on-premise systems, the Microsoft Azure and IIJ's IIJ GIO cloud service. IIJ was also noted for its record of success in rolling out other high value-added services that meet the business needs of a wide variety of customers. This year's win for IIJ marks the first time that a company in Japan has been named Hosting Partner of the Year, with the company beating out more than 3,000 other contenders for the award.

The awards ceremony is planned for July 10-14, 2016, as part of the Microsoft Worldwide Partner Conference to be held in Toronto, Ontario, in Canada.

IIJ will continue to expand its cooperation with Microsoft Japan Co., Ltd. in the field of cloud services in order to provide more robust and new value to customer businesses.

About IIJ

Founded in 1992, Internet Initiative Japan Inc. (IIJ, NASDAQ: IIJI, Tokyo Stock Exchange TSE1: 3774) is one of Japan's leading Internet-access and comprehensive network solutions providers. IIJ and its group companies provide total network solutions that mainly cater to high-end corporate customers. IIJ's services include high-quality systems integration, cloud computing/data center services, security services, and Internet access. Moreover, IIJ has built one of the largest Internet backbone networks in Japan that is connected the United States, the United Kingdom and Asia. IIJ was listed on NASDAQ in 1999 and on the First Section of the Tokyo Stock Exchange in 2006.

The statements within this release contain forward-looking statements about our future plans that involve risk and uncertainty. These statements may differ materially from actual future events or results. Readers are referred to the documents furnished by Internet Initiative Japan Inc. with the SEC, specifically the most recent reports on Forms 20-F and 6-K, which identify important risk factors that could cause actual results to differ from those contained in the forward-looking statements.

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IIJ Corporate Communications