Ciena Expands Relationship with EMC; Ciena's CN 4200 FlexSelect Platform Available Through EMC Select Program; Ciena Joins EMC Authorized Services Network to Provide Data Migration Services.

LINTHICUM, Md. -- Ciena(R) Corporation (Nasdaq:CIEN), the network specialist, today announced an expansion of its relationship with EMC Corporation. EMC has added Ciena's CN 4200(TM) FlexSelect Advanced Services Platform to the EMC(R) Select Program, which enables customers to purchase pre-tested products directly from EMC that complete storage infrastructure solutions. In addition, Ciena is now also part of the EMC Authorized Services Network's (ASN) Solution Alliances Program and is able to provide data migration services for EMC customers.

Already selected by service providers and enterprises worldwide, the CN 4200, a next-generation multiservice transport and aggregation solution, is the newest platform in Ciena's FlexSelect(TM) Architecture and a key component of Ciena's Adaptive WAN(TM) solution for enterprises. It features a universal line card that can be remotely programmed and provisioned to support any speed, any function, any wavelength and any protocol, including Gigabit Ethernet, ESCON(R) and Fibre Channel on any port. The CN 4200 can help deliver cost-effective, flexible options for the extension of storage area networks, remote disk mirroring, remote back-up and other storage networking applications.

The CN 4200 has been E-Lab(TM) Tested by EMC and qualified as an extended distance connectivity solution using WDM technology to support EMC Symmetrix(R) with Symmetrix Remote Data Facility (SRDF(R)) software over Fibre Channel (FC) and ESCON. It is also qualified with EMC CLARiiON(R) network storage systems with EMC MirrorView(TM) remote mirroring software over FC connections, and both EMC SAN Copy(TM) Software and Block I/O over FC.

"EMC and Ciena are working together to provide customers with a range of choices when it comes to networking technologies that help them extend storage and replication applications outside of the data center," said Tom Joyce, EMC's vice president of Platforms Marketing. "The addition of Ciena's CN 4200 into the EMC Select Program, along with other Ciena offerings, enables EMC to provide customers with an even greater selection of leading solutions to help them meet business continuity, disaster recovery and other objectives."

The CN 4200 joins Ciena's award-winning CN 2000(TM) Storage Extension Platform and ONLINE Metro(TM) Multiservice DWDM transport platform already being offered through the EMC Select Program through a previous agreement.

As a Solutions Alliance Program member of EMC's Authorized Services Network, Ciena joins a family of EMC services partners that provide complementary skills to support the delivery of EMC solutions and services. Ciena is participating as a Specialist Partner to provide data migration services as part of the EMC solution.

"Our partnership with EMC continues to open doors for Ciena, increasing our exposure and presence with enterprises worldwide. The relationship has yielded several joint customers to date and we look forward to continuing that success," said Bill Koss, vice president of global alliances and partners at Ciena. "Together with leading industry partners like EMC, Ciena helps organizations maximize compliance, continuity and consolidation efforts with an adaptive, applications-transparent network that creates significant cost and operational advantages for the processes that are driving business now and in the future."

Ciena will showcase the CN 4200, CN 2000 and ONLINE Metro platforms in its booth at Storage Networking World Fall, October 25-28, at the JW Marriott Grand Lakes Resort in Orlando, Fla.

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.

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 September 1, 2005. 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.

* EMC, Symmetrix, CLARiiON and SRDF are registered trademarks and MirrorView and SAN Copy are trademarks of EMC Corporation.

* ESCON and FICON are trademarks or registered trademarks of International Business Machines Corporation.