Ciena® Corporation (NASDAQ:CIEN), the network specialist, today announced its plans for creating software-enabled, service-driven networks that turn seemingly disparate network elements into an intelligent, cohesive platform that can be controlled on-demand. Transforming networks into programmable service delivery engines through its FlexSelect™ Architecture, Ciena enables service providers to adapt and scale their networks to address emerging services, turn unpredictability in service demand into business opportunities and eliminate barriers between creating and monetizing new services.
From the growth in virtualization and software-as-a-service in the enterprise to the explosion in Internet video traffic and mobile broadband devices, the rapid rise in bandwidth consumption combined with uncertainty in network traffic type, volume, growth rate and geographic intensity is challenging the hardware-centric, service-specific nature of existing networks. These trends and the emergence of both application and content providers riding on these networks are also putting considerable strain on service provider business models. Ciena is leveraging its network software leadership to extend the value of its FlexSelect Architecture to address these customer needs, including adding attributes such as programmable hardware, a service-aware operating system and unified service and transport management across its portfolio from the customer edge to service provider core.
“Service providers face a complex task in managing the shifting dynamics of network traffic and need new ways to cost-effectively deploy infrastructure and capacity that also enables them to monetize services and enhance service velocity,” according to Courtney Munroe, VP for WW Telecom Services at IDC. “To efficiently handle this diverse traffic, service providers need to transition their networks away from rigid, static models based on annual contracts and powered by service-specific hardware. Instead, they need the capability to scale quickly, as well as the flexibility to rapidly adjust their architectures for short or long-term plans via service-aware programmability, provisioning, transport and switching – all areas where Ciena has proven technology and market leadership.”
Current service provider networks were primarily architected for voice and have been adapted over time to handle packet services. These separate networks and operations ‘islands’ have largely been patched together with complex and costly manual engineering and provisioning procedures that represent obstacles to rapid service creation and delivery, revenue growth and profitability. Initially focused on capacity and cost reductions by reinventing optical transport with any service on any port and expanded to focus on network efficiency using OTN, sub-wavelength grooming and performance-grade Ethernet, Ciena’s FlexSelect Architecture is evolving further with a focus on creating agile, software-enabled networks running across efficient IP/Ethernet and intelligent optical platforms that can cost-effectively enable new revenue-generating services.
“The reality for service providers is that the only certainty in their business right now is the uncertainty of future traffic models, service requirements and bandwidth consumption. To address this challenge, the new business imperative is to turn what many view as a commodity into a differentiated asset that can monetize that uncertainty using software-enabled, service-focused features,” said Gary Smith, Ciena’s president and CEO. “At its core, such a network is a programmable set of network resources that can automatically activate any type of service between any set of endpoints with the most velocity and efficiency, something that we view as the new core building blocks of next-generation networks and business value.”
As enterprises and consumers increasingly use Internet-based applications, tools and services, their perception of service providers’ role in the communications value chain is shifting, and providers risk being commoditized to ‘application access providers.’ Ciena enables service providers to change the way they compete by rapidly creating new packet and optical services that can be flexibly provisioned on-demand and monitored, managed and monetized across the network while reducing operational costs. Ciena’s service-driven approach of transforming networks into programmable service delivery engines increases business value and competitive differentiation, and facilitates several key benefits for service providers, allowing them to:
- Increase service awareness in access and metro networks to enable new service creation, activation and assurance;
- Dynamically allocate, increase or decrease network capacity with zero to low touch via programmability/automation to respond to unpredictable demand;
- Optimize wireless and wireline networks for ubiquitous connectivity and seamless service delivery; and,
- Distribute integrated service-aware data, control and management plane features across platforms from customer edge to service provider core.
The strategic technologies and key platforms of Ciena’s FlexSelect Architecture are the cornerstones of many service provider, enterprise, government and research and education networks worldwide. For more details, please visit http://www.ciena.com/products/flexselect.htm.
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 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 June 6, 2008. 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.
Contacts:
Press contact:
Nicole
Anderson, 877-857-7377
pr@ciena.com
or
Investor
contact:
Marie Downing, 888-243-6223
ir@ciena.com
