Leading Russian Operator Selects Ciena’s CN 4200 for Network Upgrade

Ciena^® Corporation (NASDAQ: CIEN), the network specialist, today announced that FORATEC, a leading Russian telecommunication operator, chose the CN 4200^® FlexSelect^® Advanced Services Platform for an optical transport network build-out in the country’s Urals region. The newly deployed network was implemented by Ciena in partnership with Jet Infosystems, one of the major systems integrators in Russia and the CIS region and recent member of Ciena’s BizConnect global partner program.

FORATEC‘s extensive optical network covers Russia’s Urals Federal District and offers a comprehensive range of telecommunication services – including traditional telephony, Voice over IP (VoIP), broadband services, data center connectivity and others – to consumers and businesses alike. In order to increase network capacity and enhance service performance for its customers, the operator selected Ciena and Jet Infosystems to extend its network an additional 150 km between the south Russian cities of Yekaterinburg and Nizhniy Tagil while creating a flexible foundation for the delivery of advanced services and applications. The new deployment is based on Ciena’s CN 4200, equipped with software-programmable interface modules to support multiple services on a single wavelength and remote configurability for greater transport efficiency as service demands evolve over time.

"This network upgrade project was an important step for FORATEC, as we’ve implemented a solid foundation for the delivery of next-generation services and applications,” said Natalia Volkova, CTO at FORATEC. "With the help of Ciena and Jet Infosystems, we have improved the functionality of the network and created a resilient infrastructure with complete reconfigurablity that allows us to adapt as our business needs evolve.”

"Our joint project with FORATEC is a great example of the continued success of our transport portfolio in Europe,” said Sergei Fishkin, regional managing director for Russia, CIS and the Baltic states at Ciena. "We continue to team with leading partners worldwide that have the necessary practical experience in network design and service capabilities that Ciena’s discerning customers expect. Jet Infosystems is precisely that kind of partner for our Russian operation.”

"Building a flexible network infrastructure that can grow organically as needs evolve is an imperative for network operators as they consistently seek out cost-efficiencies in their business while remaining competitive in the marketplace,” added Alexey Dogaev, head of networking solutions development center at Jet Infosystems. "Our new partnership with Ciena enhances our ability to deliver on those requirements for our customers in the region.”

More than 200 organizations around the world, including leading service providers, enterprises, government agencies and research and education networks, utilize Ciena’s CN 4200 platform for its flexibility, ease of deployment and significant capital and operational savings.

About FORATEC

FORATEC is one of the largest regional telecommunications operators in Russia, with an extensive optical network covering the Urals Federal District. Active in the telecommunications market since 2002, the company now boasts an extensive infrastructure, highly qualified technical staff and a great capacity reserve. FORATEC is committed to providing a full range of telecommunications services to all categories of clients. To achieve this goal, it has opened branches in the entire Urals Federal District, designed a product line taking into account specific needs of clients, developed an extensive telecommunications network based on modern equipment and telecommunications equipment, and has founded customer support services led by certified personnel.

About Jet Infosystems

Jet Infosystems is one of the largest systems integrators in Russia and CIS countries. The company offers a wide range of design, development and maintenance services of highly reliable computing systems and networks, organization of IT infrastructure and IT services management, and also information security and industry-specific solutions. The company has regional offices in six cities of Russia - including St. Petersburg, Krasnodar and Vladivostok, and also offices in Ukraine, Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan. Company carries out projects in Pakistan, Armenia, Georgia, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan.

About Ciena

Ciena is the network specialist. We collaborate with customers worldwide to unlock the strategic potential of their networks and fundamentally change the way they compete. With focused innovation, Ciena brings together the reliability and capacity of optical networking with the flexibility and economics of Ethernet, unified by a software suite that delivers the industry’s leading network automation. 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 Investors

Forward-looking statements. 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 10, 2010. 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.