Ciena® Corporation (NASDAQ:CIEN), the network specialist, today announced that RCN Metro Optical Networks, a division of RCN Corporation (NASDAQ:RCNI) and premier provider of high-capacity transport services for carriers as well as large and medium-sized businesses, has deployed Ciena’s CN 4200® FlexSelect™ Advanced Services Platform family to enable the delivery of assured, high-capacity transport services in managed optical networks. RCN Metro has also joined Ciena’s BizConnect global partner program as a designated Managed Services Provider (MSP) partner.

As enterprises are faced with navigating the capacity and performance impact of trends such as virtualization and cloud-based services on their wide area networking needs, they are relying more on managed networks provided by service-focused carriers like RCN. Enterprises must also meet growing compliance requirements by assuring networks are secure and reliable. In fact, the threat of network downtime is catastrophic to financial institutions; network latency alone can cost financial services providers billions of dollars per year*. With customer satisfaction in mind, RCN Metro chose to deploy Ciena’s CN 4200 family in its managed optical networks, ensuring a flexible and scalable network architecture for the delivery of managed Ethernet, video transport, wavelength and data center connectivity services to its customers.

“We strive to deliver customized service offerings that are innovative and reliable,” said Felipe Alvarez, president of RCN Metro. “Ciena’s platforms give us a very flexible network foundation upon which we can deliver a variety of advanced business services quickly and efficiently.”

In addition to RCN Metro’s deployments, RCN Corporation, a leading provider of all-digital television, high-capacity data, and voice services, has utilized the CN 4200 in an extensive upgrade to its core and metro networks. With Ciena, RCN now has a dynamic, next-generation network that offers the flexibility to support a wide range of Ethernet/TDM private line, storage and IP services on demand, as well as to deliver increased bandwidth capacity to address unpredictable traffic demand.

“Our CN 4200 family, coupled with the customized support of our BizConnect partner program, allows RCN Metro to simplify and enhance the networks of its managed services customers through assured delivery with support for stringent SLAs, unprecedented flexibility to support a wide array of network protocols, and the scalability to meet businesses’ future transport needs,” said Mike Aquino, senior vice president, global field operations at Ciena. “This competitive win illustrates the distinct network advantages of utilizing our approach to service-driven networks, ensuring maximized investment, a competitive edge and a collaborative partnership.”

As a Ciena BizConnect Managed Services Provider partner, RCN Metro has access to Ciena’s network equipment, technical support and guidance on developing service offerings, as well as an interactive online partner and marketing support community.

About RCN Metro Optical Networks

RCN Metro, http://www.rcnmetro.com, is a premier provider of high-capacity transport services for carriers as well as large and medium-sized businesses. RCN Metro offers a comprehensive suite of services including: Ethernet, SONET, Wavelength, Video Transport, Internet and more. With a network leveraging unique rights-of-way, spanning from Maine to Virginia and out to Chicago, RCN Metro deploys custom solutions to service providers as well as companies in the finance, hospitality, media, government, health care and education industries. RCN Metro is a wholly owned division of RCN Corporation.

About RCN Corporation

RCN Corporation, http://www.rcn.com, is a facilities-based, competitive broadband telecommunications services provider delivering digital television, high-speed data and voice services to residential and small-medium business customers under the brand names of RCN and RCN Business Services, respectively. In addition, through the RCN Metro Optical Networks business unit, RCN delivers fiber-based high-capacity data transport services to large commercial customers, primarily large enterprises and carriers, targeting the metropolitan central business districts in the company’s geographic markets. RCN’s primary service areas include Washington, D.C., Philadelphia, Lehigh Valley (PA), New York City, Boston and Chicago (RCNI-G).

About Ciena

Ciena specializes in the transition to service-driven networks. We provide flexible platforms, intelligent software and professional services to help our customers use their networks to fundamentally change the way they compete. With a growing 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 at 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 5, 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.

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