Hargray Communications Deploys Ciena’s Programmable DWDM Solution to Converge Regional Transport Network and Deliver Quad Play and Business Services

CN 4200 FlexSelect Advanced Services Platform aggregates and transports up to 400 Gbps of voice, video, data and wireless traffic to meet services demand today and in the future.

LINTHICUM, Md., and HILTON HEAD, S.C. – 12/11/2006

Ciena® Corporation, the network specialist, today announced that Hargray Communications, an independent operating company (IOC) serving residential and business customers in areas of South Carolina and Georgia, has deployed the Company’s CN 4200™ FlexSelect™ Advanced Services Platform to upgrade its existing SONET network with multiservice, programmable DWDM transport and aggregation technology that dramatically increases its network capacity for VOD, HDTV, metro Ethernet and other high-bandwidth services.

Based in Hilton Head, S.C., Hargray operates a technologically-advanced network and offers a diverse portfolio of residential and business services, including local and long distance voice, Ethernet LAN, wireless, high-speed data (DSL and cable modem), and cable TV over both IPTV and HFC networks. As its portfolio of services expands and customer traffic increases driven by its bundling strategy, the company’s existing OC-48 SONET network is nearing its capacity limitations. Rather than spend the time, incur the expense and impose potential community disruption of laying new fiber around its serving area, Hargray is addressing its fiber exhaustion situation using a flexible, metro DWDM solution from Ciena.

“The combination of our expanded services portfolio, more customer traffic and rising popularity of bandwidth-intensive services is driving us to implement a smart, long-term bandwidth strategy,” said Gerry Grayson, vice president of engineering for Hargray. “As a leader in DWDM technology, Ciena stands out with its CN 4200 platform and FlexSelect Architecture vision by delivering scalable, pay-as-we-grow bandwidth and reducing the cost and complexity of our network by converging the transport of our various services onto a single platform.”

Hargray deployed Ciena’s CN 4200 in its main central offices this past summer, initially carrying some of the existing SONET traffic and now carrying video services over dedicated Gigabit Ethernet connections. As more capacity is needed, Hargray can simply add more Gigabit Ethernet connections regardless of the service type that needs to be transported.

“While DWDM technology has been a staple in large telecom networks for years, the rise of triple and quad play services, fiber-based access networks and heavy video traffic is creating a new market opportunity for metro DWDM as IOCs use it for fiber relief,” said Mike Aquino, senior vice president of worldwide sales at Ciena. “The advanced transport capabilities of the CN 4200 provide unprecedented service flexibility and facilitate performance monitoring for all service types making it an ideal solution for service providers looking to create new bandwidth for advanced services without having to trench streets and lay new fiber.”

Ciena’s CN 4200, the flagship product of its FlexSelect Architecture, is the first multiservice transport and service aggregation platform capable of supporting the migration to packet networks using future-ready technology such as ITU G.709 Optical Transport Network (OTN) for service transparency, dynamic wavelength routing featuring a hybrid ROADM solution, and remote service provisioning and management capabilities. Using software-defined service ports, it is capable of on-demand support for any transport or service protocol—including SONET/SDH, Ethernet, storage (Fibre Channel, FICON, ESCON) or video—at any speed on any available port.

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.

About Hargray Communications

Founded in 1949, Hargray is an independent operating company (IOC) that provides voice, video, data, wireless, high-speed Internet, and directory publishing services to the residents and businesses of southeastern S.C. and Ga. Hargray serves cities within a 100-mile radius of Hilton Head, S.C., including Hilton Head Island, Beaufort, Bluffton, Savannah, Statesboro, and others. The company is the country’s 22 largest independent operating company. Hargray is headquartered in Hilton Head, S.C. Additional information can be found at www.hargray.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 August 31, 2006. 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.

Contact Information

Nicole Anderson

Press Contact

Ciena Corporation

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