LINTHICUM, Md.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Ciena^® Corporation (NASDAQ:CIEN), the network specialist, today announced that iBurst, South Africa’s leading wireless broadband service provider, has deployed Ciena’s Carrier Ethernet Service Delivery (CESD) platforms in an innovative transport network capable of supporting wireless backhaul for 3G and 4G wireless networks. iBurst has replaced its existing Layer 2 infrastructure with Ciena’s wireless backhaul solution, which leverages connection-oriented Ethernet, to provide higher performance service levels in its radio cell collection network. This architectural approach has enabled iBurst to develop a highly-resilient and scalable wireless backhaul network.

After evaluating several options, iBurst selected Ciena’s solution for its enhanced implementation of Provider Backbone Bridging – Traffic Engineering (PBB-TE) technology, which provides the reliability, scalability and efficiency the service provider required to support its transport network. The Ciena CESD platforms, including the CN 5305 Service Aggregation Switch and LE 311v Service Delivery Switch, operate seamlessly within iBurst’s Layer 2 environment and manage the switchover of dual microwave radio links without delays or failures. As a result, iBurst has significantly improved its Quality of Service (QoS) through increased network availability and resiliency. The Ciena solution was also the only option with the necessary scalability to meet iBurst’s increasing network capacity requirements that are being driven by its geographic network expansion and coinciding growth in new users.

“Ciena’s solution seamlessly and efficiently resolved the Layer 2 resiliency issue we were having in our network by replacing the Spanning Tree-based architecture with reliable and predictable path management using PBB-TE,” said Sasan Parvin, CTO, iBurst. “We also resolved the challenges associated with managing multiple microwave radio links, and are now managing never before realized levels of traffic, delivering new revenue-generating services and significantly reducing our operating costs.”

In addition to the wireless backhaul platforms, iBurst has also deployed Ciena’s CN 4200® FlexSelect® Advanced Services Platform to connect its primary and back-up data centers. The initial deployment includes multiple GbE and 2G Fibre Channel connections over DWDM carrying traffic from iBurst’s Internet, VoIP, Metro Ethernet and network monitoring services. In addition, as bandwidth requirements increase and fiber becomes available, iBurst is looking to expand its use of the CN 4200 in its network to leverage the efficiency of OTN for transporting multiple services in one wavelength. iBurst will also benefit from interworking and a common approach to network and service management across the Ciena products it has deployed.

Ciena worked with its South African systems integration partner, Telecom 180, to trial and deploy the Carrier Ethernet and optical transport platforms with iBurst. Delio Senatore, sales director at Telecom 180, commented, “We’re extremely pleased to be working with Ciena in delivering best-of-breed Carrier Ethernet and optical transport solutions to telecommunications carriers and service providers throughout South Africa, Southern Africa and Sub-Saharan Africa. Ciena’s technology is central in enabling us to equip local service providers with the ability to deliver a variety of cutting-edge services that generate new revenue opportunities.”

“Telecom 180 and Ciena are helping iBurst to build a service-driven network featuring connection-oriented Ethernet and optical service delivery that results in a more predictable and manageable environment for network traffic and a better overall wireless broadband customer experience,” said Francois Locoh-Donou, vice president and general manager of EMEA at Ciena. “This deployment only adds to Ciena’s extensive experience with connection-oriented Ethernet networks – across both PBB-TE and MPLS-TP standards – and the company remains the only vendor with multiple connection-oriented Ethernet access networks in operation today, including some with 1,000+ node metros.”

About Ciena

Ciena specializes in practical network transition. We offer leading network infrastructure solutions, intelligent software and a comprehensive services practice to help our customers use their networks to fundamentally change the way they compete. With a 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. For more information, visit www.ciena.com.

Note to Investors

Forward-looking statements. 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 March 5, 2010. 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.