Mzima Networks, the world’s premier high-performance Network Service Provider, and Ciena® Corporation (NASDAQ:CIEN), the network specialist, today announce Mzima will use Ciena’s Carrier Ethernet Service Delivery (CESD) portfolio across Mzima’s next-generation, IP Network. A cost-effective alternative to traditional Tier 1 service providers and multi-homed networks, Mzima offers a unique combination of route-optimized transit and private peering for customers requiring the highest levels of performance and reliability. Mzima will leverage one of Ciena’s connection-oriented Ethernet technology options, specifically choosing a Provider Backbone Bridging–Traffic Engineering (PBB-TE) implementation. This will allow them to optimize network performance, ensure greater path resiliency, faster re-routes, and overall maximum efficiency.

For service providers to succeed in the rapidly growing Ethernet services market, Carrier Ethernet business and transport services must overcome the shortcomings of legacy technologies. This includes increasing costs, the inability to scale bandwidth as customers’ needs change, and the lengthy interval from customer order placement to service activation. Combining Mzima’s high-performance network and Ciena’s Ethernet Service Delivery portfolio directly addresses these shortcomings with a low-touch, high-velocity, integrated Ethernet access and aggregation network.

Ciena's CESD portfolio combines intelligent devices and software to deliver the full range of Ethernet services, simplifying the process associated with provisioning, service activation, and quality routing across Mzima’s network. Ciena’s flexible platforms support a variety of connection-oriented deterministic protocols as well as IP/MPLS capabilities. This allows service providers to choose the approach best suited for their architecture and service delivery needs via simple software upgrades. For Mzima, the implementation of PBB-TE combined with Ciena’s Ethernet Services Manager (ESM) – a carrier-grade, automated service activation, creation, and management platform – enables significant acceleration and automation of service activation. Additionally, it minimizes the number of backbone device configurations while expanding Mzima’s Operations, Administration and Maintenance (OAM) capabilities.

“Ciena’s Carrier Ethernet solutions, including PBB-TE implementations, provide a level of scalability and Quality of Service that will immediately benefit our customers,” states Grant Kirkwood, CTO of Mzima. “Ciena is the standard-bearer in the exciting new space of Carrier Ethernet products, and their innovative technology continues to occupy the vanguard. Mzima is proud to work with Ciena to offer the latest in network technologies to our growing roster of service providers, content delivery networks, and enterprise clients who rely on our cutting-edge IP network backbone for their critical communications.”

“Every network is different, which is why our field-proven CESD portfolio supports a wide range of connection-oriented transport protocols and IP/MPLS capabilities. Our carrier Ethernet solutions provide customers the flexibility to build a transport network for their specific traffic engineering requirements,” said Steve Alexander, chief technology officer at Ciena. “We share a common vision and dedication to high-quality products and superior customer service with Mzima; we both recognize that the only true measure of innovation is the end-user experience.”

For more information on Mzima Networks, please visit www.mzima.net. For more information on Ciena, visit www.ciena.com.

About Mzima Networks

Founded in 2002, Mzima Networks is the world’s premier high-performance network service provider delivering Internet bandwidth to enterprise, content providers and carriers globally. Mzima's all-optical, meshed backbone network is engineered to provide the highest levels of performance, reliability and value. With the ability to leverage the latest technology, Mzima is the leader in native 10 Gigabit Ethernet technologies. Coupled with its extensive private peering with numerous broadband ISPs and content providers, Mzima Networks offers its customers the fastest, most reliable connectivity currently available. For more information please visit: www.mzima.net.

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.

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