On February 14, 2014, Ciena® Corporation (NYSE: CIEN), the network specialist, and Ericsson (NASDAQ: ERIC), a world-leading provider of telecommunications equipment and services to mobile and fixed network operators, announced a strategic global agreement that includes packet-optical distribution, converged IP/optical joint development and distribution as well as an SDN collaboration framework. 

Ericsson brings to Ciena a wide range of strategic relationships with global service providers, a strong position in wireless infrastructure and evolved packet-core solutions, and a worldwide professional services organization. Ericsson benefits from Ciena’s best-in-class innovation and packet-optical expertise resulting from years of deep customer relationships across a wide range of network domains. 

Ericsson will offer Ciena's Converged Packet Optical portfolio, including the 6500 Packet-Optical Platform and 5400 family, to deliver a broader set of infrastructure solutions as customers migrate to new converged network architectures. In addition, Ciena’s WaveLogic coherent optical technology will be integrated into Ericsson’s IP portfolio, creating a solution that allows customers to seamlessly interoperate routers with Ciena’s industry-leading photonics. 

Ciena and Ericsson are committed to accelerating the availability of open, programmable, software-defined networks. Under a collaboration framework, the companies will seek to leverage their combined resources and expertise with plans to jointly develop and co-market service provider SDN technology. 

“The strategic agreement combines Ciena’s and Ericsson’s strengths in the development of an open SDN network for converged IP and Optical transport,” said Jan Häglund, Vice President and Head of Product Area IP & Broadband, Ericsson. “The re-seller agreement will allow Ericsson to complement our 4th Generation IP portfolio with Ciena’s industry-leading packet-optical products. This will create an even stronger offering to our customers.” 

“Consistent with our OPn network architecture for intelligent network evolution, the industry is moving toward an ecosystem of more specialized players as the transformation accelerates toward open, programmable, multi-vendor networks that scale and adapt to network-level applications and services,” said Gary Smith, President and CEO, Ciena. “Together, Ciena and Ericsson will bring best-in-class solutions to customers around the globe to better address the evolving requirements for software-driven, converged networks.” 

About Ericsson
Ericsson is a world-leading provider of communications technology and services. Ericsson is enabling the Networked Society with efficient real-time solutions that allow us all to study, work and live our lives more freely, in sustainable societies around the world.

Ericsson’s offering comprises services, software and infrastructure within Information and Communications Technology for telecom operators and other industries. Today 40 percent of the world's mobile traffic goes through Ericsson networks and we support customers' networks servicing more than 2.5 billion subscribers. 

Ericsson is more than 110,000 people working with customers in more than 180 countries. Founded in 1876, Ericsson is headquartered in Stockholm, Sweden. In 2013 the company's net sales were SEK 227.4 billion (USD 34.9 billion). Ericsson is listed on NASDAQ OMX, Stockholm and NASDAQ, New York stock exchanges.