Corvis CEO Discusses Carrier Strategies to Survive and Flourish; Fast, Flexible Optically Optimized Networks Will Differentiate Carriers.

Business Editors/Hi-Tech Writers

LONDON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Dec. 5, 2001

In today's keynote presentation at the Lightspeed Europe 2001 conference, Dr. David Huber, president and CEO of Corvis Corporation (NASDAQ: CORV), predicted that a new generation of optically optimized networks will be embraced by those carriers who not only survive the current industry downturn, but who will flourish in the years ahead. Dr. Huber said these optically optimized networks would displace what he called a "lost generation" of networks based on traditional technologies and incremental improvements.

"We are standing at a crossroad in our industry, the decisions carriers make today will determine whether or not they are in business tomorrow," said Dr. Huber. "We are at a forefront of a new generation of network: `The Optically Optimized Network' and carriers are faced with an important decision concerning their network that has everything to do with their ability to win business and operate efficiently."

Dr. Huber discussed optically optimized networks capable of providing the unprecedented speed and flexibility necessary for carriers to prosper. Optically optimized networks offer the best efficiency and flexibility at high capacities, scale to multiple terabits, and can be provisioned and reconfigured rapidly. An optically optimized network is enabled by integrated all-optical switching and high performance transmission and leverages grooming and switching systems at the edge for additional efficiency and flexibility. Corvis is the only company to offer products that support optically optimized networks, through its CorWave ON optical network product suite, which was used to deploy the world's first all-optical network carrying live, revenue-generating traffic, and its Optical Convergence Switch, the industry's only multiband edge switch.

"Optically optimized networks are necessary for a carrier's survival. Carriers who adopt new, next generation networks will be able to grow their businesses while controlling their cost structure," Dr. Huber continued. "The need for carriers to differentiate themselves with speed and flexibility has never been more important. Carriers need these networks to win new business, offer revenue-generating services and operate with efficiencies that allow for profits despite intense competition."

With Corvis, carriers can migrate traffic to optically optimized networks that arm them with the flexibility and speed to win customers against fierce competition. Carriers can provision and reconfigure Corvis-enabled networks with response times of hours, instead of months providing carriers with a significant competitive advantage to survive and prosper. Efficient, reliable networks that can be provisioned and reconfigured rapidly - without costly pre-provisioning - enable carriers to attract and retain customers. This speed and flexibility also opens the door to a new world of capabilities that expand a carrier's addressable market, such as providing unique, short-term revenue services, such as time-of-day, day-of-week, and, eventually, Bandwidth on Demand.

About Corvis

From point-to-point links to all-optical networks, Corvis Corporation delivers innovative optical network solutions that drive carrier profitability faster than any other vendor. Corvis continues to demonstrate optical leadership with numerous industry firsts, including the first and only commercial all-optical network and integrated all-optical solution, the first to transmit over 6000 km without costly electronic regeneration and first to deploy Raman amplification commercially. Corvis' innovative solutions enable carriers to provision new wavelength-based services rapidly and to tailor dynamic service level agreements for rapid revenue generation. Corvis' future-ready product portfolio solves carrier network challenges with scalable, robust solutions that reduce capital and operating expenditures. With offices across North America and Europe, Corvis operates Research and Development centers of excellence at its global headquarters in Columbia, Maryland, and in Lannion, France. For more information, call Corvis at 443 259-4000 or visit www.corvis.com.

Corvis and the Corvis logo are trademarks and/or service marks of the Corvis Corporation. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

Note: This announcement contains certain forward-looking statements that are subject to risks and uncertainties. Actual results could differ materially from those currently anticipated as a result of a number of factors, including, but not limited to, the risks and uncertainties discussed under "Risk Factors" and "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.