view printer-friendly version

CIENA MULTIWAVE SENTRY™ SELECTED BY DDI FOR DEPLOYMENT ACROSS ITS JAPANESE NETWORK

Ciena Corporation (NASDAQ: CIEN) announced today that its 16-channel MultiWave Sentry™ dense wavelength division multiplexing (DWDM) system has been selected by DDI Corporation for deployment in its nationwide fiber optic network. Shipments to DDI have already begun with live service expected to begin in early 1999.

One of three long-distance new common carriers (NCC) approved by the Japanese government to compete against NTT, DDI is the third NCC to have chosen Ciena's DWDM products.

"We are very pleased to announce this relationship with Ciena," said Tadashi Onodera, executive vice president of DDI. "Use of the MultiWave Sentry and our new fiber optic cable installations will better enable DDI's backbone network to provide the advanced communication services our customers demand."

"DDI's selection of Ciena's MultiWave Sentry solidifies Ciena's position as a principal bandwidth supplier to the Japanese market," said Patrick Nettles, Ciena's president and chief executive officer. "We are pleased to have the opportunity to work with DDI as it looks to expand the capacity of its network and broaden its service offerings in a rapidly evolving and very competitive market."

Established in 1984, DDI began its long distance services in 1987. Its nationwide network was completed in 1992 primarily with digital microwave transmission. In 1995, DDI began the process of installing optical fiber links between major Japanese cities. DDI currently has a residential and business long distance subscriber base of 16,300,000 -- the largest customer base of the three Japanese new common carriers.