neuf cegetel Selects Ciena's FlexSelect Architecture to Increase Performance and...

LINTHICUM, Md. -- Ciena's CN 4200 FlexSelect Advanced Services Platform to Support Delivery of New Broadband Applications in France

Ciena(R) Corporation (Nasdaq:CIEN), the network specialist, today announced that neuf cegetel has selected the CN 4200(TM) FlexSelect(TM) Advanced Services

Platform for deployment across its metro and regional broadband network in France. The solution will maximize the performance and flexibility of neuf cegetel's existing network to support the delivery of new broadband applications to neuf cegetel's corporate and residential customers.

neuf cegetel, the resulting entity of the neuf telecom and Cegetel merger, is currently France's leading alternative operator with its wholly-owned national infrastructure network. Deployment of Ciena's CN 4200 across neuf cegetel's network will commence immediately, with new broadband services subsequently being rolled out later this year.

Ciena's CN 4200 is the flagship product of Ciena's FlexSelect Architecture, a standards-based, service-oriented approach to building next-generation network infrastructures. The CN 4200 is a multiservice transport and aggregation platform capable of on-demand support for any transport protocol--including SONET/SDH, Ethernet/GbE/10GbE, storage or video--at any speed on any available port using the industry's first universal line card with individual user-programmable ports. A service-aware platform with protocol-specific performance management capabilities, Ciena's CN 4200 offers the unique ability to combine different service types onto a single wavelength and add or drop them anywhere on the network for greater efficiency.

According to Francois Paulus, general manager, Network and Marketing division, neuf cegetel, the key driver behind the operator's selection of Ciena was the ability to maximize network flexibility and add capacity while minimizing the capital costs typically associated with network upgrades.

"Getting the best performance from our network is absolutely fundamental to our strategy of developing and delivering innovative broadband services to our business and consumer customers across France," Francois Paulus said. "The expertise of a partner like Ciena is critical to our success as we continuously evolve to meet customer demand for next-generation services."

"In addition to minimizing capital outlay, Ciena's FlexSelect Architecture also permits us to implement network enhancements, minimizing interruption to existing services - another vital consideration as broadband services become increasingly mission-critical," he adds.

Eric Sele, Ciena's managing director for southern Europe, Middle East and Africa, explains that the new agreement builds on the eight-year working relationship between Cegetel and Ciena in France. Ciena's long-haul transmission platforms, including its CoreStream(R) Agility Optical Transmission System, are currently deployed in the operator's network.

"In addition to expanding our involvement in modernizing neuf cegetel's next-generation broadband network, this agreement further solidifies Ciena's commitment to the European market and our ability to solve critical network challenges for customers in the region," says Sele. "This is a great example of how our FlexSelect Architecture addresses one of the principal challenges facing today's operators--how to generate the most performance and innovative, revenue-generating services from existing networks without being overwhelmed by capital and operating costs."

About Ciena

Ciena Corporation is the network specialist, focused on expanding the possibilities for its customers' networks while reducing their cost of ownership. The company's systems, software and services target and cure specific network pain points so that telcos, cable operators, governments and enterprises can best exploit the new applications that are driving their businesses forward. For more information, visit www.ciena.com.

About the neuf cegetel group

neuf cegetel is the leading alternative operator in France. It operates its own national long distance network comprising 44,800 kilometres of optical fibres and has invested heavily in the rollout of its DSL access network. neuf cegetel produces its own broadband services and covers around 70% of the French population. The company is the leading provider of unbundled lines in Europe, with more than 1.6 million lines. It offers a wide range of 'full-IP' services to all segments of the market. As of year end 2005, neuf cegetel has 3 million residential customers, including 1.2 million broadband customers, 100,000 business customer sites connected to its network and provides telecom services to 200 telecom operators and Internet service providers. neuf cegetel, whose main shareholders are the Louis Dreyfus group and SFR, reported revenues of more than 2,7 billion euros (pro forma) in 2005. www.groupeneufcegetel.fr

Note to Investors

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 March 3, 2006. 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.