Ciena® Corporation (NASDAQ:CIEN), the network specialist, today announced that Urban Light Networks, LLC (ULN), a facilities-based fiber-optic network provider in Chicago, has deployed the CN 4200® RS FlexSelect® Advanced Services Platform in a new, next-generation network to support low-latency, capacity-rich service delivery.

ULN completed its infrastructure build in April 2009 as an alternative solution for downtown Chicago businesses in need of fast and reliable data center or data aggregation site connectivity. With an architecture based on Ciena’s CN 4200 RS, ULN is able to offer customers – including wholesale carriers and financial services institutions – a wide range of high-speed transport services including SONET/SDH, storage and Ethernet-based lit services and high-capacity dark fiber services.

“Today’s modern enterprise demands uninterrupted service delivery with the lowest latency possible,” said Michael Underdown, president of Urban Light Networks. “Through Ciena’s flexible network architecture, we are able to tailor connectivity solutions for our Chicago clients based on their individual transport needs, while ensuring rapid service delivery intervals and an infrastructure that can scale with demand.”

Supported by the CN 4200 RS, which was designed to support connectivity at metropolitan hubs where high capacity and scalability is essential, ULN’s network can transport high-bandwidth data with near-zero latency while aggregating multiple protocols, including Ethernet, Fibre Channel and SONET, and applications with maximum reliability. With ULN’s network build, customers can choose from capacity options of up to 10G, and by utilizing Ciena’s FlexiPort technology can dynamically update their service mix as their network transport needs evolve.

“In a competitive and fast-moving network services market, a key to success is having an agile optical infrastructure that can deliver any service, any time and anywhere to meet the requirements of customers across multiple industries quickly, efficiently and cost-effectively,” said Mike Aquino, senior vice president of global field operations at Ciena. “With the CN 4200 RS, Urban Light Networks has a next-generation transport network that eliminates the legacy model of needing on-site technician visits or new hardware to offer new services or more capacity, and replaces it with true on-demand multiservice flexibility and scalable capacity to turn rapid service delivery into a competitive advantage.”

About Urban Lights Networks

Urban Light Networks (ULN) is a true facilities-based fiber-optic network provider with a broad range of flexible network transport services in Chicago’s Loop. ULN provides connectivity in primary carrier hotels, central offices and key enterprise buildings. Our network services ensure reliable access to IXC, ISP, ILEC and CLEC locations as well as a dependable source for Internet access facilities and data centers. For more information, visit www.urbanlightnetworks.com.

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 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. 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 4, 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.