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Ciena Expands Multi-Reach DWDM Portfolio with Addition of CoreStream Regional

Extension of Ciena’s CoreStream Agility Platform is Designed for Metro and Regional Networks That Require Lower Capacity Across Shorter Distances

Ciena® Corporation (Nasdaq: CIEN), the network specialist, today announced CoreStream® Regional, an extension of its CoreStream Agility Optical Transmission System, to bring Ciena’s market-leading dense wavelength division multiplexing (DWDM) technology to metro and regional core networks that have moderate capacity and distance requirements. CoreStream is among the first multi-reach DWDM platforms to support regional, long-haul and ultra long-haul (ULH) applications.

Market research and consulting firm RHK, Inc. recently reported that 2004 multi-reach DWDM system global revenues were up 672 percent from 2003, and the firm forecasts a continued market shift from traditional long-haul platforms to the newer, more agile multi-reach systems. According to RHK’s estimates, Ciena leads the multi-reach DWDM market with an approximate 25 percent share.

Generally available in July, CoreStream Regional is part of Ciena’s recently announced FlexSelect™ Architecture, a standards-based, service-oriented network architecture made possible by flexible hardware, intelligent software and service-oriented network management. Featuring the flexibility of programmable transport modules that can support SONET, SDH, OTN and Ethernet interfaces as well as programmable optical add/drop multiplexing, CoreStream Regional rounds out Ciena’s optical transport portfolio to meet any-distance requirements. In addition, the platform is managed by Ciena’s network and service management platform, ON-Center®. 

Based on the same platform as Ciena’s widely-deployed CoreStream Agility system and running FlexSelect OS, CoreStream Regional allows customers to pay only for capacity they require via its modular DWDM architecture for incremental, in-service capacity upgrades up to 80 channels x 10 gigabits per second (Gbps) over distances in excess of 1200 kilometers (km). Optimized for metro and regional optical transport applications, the system features flexible optical add/drop multiplexing (OADM) options, including a fixed OADM that allows up to eight add/drop channels per add/drop site and the Select OADM that provides reconfigurable OADM (ROADM) functionality for fully configurable add/drop support. In addition to a flexible suite of transport modules for reduced router interconnect costs, CoreStream Regional features a lower-powered erbium-doped fiber amplifier (EDFA) for efficient transport while still allowing optional Raman support for difficult span designs. Like CoreStream Agility, the CoreStream Regional platform provides for common sparing, a single management platform, and has been field demonstrated to be 40G upgradeable.

“CoreStream Regional’s flexible design and application-optimized elements enable service providers to cost-effectively meet the reach and capacity requirements for metro and regional applications,” said Rob Adams, vice president for product line management for Ciena’s Transport and Switching Group. “The extension of the CoreStream platform to address metro and regional applications – in addition to long-haul and ultra long-haul – represents Ciena’s continued commitment to leadership in the transport arena and enables service providers to deploy a market-proven platform to meet all of their DWDM network requirements.”

About Ciena's CoreStream Family
As part of Ciena’s FlexSelect Architecture, both CoreStream Agility and CoreStream Regional deliver agile WDM for new levels of network flexibility and efficiency by enabling rerouting of signals and reconfiguration of network traffic via software. Capable of routing 2.5 Gigabit and 10 Gigabit wavelengths, with migration to 40G wavelengths, for metro and regional, long-haul and ULH network routes, CoreStream platforms deliver an all-optical bypass to eliminate optical-electrical-optical (OEO) signal conversions and transceivers, allowing capital-cost savings that grow as the network scales. Additionally, the system lowers ongoing operational costs by automating end-to-end service provisioning and management, inventory and resource tracking, dynamic power management, and channel-based intelligent digital performance monitoring for troubleshooting and supporting service level agreements.

For more information on Ciena’s CoreStream platforms and FlexSelect Architecture, please visit Ciena at SUPERCOMM 2005 (Booth #22039), which is being held June 6-9 at McCormick Place in Chicago.