Ciena® Corporation (NASDAQ:CIEN), the network specialist, today announced a new series of Carrier Ethernet access products that extend the reach of Ethernet to all business locations, whether served by copper or fiber network connections, while providing remote network monitoring and control to enable rapid fault resolution and end-to-end SLA verification. Ciena’s new 3000 Ethernet Access Series represents a significant expansion of the Company’s existing access portfolio of Ethernet-capable residential broadband and storage extension products, and is part of a comprehensive strategy that enhances the IP and Ethernet value proposition of Ciena’s FlexSelect™ Architecture [see related announcement: “Ciena Expands FlexSelect Architecture with New and Enhanced Ethernet Platforms to Create Flexible, Performance-grade Carrier Ethernet Networks”].
“While service providers are eager to roll-out Ethernet access equipment to connect enterprise customers, mass deployments have been slowed by the difficulty of reaching customer sites not connected by fiber as well as managing services once they are up and running,” said Stan Hubbard, senior analyst for Heavy Reading. “Ciena’s 3000 Series helps operators address these challenges, and its position within Ciena’s broader Ethernet switching and transport portfolio should be attractive to service providers looking for integrated solutions with comprehensive network and service management from access through to the core.”
Ciena’s 3000 Series consists of Ethernet network termination equipment (NTE) that resides on customer premises to provide managed Ethernet demarcation between carrier and enterprise networks, and scalable, pay-as-you-grow NTE aggregators located in central offices or distribution hubs to aggregate traffic from multiple NTE devices, minimizing access network costs. Certified compliant to MEF-9 and MEF-14 specifications, the initial products in the 3000 Series are designed to enable E-Line and E-LAN services for business applications such as Internet access, IP-VPN access and interoffice LAN connectivity over any access media.
In addition, the 3000 Series optimizes infrastructure for multiservice applications such as 2G/3G wireless backhaul, extending the value of legacy TDM services while simplifying the migration to new Ethernet-based networks and services. As new mobile services drive up bandwidth requirements and backhaul costs for operators, the 3000 Series optimizes the use of cellular backhaul bandwidth by aggregating legacy T1/E1 and Ethernet traffic from 2G/3G cell sites for transport over Ethernet backhaul, facilitating the evolution to a fully packet-based radio access network.
“The 3000 Series represents a strategic expansion of our access portfolio into high-growth business Ethernet services while leveraging our existing broadband access expertise – particularly in access network and service management,” said Steve Alexander, chief technology officer at Ciena. “These products provide a competitive, standalone Ethernet access solution as well as even greater value as a cost-effective on-ramp to a performance-grade Carrier Ethernet network enabled by Ciena’s innovative, deterministic Ethernet transport and multi-layer service management. This combination finally enables service providers to profitably scale Ethernet services by offering premium managed services that can be operated efficiently.”
Ciena’s 3000 series is designed to help service providers bridge the Ethernet gap between WAN and LAN environments, and helps them offer performance-grade, Carrier Ethernet services. Moreover, providing Ethernet access over copper or fiber connections enables carriers to extend their service coverage – including off-net and out-of-region enterprise sites – making Ethernet a mass-market capable access solution for business services. Support for the latest Ethernet operations, administration and management (OAM) features, integrated with Ciena’s ON-Center® Network and Services Management Suite, ensures exceptional service management, while platform flexibility and programmability dramatically reduces operational costs as bandwidth and other service attributes can be remotely provisioned, eliminating expensive truck rolls.
Initial products in Ciena’s 3000 Series include both copper and fiber NTE and aggregators for providing Ethernet-over-TDM and Ethernet-over-fiber access, and will be generally available in mid-2007. Additional products and enhancements to the 3000 Series are expected to be introduced later this year, including Multiservice NTE (supporting Ethernet and TDM) for applications such as 2G/3G wireless backhaul, Ethernet-over-DSL devices and standalone Ethernet-over-fiber aggregators. More information about Ciena’s 3000 Ethernet Access Series can be found on Ciena’s website at www.ciena.com/3000series.
About Ciena
Ciena Corporation is the network specialist, focused on expanding the possibilities for its customers’ networks while reducing their cost of ownership. The company’s systems, software and services target and cure specific network pain points so that telcos, cable operators, governments and enterprises can best exploit the new applications that are driving their businesses forward. For more information, visit www.ciena.com.
Note to 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-K, which Ciena filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on January 10, 2007. 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.
