Telecommunications Carriers See Rapidly Approaching Shift to Simplified Network With Core Optical Layer.

LINTHICUM, Md.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--February 2, 1999--

New Research Rates CIENA as Leader in DWDM and Best Overall in

Optical Networking; CIENA Also Cited as Easiest Vendor to Work With

Telecommunications companies almost unanimously believe that network architectures will shift to data-friendly, packet and cell-based networks, directly connecting IP and/or ATM to the optical layer according to new research released today. Forty-four percent of the decision-makers surveyed said that this simplified network shift will be significantly underway by the end of 1999.

The survey, conducted by Yankelovich Partners, queried decision makers from telecommunication service providers, including interexchange carriers (IXCs), regional Bell operating companies (RBOCs), and competitive local exchange carriers (CLECs), some of which were CIENA customers. Participants were unaware that CIENA Corporation (NASDAQ: CIEN) commissioned the study.

"The research confirms that data and Internet growth is causing service providers to begin adoption of the highly scalable optical networking architecture we have been driving over the last two years," said Steve Chaddick, CIENA's senior vice president for strategy and corporate development. "Industry-wide, this shift toward an optical core represents the next big opportunity for differentiation amongst service providers and equipment vendors alike."

Survey Highlights Highlights of the study include:

o Almost unanimously, decision-makers believe that

simplification of the current circuit-switched network

toward a more data-centric approach, directly connecting

IP and/or ATM to the optical layer will occur. Forty-four

percent responded they believe significant steps toward

such simplification will occur in 1999, and there was an

equally divided view over the role SONET would play in

this next generation network.

o CIENA received the highest average ratings with regard to

leadership in developing new technology, surpassing

Alcatel, Nortel, Pirelli, NEC and Lucent.

o Decision-makers rated CIENA as the company in the industry that

is "easiest to work with," and CIENA was named as the leader in

delivering service and support to its customers.

o Decision-makers said the most important factors in

choosing a DWDM vendor include product features, customer

service, system scalability and network management

capabilities.

o CIENA was named most often as the leader in DWDM systems.

o CIENA was mentioned most often as the best company overall in

optical networking.

o CIENA was named as the company in the industry most likely

to deliver on a new product on the date promised when the

product was announced.

"Yankelovich's findings indicate overwhelming support for CIENA's vision and prove that carriers believe that direct connection of cell and packet data to the optical layer is the first step toward a true next generation network," continued Jesus Leon, vice president, products & technology at CIENA. "We plan to continue driving innovation in the industry, enabling a smooth transition from current SONET-based legacy systems to next generation optical networks." -0-

ABOUT CIENA

Based in Linthicum, Maryland, CIENA Corporation is a worldwide market leader of open architecture, dense wavelength division multiplexing (DWDM) systems for long-distance and local exchange carriers. CIENA's DWDM solutions include the MultiWave(R) 1600 long-haul transport system, WaveWatcher(R) network management software, the MultiWave Optical Add/Drop Multiplexer, the MultiWave Sentry(TM) enhanced long-distance transport system and the new MultiWave(R) Firefly and MultiWave Metro(TM) short-haul systems. Through its Alta subsidiary, based near Atlanta, GA, CIENA provides a range of engineering, furnishing and installation (EF&I) services for telecommunications service providers in the areas of transport, switching and wireless communications.

Additional information about CIENA can be found on its World Wide Website: http://www.ciena.com.

NOTE TO INVESTORS:

Forward-looking statements in this release, 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, and 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 Annual Report on Form 10-K, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on December 10, 1998.