Ciena® Corporation (NASDAQ: CIEN), the network specialist, today announced an expansion of its Carrier Ethernet Service Delivery (CESD) portfolio, including multiple new service delivery and aggregation switches, which leverage a common service-aware operating system and unified Ethernet management software. The new platforms enable service providers to quickly and economically expand their addressable market for Carrier Ethernet services by meeting the needs of network locations that require higher bandwidth user connections and a broader set of aggregation and switching capabilities, such as enterprise locations, backhaul from wireless cell sites, multi-tenant unit buildings and outside plant cabinets.

Already deployed by several network operators, Ciena’s newest Carrier Ethernet Service Delivery platforms collectively address a comprehensive set of network and service requirements with industry-leading price-for-performance, wire-speed Layer 2 switching, 10 Gigabit Ethernet (10 GbE) subscriber ports on a customer premises device, and flexible deployment options, operating in either indoor or unconditioned outdoor environments. In addition, software upgrades to the CN 5305™ Service Aggregation Switch make it the only Carrier Ethernet switch to seamlessly interwork between disparate encapsulation formats such as Q-in-Q, PBB-TE and MPLS/H-VPLS for complete service flexibility and optimization of network resources.

These new platforms and features deliver on Ciena’s commitment to enabling service-driven networks that transform commodity bandwidth into new, differentiated and operationally-efficient Carrier Ethernet and optical services. These efforts are grounded in the company’s innovations in programmable hardware, a common service-aware operating system and unified service and transport management across its portfolio to create networks that can adapt and scale to address any emerging service or bandwidth need.

As enterprises of all sizes accelerate the transition from legacy services to Carrier Ethernet to access more affordable and scalable bandwidth and differentiated services, service providers need new right-sized platforms with port densities, switching capacity and features, environmental conditioning and price points to provide a comprehensive solution for rapidly and efficiently supporting the full range of mission-critical applications across any access and aggregation network architecture.

“Even with the current economic environment, we are still forecasting 17% growth in the global Carrier Ethernet services market driven by businesses looking for more flexible and affordable connectivity,” said Ron Kline, research director, Network Infrastructure, Ovum. “Lack of ubiquity and availability still limit options for enterprises interested in switching to Ethernet-based services. Expanding product portfolios with new service delivery options is critical to reaching this broader range of businesses that are driving the market’s growth.”

Ciena’s Carrier Ethernet Service Delivery (CESD) portfolio is a family of service delivery and aggregation platforms that address a wide range of application, service, market and access technology requirements. Leveraging advanced software to power zero-touch, automated device configuration and service provisioning, the portfolio delivers up to 60 percent faster service provisioning and as much as 40 percent reduction in operational expense. Featuring wire-speed Layer 2 switching, high-capacity switching fabrics and all GbE and 10 GbE ports, Ciena’s new CESD products and features include:

• CN 3960™ Service Delivery Switch: delivering cost-effective, high-capacity 10 GbE user ports, it supports the most demanding service requirements, including high-bandwidth business services, wholesale and wireless backhaul applications.
• CN 3940™ Service Delivery Switch: providing dense Gigabit Ethernet service delivery or aggregation, it combines high port density and advanced switching features in a compact one rack unit size to maximize its Ethernet service delivery efficiency.
• CN 5140™ Service Aggregation Switch: featuring flexible deployment options, the aggregator can fit into outdoor cabinets and operate over an extended temperature range, offering a compact, ETSI form-factor with front access to all user and network ports as well as power and system interfaces.
• CN 5305 Service Aggregation Switch: enhanced with optional MPLS/H-VPLS software for seamless multiprotocol aggregation and switching and simplified IP/MPLS router handoff.

“Whether it’s an environmentally hardened unit on the outside of a building to a remote cabinet, multi-tenant unit wiring closet or central office, Ciena offers the most comprehensive Carrier Ethernet portfolio for Ethernet service delivery across metro and access networks,” said Steve Alexander, chief technology officer at Ciena. “The entire portfolio provides a common and consistent way to deliver feature-rich Ethernet services, ensuring the ability to create differentiated services in a competitive market while leveraging automated service provisioning to maximize operational efficiency.”

Deployed for a variety of Ethernet business services as well as converged Ethernet transport for wholesale, wireless backhaul and other applications, Ciena’s Carrier Ethernet Service Delivery portfolio is used by more than 100 carriers, wireless service providers, cable operators and new entrants in 25 countries. The new CESD platforms are the first of several additions coming to Ciena’s portfolio for further enabling service-driven networks that deliver feature-rich Carrier Ethernet services as well as programmable, end-to-end optical and virtualized services.

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 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 March 5, 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.