Business Wire CIENA PROVIDES ENRON COMMUNICATIONS WITH DWDM EQUIPMENT IN NEW NATIONWIDE NETWORK BUILD; ENRON, CIENA AND CISCO CREATE FIRST HIGH-SPEED, IP-ONLY BACKBONE NETWORK BUSINESS AND HIGH-TECH EDITORS
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LINTHICUM, Md.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Nov. 3, 1998--CIENA Corporation
(Nasdaq: CIEN.O) today announced that Enron Communications, Inc.
(NYSE:ENE.N) has chosen CIENA's Multiwave(R) Sentry 4000 dense wavelength
division multiplexing (DWDM) equipment for immediate deployment in
Enron's new Pure Internet Protocol(sm) (IP) backbone network. CIENA
already has shipped equipment for Enron Communications'
Portland-to-Los Angeles fiber route valued at approximately $23
million.
"By directly connecting to our Cisco 12000 GSRs, CIENA's
equipment made it possible for Enron Communications to create a
network architecture that is elegantly simple yet hugely powerful with
tremendous bandwidth capacity. No SONET, no ATM, and no Frame Relay
components - just pure IP over DWDM fiber," said Stan Hanks, vice
president of research and technology, Enron Communications, Inc. "As
compared to previously deployed data-centric architectures, this
approach eliminates intermediate protocols, simplifies the
architecture, lowers costs, increases reliability and reduces errors,
ultimately differentiating Enron Communications and enabling us to
offer our customers better service."
"This kind of deployment validates our conception of the New
Network Architecture," said Scott Clavenna, senior analyst, Pioneer
Consulting, "which combines the technological benefits of DWDM with
cost efficiencies of IP to create a flexible, scalable broadband
network."
"Enron Communications is the first carrier to truly create an
IP-to-the-glass via DWDM architecture on a network-wide basis and is
poised to reap the rewards," said Patrick Nettles, CIENA's president
and chief executive officer. "This deployment illustrates that CIENA's
DirectConnect technology can be integral in creating a simplified
network with massive capacity. Continued deployment of CIENA's
MultiWave(R) DWDM systems will make it possible for Enron to keep pace
with burgeoning traffic demands, offer its customers fast, reliable
Internet backbone service, and hold down the cost of bandwidth."
In its present configuration, Enron Communications Pure IP
network will transport data at speeds of 2.4 Gbps (OC48) on each DWDM
channel. Enron will deploy this backbone through use of CIENA
MultiWave(R) Sentry's DirectConnect functionality in conjunction with
deployment of Cisco Systems 12000 series Gigabit Switch Routers
(GSRs). The Cisco 12000 will interface directly into CIENA's DWDM
system interfaces at 2.4 Gbps, without the need for additional
intermediate network elements such as SONET terminal multiplexers.
NOTE TO INVESTORS:
Forward-looking statements in this release, including those
implying network-wide deployment of CIENA DWDM equipment, 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 by 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 Quarterly Report on Form
10-Q, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on
September 14, 1998.
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 in Norcross, 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: ciena.com.
ABOUT ENRON
Enron Communications is building long-haul fiber-optic networks
on strategic routes throughout the United States in an effort to
create a data-centric national fiber optic backbone. Enron
Communications will focus on the wholesale bandwidth needs of the
telecommunications service providers. Enron Corp. is one of the
world's leading integrated natural gas and electricity companies. The
company, which owns approximately $28 billion in assets, produces
electricity and natural gas, develops, constructs and operates energy
and water facilities worldwide and delivers physical commodities and
risk management and financial services to customers around the world.
Enron's internet address is enron.com, the stock is traded
under the ticker symbol, "ENE."
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CONTACT: CIENA Corporation
Press Contacts: Denny Bilter
800/921-1144
email: dbilter@ciena.com
or
Enron Communications, Inc.
Tracy Smith
503/703-7034
or
CIENA Corporation
Investor Contact: Suzanne DuLong
888/243-6223
email: ir@CIENA.com
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