Ciena Announces Internet Availability of 2009 Annual Meeting Proxy Materials Under SEC Notice and Access Rule

Ciena® Corporation (NASDAQ: CIEN), the network specialist, today announced that the Company’s proxy materials for its 2009 Annual Meeting of Shareholders are now available via the Internet under the Securities and Exchange Commission’s Notice and Access rule.

Under the Notice and Access rule, companies may furnish proxy materials to shareholders via the Internet as an alternative to traditional delivery of printed materials. Shareholders as of the January 26, 2009 record date for the Annual Meeting will be mailed a “Notice Regarding the Availability of Proxy Materials”. This notice will provide the Internet web site address where the proxy materials can be viewed and shares can be voted. It will also include instructions for requesting a paper copy of the proxy materials via telephone, Internet website or email. By implementing the Notice and Access rule, Ciena reduced the number of printed copies of its annual report and proxy materials considerably, lowering the cost of producing and delivering these materials and reducing the associated environmental impact of our Annual Meeting.

Ciena’s 2009 Annual Meeting of Shareholders will be held on Wednesday, March 25, 2009 at 3:00 p.m. (Eastern) at The Westin Baltimore Washington Airport - BWI, 1110 Old Elkridge Landing Road, Baltimore, MD. The proceedings of the meeting will be webcast live via a link on the Company’s website at www.Ciena.com. For shareholders not entitled to vote at the annual meeting, Ciena’s 2008 annual report and its proxy statement for the Annual Meeting can also be viewed on the Company’s website at: http://www.ciena.com/investors/investors_shareholdermeeting.htm.

Ciena specializes in the transition to service-driven networks. We provide flexible platforms, intelligent software and professional services to help our customers use their networks to fundamentally change the way they compete. With a growing global presence, Ciena leverages its heritage of practical innovation to deliver maximum performance and economic value in communications networks worldwide. We routinely post recent news, financial results and other important announcements and information about Ciena on our website at www.ciena.com.