Ciena Supports Video on Demand Network for J:COM
Ciena Optical Ethernet Platforms Support Japan’s Largest Cable TV Operator to Build Reliable, Scalable Network for Growing On-Demand Services
Linthicum, MD — 06/15/2005Ciena® Corporation (Nasdaq: CIEN), the network specialist, today announced that Jupiter Telecommunications Co., Ltd. (J:COM), the largest cable service operator in Japan based on the number of customers served, is adopting Ciena’s optical Ethernet platforms for the transport of Video on Demand (VOD) services, specifically for its "J:COM On Demand" digital service offering. The deployment is a result of Ciena’s relationship with its authorized business partner, NETMARKS, Inc., a Japanese network solution provider, and represents Ciena’s first announced customer win with a major international cable operator for video applications.
Ciena’s optical Ethernet solution is providing J:COM the flexibility to adapt to rapidly changing customer needs without rebuilding its network, thereby reducing capital costs. By evolving J:COM’s existing infrastructure to efficiently scale in support of new applications, the Ciena equipment is enabling the cable operator’s VOD roll-out in the Kansai region of Japan, one of the major regions in which J:COM provides its VOD services, including the metropolitan areas around Osaka, Kobe and Wakayama.
“We knew that a critical part of the success of our on-demand services would be ensuring a quality customer experience through a network that could reliably deliver on-demand content and scale capacity to meet spikes in customer orders,” said Mr. Yoshiaki Shirai, vice president, new technology, J:COM. “Ciena brought a unique combination of extensive experience building VOD networks for major cable operators and highly-reliable platforms that are simple to deploy and manage.”
As the first cable operator in Japan to deploy VOD as a network service with dedicated bandwidth for maximum quality of service, J:COM TV Digital subscribers have access to more than 1,800 titles of Premium On Demand, Monthly On Demand, and Free On Demand programming content, including Japanese and Hollywood movies; children’s programming; educational and self-improvement content; karaoke; and music videos and local information.
J:COM is rolling out VOD services using a variety of equipment from Ciena, including the CN 2200™ Managed Optical Ethernet Multiplexer; CN 2100™ Passive Optical Multiplexer; CN 2130™ Managed Optical Amplifier; and CN 2110™ Dispersion Compensation Module. The cable operator is also taking advantage of Ciena’s VirtualWire™ technology, which unlike solutions based on enterprise-grade Ethernet aggregation, provides ~6 microseconds added latency, no jitter, and zero congestion to ensure the highest performance for any service.
“With a focus on applications that deliver greater service and value, Ciena is committed to helping customers, like J:COM, improve their network economics while enabling superior carrier-class capabilities for increased reliability and performance,” said Francois Locoh-Donou, Ciena’s vice president, international sales. “Additionally, this win is an excellent illustration of Ciena’s ability to leverage channel partners to capitalize on significant business opportunities in key growth markets, like Japan.”
“With NETMARKS’ technical experience and capabilities combined with Ciena’s technology, we successfully completed the J:COM network deployment on schedule,” said Mr. Kazuhiko Shirai, executive officer, general manager, Service Provider Solutions Division, NETMARKS, Inc. “NETMARKS will continue to focus on the CATV market through our strong partnership with Ciena.”
Ciena is the leader in optical Ethernet switching and transport for cable networks based on multi-system and operator-wide deployments with cable operators such as Adelphia Communications, ARMSTRONG Cable, Buckeye CableSystem, Cablevision, Cox Communications, and others. Ciena products are the backbone of networks passing more than 17 million homes.
Ciena specializes in network transition. We provide the flexible platforms, intelligent software and professional services to build converged networks for enhanced services and applications. With a growing global presence, Ciena leverages its heritage of practical innovation to deliver maximum performance and economic value in communications networks worldwide. For more information, visit www.ciena.com.
Established in 1995, Jupiter Telecommunications Co., Ltd. (J:COM) is Japan's largest multiple system operator based on the number of subscribing customers, serving 1,922,900 subscribing households (as of March 31, 2005) in the Hokkaido, Kanto, Kansai, and Kyushu regions. Based in Tokyo, J:COM is the corporate entity that provides cable television, high-speed Internet access and telephony services to customers across Japan through 19 managed franchises (as of March 31, 2005) operating at the local level. The number of serviceable households or “homes passed” in J:COM franchises in Hokkaido, Kanto, Kansai and Kyushu is approximately 7.1 million (as of March 31, 2005). J:COM’s principal shareholders are LMI/Sumisho Super Media, LLC., Microsoft Corporation, and Sumitomo Corporation. J:COM is a public company, trading on the JASDAQ stock exchange under the symbol JCOM. For more information, visit J:COM’s website at http://www.jcom.co.jp/corporate/english.html.
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 2, 2005. 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.
Nicole Anderson
Ciena Corporation
(877) 857 -7377
pr@ciena.com
Marie Downing
Ciena Corporation
(888) 243-6223
ir@ciena.com
