Commonwealth Telephone Enterprises Enhances Network With CIENA’s Long-Haul Optical Transport Solution
Linthicum, MD — 05/16/2002Ciena® Corporation (NASDAQ: CIEN), a global provider of intelligent optical networking systems and software, today announced that Commonwealth Telephone Enterprises, Inc. (CTE) [NASDAQ: CTCO, CTCOB], a U.S.-based, full-service telecommunications provider, has selected Ciena to provide intelligent optical transport products for deployment in the carrier’s Pennsylvania fiber optic network.
Ciena’s long-haul optical transport platform will provide CTE and its subsidiaries with the ability to manage and reduce costs by further reducing provisioning intervals for future network sales and facilitating growth of fiber network capacity. Ciena’s solution will allow CTE to increase capacity by simply adding DWDM channel cards rather than installing new SONET terminals. The embedded intelligence in Ciena’s optical amplifiers also eliminates manual upgrades as new capacity is added to the network. CTE will now have enhanced corporate network route diversity for mission critical traffic along its 482-mile Pennsylvania fiber ring.
“Ciena’s platform provides CTE with an economical long-term network enhancement and enables us to cost-effectively scale our capacity, especially with the down-the-road ability to upgrade easily to the 96-wavelength CoreStream™ product,” said Donald W. Wiles, senior vice president and chief technology officer for CTE. “It is well suited for our network requirements and will decrease the need for new terminals and upgrades required by traditional equipment, thus reducing our capital costs.”
Ciena’s long-haul solutions are well suited for route applications that require low cost, scalable capacity and support both standard and concatenated data streams. Network enhancements are simplified with Ciena’s open-architecture design, which enables service providers to mix SONET, ATM and Fast IP traffic on a common optical network as they migrate to next-generation equipment. CTE is initially deploying Ciena’s SentryTM 4000 long-haul transport system.
“Ciena is pleased to provide CTE with the means to expand its portfolio of services and generate new opportunities for incremental revenue growth,” said Gary Smith, president and CEO of Ciena. “Our long-haul platform will support CTE’s strong commitment to staying abreast of evolving network needs and ensuring customer satisfaction.”
Ciena LightWorks™ architecture for integrated, intelligent optical networks creates simpler, smarter optical networks, resulting in greater scalability, simpler operations, and lower total costs of ownership.
Ciena Corporation’s market-leading optical networking systems form the core for the new era of networks and services worldwide. Ciena’s LightWorks™ architecture enables next-generation optical services and changes the fundamental economics of service-provider networks by simplifying the network and reducing operating costs. Additional information about Ciena can be found at www.ciena.com.
Headquartered in Dallas, PA, Commonwealth Telephone Enterprises, Inc., serves a growing base of business and residential customers with the full array of technologically advanced data and voice telecommunications products and services, including broadband data services and high-speed Internet access, delivered over its 100% digitally switched, fiber-rich network. CTE’s primary operating segments are: Commonwealth Telephone Company (“CT”), the nation’s eighth largest publicly held independent rural local exchange carrier (“RLEC”), which has been operating in various rural Pennsylvania markets since 1897; and, CTSI, LLC (“CTSI”), an RLEC “edge-out” local exchange carrier operating outside CT’s territory, that formally commenced operations in 1997. CTE’s support businesses include epix® Internet Services (www.epix.net), one of the northeast’s largest rural ISPs with over 45,000 dial-up Internet access subscribers; and, Jack Flash®, a broadband data service that uses DSL technology to offer high-speed Internet access and digital connectivity solutions. Additionally, CTE operates two other support businesses that provide expertise to its CT and CTSI operations. These businesses are Commonwealth Communications, a provider of telecommunications equipment and facilities management services; and, CLD, a switch-based long-distance reseller. A web site featuring current information regarding Commonwealth Telephone Enterprises, Inc. can be found on the Internet at www.ct-enterprises.com.
This press release contains certain forward-looking statements based on current expectations, forecasts and assumptions of Ciena (the Company) that involve risks and uncertainties. Forward-looking statements in this release, including but not limited to, the cost savings and other benefits to Commonwealth Telephone Enterprises, Inc. from its purchase of Ciena’s Sentry 4000 product, are based on information available to the Company as of the date hereof. Actual results could differ materially from those stated or implied in such forward-looking statements, due to risks and uncertainties associated with the Company’s business, which include the risk factors disclosed in the Company’s Report on Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on February 21, 2002. Forward looking statements include statements regarding the Company’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. The Company assumes no obligation to update the information included in this press release, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
Nicole Anderson
Ciena Corporation
(877) 857 -7377
pr@ciena.com
Marie Downing
Ciena Corporation
(888) 243-6223
ir@ciena.com
