CIENA Selected to Provide Next-Generation Optical Solutions for DISA GIG-BE Network.

Business Editors/High-Tech Writers

LINTHICUM, Md.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Dec. 31, 2003

U.S. Department of Defense To Deploy CIENA's Integrated Optical Transport and Switching Platform In Global Network

CIENA(R) Corporation (Nasdaq:CIEN), a leading global provider of innovative network solutions, today announced that it has been awarded a contract by Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC) to support the Defense Information Systems Agency (DISA) Global Information Grid Bandwidth Expansion (GIG-BE) project, the United States Department of Defense's initiative to transform its global communications infrastructure.

Under the terms of the multiyear agreement, CIENA will supply its CoreStream(TM) optical transport and switching platform for deployment in DISA's GIG-BE optical IP terrestrial network. GIG-BE is designed to enhance the Defense Department's network infrastructure to operate at 10 gigabits per second (Gbps) in support of voice, data, video, and transport services among more than 100 key locations worldwide. The integration of CIENA's optical networking solutions satisfies the agency's objective to significantly expand available bandwidth and create an automated, reconfigurable optical network. Deployment is scheduled to commence in calendar 2004.

CIENA successfully completed an exhaustive six-month evaluation and field trial period managed by SAIC, the project's systems integrator, before being selected for the GIG-BE project. Based on this comprehensive assessment, CIENA's solution effectively met the project's stringent standards for technology and value, and offered the features required to ensure high availability and reliability across the network's physically diverse routes.

"DISA has recognized the unmatched capabilities and economic value CIENA technologies provide. The GIG-BE network required a next-generation system, with integrated optical transport and switching, ultra long-haul capabilities, and intelligent software enabling dynamic network reconfiguration. CIENA has long been committed to delivering world-class networking solutions, and we continue to demonstrate our leadership in long-haul optical applications for high-end, advanced networks like GIG-BE," said Gary Smith, president and CEO of CIENA. "This award is also a testament to the suitability of CIENA's technology for building highly efficient, mission-critical government networks."

DISA is focused on transforming the Defense Department's ability to protect the citizens and military personnel of the United States by optimizing the systems on which critical information is communicated. The deployment of CIENA's optical networking platform will directly support the improvement of national security intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance, and command and control information-sharing, by providing secure and reliable optical transport and switching solutions. CIENA effectively supports GIG-BE's fundamental objective to enhance existing end-to-end network infrastructure by collapsing voice, video and data subsystems to streamline the delivery of converged services.

CIENA's CoreStream integrates optical transport and wavelength switching in a single system, thereby allowing DISA to eliminate costs associated with electrical switching of wavelengths. The ultra long-haul (ULH) capabilities further improve the network economics of GIG-BE by eliminating intermediate electrical signal regeneration. DISA will also employ CIENA's intelligent software, LightWorks OS(TM), which reduces the need for manual intervention by enabling automatic network reconfiguration and remote rerouting of signals.

ABOUT CIENA

CIENA Corporation delivers innovative network solutions to the world's largest service providers 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.

NOTE TO INVESTORS

This press release contains certain forward-looking statements based on current expectations, forecasts and assumptions of CIENA (the Company) that involve risks and uncertainties. Forward-looking statements in this release, including but not limited to the features and benefits of CIENA's products, are based on information available to the Company as of the date hereof. The Company's actual results could differ materially from those stated or implied in such forward-looking statements, due to risks and uncertainties associated with the Company's business, which include the risk factors disclosed in the Company's Report on Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on December 11, 2003. Forward looking statements include statements regarding the Company'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. The Company assumes no obligation to update the information included in this press release, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.