AMA--TechTel Deploys MetaSwitch and CIENA for VoIP Migration; Texas Service Provider Caps Existing TDM Platform and Grows With IP.

LINTHICUM, Md. & ALAMEDA, Calif. & LUBBOCK, Texas -- CIENA(R) Corporation (Nasdaq:CIEN), a leading global provider of intelligent service creation and delivery solutions, and MetaSwitch, a leading vendor of Class 5 softswitch solutions, today announced that they have partnered to provide Texas service provider AMA-TechTel Communications with a complete solution for delivering next-generation Voice over IP (VoIP) services.

AMA-TechTel, the largest locally-owned telecommunications company in West Texas, turned to MetaSwitch and CIENA because its existing access and switching infrastructure could not meet its requirements for supporting packet voice and IP Centrex services, which are central to the company's growth plans. The combined CIENA-MetaSwitch solution effectively addresses this challenge for AMA-TechTel, improving network performance and economics, and establishing competitive advantage for its service portfolio.

"As a competitive local exchange carrier, we are always looking to provide our customers the best experience possible and introduce new services that drive our revenue growth," said David Boyd, chief technical officer of AMA-TechTel. "The combination of MetaSwitch's Class 5 softswitch and CIENA's broadband loop carrier gives us the reliability and flexibility we need to react quickly to developments in technology and regulation.

"We are extremely impressed by how quickly and easily the integrated solution was deployed, and both systems have since been successfully operating in our network for several months," continued Boyd. "AMA-TechTel has spent many years working with next-generation equipment vendors to stay ahead of the curve, and MetaSwitch and CIENA are unquestionably true technology leaders in this space."

"Together with MetaSwitch, we're enabling AMA-TechTel to migrate its network for the efficient delivery of valuable next-generation services," said Jim Hjartarson, senior vice president and general manager of CIENA's Broadband Access Group. "Industry collaboration on the development of integrated solutions, like that between CIENA and MetaSwitch, is growing in appeal to cost-conscious service providers as the demand for advanced services, like VoIP, continues to build and conventional platforms become antiquated in terms of capability and value."

Chris Mairs, vice president of business development at MetaSwitch, added: "As AMA-TechTel's successful deployment shows, MetaSwitch and CIENA are committed to delivering working solutions based on open standards. We are also pleased to welcome CIENA as a member of the MetaSwitch Interoperability Partner program, and anticipate more successful collaboration efforts between us in the future."

CIENA's CN 1000(TM) BLC Broadband Access Platform enables AMA-TechTel to cost-efficiently deliver plain old telephone service (POTS) and digital subscriber line (DSL), as well as new services, including video, from a variety of remote and collocated central office facilities. With the CN 1000, AMA-TechTel reduces the costs associated with its access network by consolidating into one system the functions of multiple single-purpose access platforms. Additionally, CIENA's CN 1000 greatly simplifies AMA-TechTel's operations by enabling it to remotely provision advanced broadband and packet voice services for any subscriber through simple software commands.

MetaSwitch's VP3500 Series softswitch offers more than 100 Class 5 features including CLASS services, IP Centrex, E911, LNP, 1-800 and CALEA. The innovative Web self-care feature provides a turnkey solution for subscribers to manage their own lines and business groups, while a flexible SIP interface enables the delivery of a wide variety of new applications. With more than 60 deployments among independent and competitive service providers, the VP3500 series is the leading solution today for Class 5 packet switching.

CIENA and MetaSwitch will feature these platforms during USTA Telecom '04 in Las Vegas, October 9-13. CIENA will showcase the CN 1000 at booth #401, and MetaSwitch will show its VP3500 Series softswitch at booth #513.

ABOUT CIENA

CIENA Corporation delivers innovative network solutions to the world's largest service providers, cable operators and enterprises, increasing the cost-efficiency of current services while enabling the creation of new carrier-class data services built upon the existing network infrastructure. Additional information about CIENA can be found at www.ciena.com.

ABOUT METASWITCH

MetaSwitch is the industry's leading independent broadband Class 5 softswitch vendor. Its widely deployed VP3500 Series Class 5 Softswitch supports over 100 Class 5 features including CLASS services, IP Centrex, E911, LNP, 1-800 and CALEA, and scales from a few hundred to half a million subscribers. Customers include incumbent and competitive local exchange carriers, as well as operators of broadband wireless, cable and fiber networks.

MetaSwitch is a division of established telecom technology provider Data Connection (DCL). The company is consistently profitable and privately held, with US locations in California, Virginia, Texas and Florida, and European headquarters in London, UK.

--Data Connection and MetaSwitch are trademarks of Data Connection Limited and Data Connection Corporation. Brands and products referenced herein are the trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective holders. Copyright (C) 2004 Data Connection Limited.

ABOUT AMA-TechTel

AMA-TechTel was created in 2002 with the merger of AMA Online and TechTel Communications. TechTel Communications, a Lubbock-based company, was the first Competitive Local Exchange Carrier (CLEC) to offer DSL connectivity and local and long distance telephone service. AMA Online was established in 1995.

AMA-TechTel now provides a full suite of telecommunications and networking services, including dial-up and broadband internet, web hosting, VPN, local dial-tone, long-distance and Voice over IP. Through a strategy of organic growth, and acquisition of companies with complementary product or customer portfolios, the company has built a network that today serves over 30,000 homes and businesses.

NOTE TO CIENA 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 August 19, 2004. 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.