Ciena® Corporation (NASDAQ: CIEN), the network specialist, today announced its CoreDirector® FS Multiservice Optical Switch, a comprehensive enhancement of the company’s core optical switch that delivers substantial new hardware and software features, including data, control and management plane extensions, to support the transition from SONET/SDH architectures to next-generation Ethernet/OTN-based networks. Fully interoperable with the global installed base of CoreDirector and CoreDirector CI® switches, CoreDirector FS, along with the new 5400 Family of Reconfigurable Switching Systems [see related announcement:“Ciena Announces 5400 Family for New Era of Modular, Software-Defined Networking”], represent Ciena’s next-generation switching solutions for building service-enabling infrastructures that are designed for rapid service creation, agile service delivery and providing a seamless transition to high-capacity converged Ethernet and OTN networks.

With leading mesh restoration capabilities, Ciena’s CoreDirector is deployed in both terrestrial and submarine networks at some of the world’s largest operators including AT&T, BT, Cable & Wireless, Sprint, Tata Communications, Telmex and Verizon Business. CoreDirector was originally designed to automate the core of SONET/SDH networks via intelligent software-based automation and control plane- managed resiliency. CoreDirector FS retains those same capabilities while consolidating SONET/SDH, OTN and Ethernet functionality in a single, high-capacity multiservice optical switch, thereby giving customers a simplified network architecture approach, reduced operational costs and a flexible option to help migrate their network architectures from SONET/SDH to Ethernet and OTN to alleviate the strain of increased bandwidth demand from high-speed optical private line and packet services.

“A number of large global operators have relied on Ciena’s CoreDirector platform, equipped with control plane and mesh restoration, to increase survivability on their submarine and terrestrial networks for quite a few years now,” said Ron Kline, principal analyst, Optical Networks at Ovum. “Operators see the type of increased resiliency provided by OTN-based switching equipment, such as the CoreDirector FS, as essential to running their business.”

CoreDirector FS adds key new hardware modules and software features to the platform, including transparent service delivery with OTN switching, scalability up to 1000 nodes in a single control plane domain, full C-band tunable, pluggable ULH DWDM interfaces, new FlexSelect® Line Modules with programmable ports and tighter integration with the CN 4200® FlexSelect Advanced Services Platform. With the introduction of OTN networking on CoreDirector FS, Ciena has extended the service flexibility and wavelength efficiency of CN 4200 beyond the metro and now across a highly-reliable, automated and efficient regional, national or global mesh core to maximize the profitability of optical services. And together, CoreDirector FS and CN 4200 provide an end-to-end software-automated optical layer to optimize the router layer. In addition, the platform’s multi-protocol fabric and SONET/SDH-to-OTN gateway features enables CoreDirector FS to optimize and cost-reduce metro hub offices by eliminating standalone SONET/SDH, OTN and back-to-back DWDM muxponder equipment.

“Some of the largest network operators in the world use the industry-leading switching and restoration features of CoreDirector to create reliable and differentiated services for their end customers, which underscores our focus on continual, large-scale investment in enhancing the platform as a means to help our customers transition their networks to Ethernet and OTN,” said Mike Aquino, senior vice president of global field operations at Ciena. “With CoreDirector FS, we’ve expanded the platform to include proven technologies from CN 4200 – Ethernet, OTN and FlexiPorts – and data, control and management plane extensions to enable the delivery of new services and applications from the wide-area core, through the metro, right out to the network service edge with point-and-click provisioning ease.”

The new converged multiservice capabilities of CoreDirector FS are designed to address key applications including differentiated bandwidth wholesaling, resilient submarine cable landing networks, digital video and content distribution, and MEF-compliant ELINE services, among others. Available immediately, the platform is interoperable with the new 5400 Family of Reconfigurable Switching Systems and the installed base of CoreDirector switches.

About Ciena

Ciena specializes in practical network transition. We offer leading network infrastructure solutions, intelligent software and a comprehensive services practice to help our customers use their networks to fundamentally change the way they compete. With a global presence, Ciena leverages its heritage of practical innovation to deliver maximum performance and economic value in communications networks worldwide. We routinely post recent news, financial results and other important announcements and information about Ciena on our website. For more information, visit www.ciena.com.

Note to Ciena Investors

This press release contains certain forward-looking statements based on current expectations, forecasts and assumptions that involve risks and uncertainties. These statements are based on information available to the Company as of the date hereof; and Ciena's actual results could differ materially from those stated or implied, due to risks and uncertainties associated with its business, which include the risk factors disclosed in its Report on Form 10-Q, which Ciena filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on September 3, 2009. Forward-looking statements include statements regarding Ciena's expectations, beliefs, intentions or strategies regarding the future and can be identified by forward-looking words such as "anticipate," "believe," "could," "estimate," "expect," "intend," "may," "should," "will," and "would" or similar words. Ciena assumes no obligation to update the information included in this press release, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.