Ciena® Corporation (NASDAQ:CIEN), the network specialist, today announced that BT has selected Ciena’s CN 3000™ Ethernet Access Series as one of its preferred Network Termination Equipment (NTE) platforms for its 21st Century Network (21CN). The agreement extends BT’s partnership with Ciena, which already supplies optical Ethernet transport and switching solutions for the 21CN transmission domain, by enabling BT to provide Ethernet access in the last mile to support the roll-out of new 21CN services and applications.

Once deployed, Ciena’s CN 3000 Series will allow BT’s lines of business to offer consistent and uniform Carrier Ethernet business services across the 21C network to enterprise and wholesale customers in a cost-effective manner while ensuring the most stringent Service Level Agreements (SLAs) are met.

“Carrier-grade Ethernet is a fundamental technology component of our global and world-leading 21CN transformation program. The advanced features of Ciena’s CN 3000 product range will greatly enhance our delivery of high-speed, highly resilient and flexible services to meet all our customers’ future requirements,” commented George Nazi, BT’s Managing Director of 21CN Design and Delivery.

Part of Ciena’s FlexSelect™ Architecture, a comprehensive solution for transitioning to Ethernet-based converged networks, the CN 3000 Series is a complete range of copper and fiber-based NTE platforms and complementary NTE aggregators fully compliant with Metro Ethernet Forum specifications. It includes both carrier-to-carrier network demarcation devices as well as customer-located Ethernet access devices, designed specifically to allow service providers to extend homogeneous coverage of managed Ethernet services.

Featuring the latest Ethernet Operations, Administration and Maintenance (OAM) functionality, the CN 3000 Series is tightly integrated with Ciena’s ON-Center® Network and Services Management Suite. These capabilities will ensure that operators can deliver exceptional service management, Quality of Service (QoS) guarantees and end-to-end SLA verification while gaining operational savings, as Ethernet services can be remotely provisioned and monitored without the need for costly site visits. Additionally, the flexibility of the CN 3000 Series means that devices can be upgraded remotely using software, allowing operators to protect current technology investments even as new technologies, protocols and service parameters evolve.

The contract with BT for the CN 3000 Series includes products through Ciena's OEM agreement with ANDA Networks, Inc., a Sunnyvale, Calif.-based, carrier-class Ethernet access equipment provider. The combination of ANDA's MEF-9 and MEF-14 certified intelligent, carrier-class fiber and copper Ethernet platforms and Ciena's ON-Center Network and Services Management Suite, will provide BT with reliable, integrated management capabilities to enable a full, carrier-grade Ethernet access solution.

“We’re proud that BT has chosen to extend its partnership with Ciena by introducing the CN 3000 Series into the 21CN, in addition to our transport, switching and network management solutions,” said Francois Locoh-Donou, Ciena’s vice president and general manager, EMEA. “The CN 3000 delivers additional value to the project by providing BT with a comprehensive Ethernet access solution that will simplify and optimise the delivery of business Ethernet services across 21CN.”

Mr. Locoh-Donou added: “Ciena’s vision is to make Ethernet as deterministic, reliable and manageable as traditional transport networks via our FlexSelect Architecture. BT’s decision to adopt the CN 3000 is testament that our solutions can help operators create robust, end-to-end converged networks that utilise performance-grade Ethernet as a foundation for building their business rather than just a network building block.”

Additional information about Ciena’s CN 3000 Ethernet Access Series can be found on Ciena’s website at www.ciena.com/3000series.

About Ciena

Ciena specializes in network transition. We provide the flexible platforms, intelligent software and professional services to build converged networks for enhanced services and applications. With a growing global presence, Ciena leverages its heritage of practical innovation to deliver maximum performance and economic value in communications networks worldwide. 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 August 31, 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.