Ciena® Corporation (NASDAQ: CIEN), the network specialist, today announced that its Carrier Ethernet Service Delivery (CESD) platforms are providing the backhaul solution for Clearwire’s CLEAR™ 4G mobile WiMAX service in Las Vegas that launched today. As a key infrastructure component of Clearwire’s nationwide 4G WiMAX deployment strategy, Las Vegas represents the latest market where Ciena platforms are providing 4G backhaul for the CLEAR service in addition to deployments in Baltimore, Atlanta and Portland.

Clearwire’s CLEAR service in Las Vegas is available to approximately 1.7 million people across 638 square miles using a variety of WiMAX-enabled access devices that offer typical download speeds of 3 to 6 Mbps with bursts exceeding 10 Mbps – significantly more than today’s wireless broadband data services.

“The CLEAR service highlights why wireless backhaul is such a critical issue right now as the diverse set of access devices can accommodate incredible bandwidth demands on the backhaul connections from the towers to the metro network,” said Mike Aquino, senior vice president of global field operations at Ciena. “There is a need to manage unpredictable and surging traffic growth. Our next-generation, connection-oriented Ethernet 4G backhaul solution delivers the performance, scalability and reliability that have driven its deployment by multiple mobile operators, 4G providers and wholesale providers across the globe.”

Clearwire is using Ciena’s LE-311v™ Service Delivery Switches, CN 5305™ Service Aggregation Switches and Ethernet Services Manager software for its 4G backhaul solution. Based on its field-proven True Carrier Ethernet®, the CESD portfolio combines the low cost and high capacity of Ethernet with the reliability, management and service quality associated with SONET/SDH networks. In addition, the Ethernet Services Manager’s intelligent software automation enables Clearwire to build and deploy large-scale backhaul networks using platforms that can be installed, configured, provisioned and remotely reprogrammed much faster than manual approaches, reducing costs and accelerating service delivery.

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.

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.