SUPERCOMM VISITORS TO SEE NEXT-GENERATION INTELLIGENT OPTICAL NETWORKING DEMONSTRATIONS BY CIENA
Intelligent Optical Networking Pioneer to Show 12.5GHz Channel Spacing, OC-768 (40G) Optical Transmission, 'All-Optimal' Integrated Switching Architecture, and OC-192 (10G) Interoperability Between CoreDirector and MetroDirector K2
Linthicum, MD — 06/01/2001Ciena Corporation (NASDAQ: CIEN), a global provider of intelligent optical networking systems and software, today announced that visitors to its SuperComm 2001 booth (#4728) will see demonstrations that highlight the company's leadership in intelligent optical transport and switching solutions for core and metropolitan service provider networks. In addition, Ciena will be offering ongoing Optical University seminars featuring industry analysts, respected journalists and technologists from telecommunications industry leaders.
Ciena will demonstrate four new networking capabilities at SuperComm:
- 12.5GHz (ultra-dense) channel spacing between wavelengths from Ciena's MultiWave CoreStream™ intelligent optical transport system;
- OC-768 (40Gbps) optical transmission on the same CoreStream platform;
- "All-optimal" switching architecture combining Ciena's market-leading MultiWave CoreDirector™ intelligent optical core switching fabric with an all-optical switching fabric in a seamless, functionally integrated system; and
- OC-192 (10Gbps) interoperability between Ciena's CoreDirector, CoreStream, MultiWave Metro™, MultiWave CoreDirector CI™and MultiWave MetroDirector K2™ next-generation multi-service access and switching platform.
Ultra-Dense Channel Spacing
Current optical networking systems typically separate wavelengths by a space equal to or greater than 50GHz. Ciena's use of advanced filtering techniques such as Fiber Bragg Gratings enables optical channels to be spaced as close as 12.5GHz apart, allowing a four- to eight-fold capacity advantage over 50GHz and 100GHz spacing, respectively. For service providers requiring seamless growth for high capacity services and applications in the near term, ultra-dense channel spacing provides increased optical network capacity and economic scalability on existing 10Gbps infrastructure.
40Gbps Transmission
Ciena will demonstrate its commitment to next-generation transport technologies by showcasing its ability to generate, receive and process multiple OC-768 (40G) streams on the same CoreStream platform that is demonstrating ultra-dense channel spacing. OC-768 transmission is an important advance toward the future scalability of intelligent optical transport systems. With industry-leading transport capacity for today's marketplace, and the ability to scale to meet the demand of future 40G bandwidth requirements, Ciena is prepared to extend its value proposition of offering high-capacity systems at the lowest cost-per-bit as OC-768 technologies continue to mature and become more cost effective.
"All-Optimal" Switching
Together with Corning, Inc. (NYSE: GLW), Ciena will, for the first time, demonstrate integrated OO and OEO switching in a single system. Corning's PurePath 256-port optical-switch module integrated into CoreDirector's architectural fabric will illustrate Ciena's vision of how CoreDirector will evolve into an integrated OEO and OO system. Ciena's LightWorks iOS software allows for automated service provisioning and management; bandwidth grooming -- ranging from whole fibers, wavelength bands, individual wavelengths and fractional wavelengths down to STS-1s -- based on the needs of each switching site; and end-to-end prioritized protection schemes. With these capabilities service providers can reduce capital and operating costs, and optimize their return on bandwidth investment.
OC-192 Interoperability
Also showcased at SuperComm 2001 is an OC-192 interoperability demonstration between Ciena's family of intelligent optical transport and switching systems, including its MetroDirector K2 next-generation multi-service access and switching platform, which was added to Ciena's product portfolio in the recently completed acquisition of Cyras Systems. This presentation will illustrate interoperability over 10Gbps wavelengths.
Optical University
Ciena is proud to once again offer its Optical University series of seminars at SuperComm 2001 to help service providers find new ways of quickly creating new services and applications that are cost efficient and highly customized for end-users.
This year's featured speaker is Fortune magazine's Stephanie Mehta, who will provide a media perspective of the telecommunications industry. Ciena's seminars include a service provider panel discussion on Ethernet, moderated by Mark Lutkowitz, vice president, optical networking research for Communications Industry Researchers, and presentations by experts from Qwest Communications, TyCom, Williams Communications and Ciena.
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 the cost to operate it. Additional information about Ciena can be found at http://www.ciena.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 Company's belief that CoreStream provides reliable, high-capacity optical transmission, and CoreDirector, with its embedded software intelligence, enables FLAG Telecom to efficiently manage bandwidth services across the North Asia region, the ability of CoreDirector to allow service providers to be able to leverage the capital and operational savings associated with next-generation networking, CoreDirector's ability to replace multiple racks of static network equipment with a highly scalable switch for automated service provisioning, protection and restoration, CoreStream's ability to enhance the capacity and cost-efficiency of next-generation networks, the ability of CoreStream and CoreDirector to help service providers grow their business, increase revenue and profit, and improve network performance for next-generation optical services, and the cost savings, deployment timing and network management benefits of the Company's products, are based on information available to the Company as of the date hereof. The Company's 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-Q filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on May 17, 2001. 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
