Ciena Expands Global Partner Program

Business Wire, Sept 15, 2008

Extends Specialist Expertise with New Managed Services Provider Designation in BizConnect Program

LINTHICUM, Md. -- Ciena([R]) Corporation (NASDAQ: CIEN), the network specialist, today announced the continuing expansion of its global partner program, BizConnect, with the addition of a Managed Services Provider (MSP) partner designation. The new MSP partner type is designed to empower Ciena's service provider partners to compete in high-growth markets and enhance profitability by delivering managed optical, Ethernet and storage transport services based on Ciena's proven reliable, scalable and manageable service-driven networking solutions.

Now more than ever, enterprises face a growing list of disaster recovery and business continuity requirements, including bandwidth-intensive applications such as data replication, disk mirroring and server virtualization. Adding to the challenge are emerging trends like IT virtualization and the proliferation of video services, all of which are contributing to a rise in the costs of maintenance, management and connectivity. As a result, enterprises are increasingly relying on carrier managed services to ensure high network reliability, agility and scalability to achieve optimal cost-efficiency. In fact, industry research firm Vertical Systems estimates that managed services in the U.S. alone will hit $34.7 billion in 2010.

Recognizing the burgeoning market demand among its carrier partners to offer managed services, Ciena created the MSP designation in its BizConnect program as a complement to the existing Solution Provider, Agent and Referral partner types. The MSP designation offers Ciena's carrier partners solutions that deliver high-value managed wavelengths, managed sub-wavelengths, managed WAN optimization and managed Ethernet services. AboveNet, Inc., a leader in fiber optic connectivity solutions and strategic partner to Ciena, is among the first of Ciena's BizConnect partners with the MSP designation. AboveNet is using Ciena solutions to offer its managed services customers the high bandwidth, scalable performance and detailed service level management they have come to expect of its private optical networks. AboveNet offers customers a neutral approach when connecting their networks, seeking the data center best able to meet their present and future needs.

"In today's marketplace, partnerships have become a strategic factor in enabling global success, and expanding our relationship with Ciena extends our capabilities to dynamically adapt and scale our network to meet the fast-changing needs of today's enterprises," said AboveNet's Executive Director of Business Development and Marketing, MaryBeth Nance. "Ciena's MSP designation within BizConnect provides us with superior sales and marketing support, business and financial incentives, and the ability to successfully sell leading optical and Ethernet managed services."

Ciena offers its MSP partners the support needed to achieve business growth and market success based on a framework that includes:

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"BizConnect's new MSP designation is a key building block of our evolving partner program," said Theresa Caragol, vice president, Global Alliances & Partners at Ciena. "This partner type was developed based on feedback from current BizConnect members as well as market indicators and demand, and is designed to give our carrier partners a competitive edge by offering a leading product portfolio and a valuable suite of program resources enabling them to deliver differentiated managed services."

About Ciena's BizConnect Program

With more than 50 elite partners across the globe, the BizConnect program enables partners to tailor every aspect of their relationship with Ciena - including portfolio offerings, promotions, training, incentives and more - customizing participation based on each member's unique business strategy and revenue objectives. In addition to providing partners a wide portfolio of solutions and support, including access to an interactive online partner community, Ciena's BizConnect program offers members industry-leading marketing support including targeted lead-generation campaigns, market development funds, co-branded events and seminars, joint collateral development and innovative media vehicles, as well as strong pre-and-post sales support, to maximize market opportunities.

About Ciena

Ciena specializes in the transition to service-driven networks. We provide flexible platforms, intelligent software and professional services to help our customers use their networks to fundamentally change the way they compete. With a growing global presence, Ciena leverages its heritage of practical innovation to deliver maximum performance and economic value in communications networks worldwide. We routinely post recent news, financial results and other important announcements and information about Ciena on our website at www.ciena.com.

About AboveNet, Inc.

AboveNet provides fiber optic connectivity solutions for business and carriers. Its private optical network delivers key network and IP services in and among 14 top U.S. metro markets and London, UK. Its network is widely used in demanding markets such as financial services, media, health care, retail and government. For more information visit www.above.net.