VimpelCom deploys 100G in Russia

Selects Ciena and ADV Consulting to address increasing bandwidth requirements

LINTHICUM, Md. & MOSCOW--()--Ciena® Corporation (NASDAQ: CIEN), the network specialist, today announced that global telecoms service provider VimpelCom has deployed Ciena’s 100G coherent optical networking technology in its backbone network. Equipped with Wavelogic™ optical processors and stretching more than 580 kilometers on a critical route in central Russia, the high-speed link has been put in place to help VimpelCom cope with the increased bandwidth requirements that the operator is experiencing in its network core.

Key Facts:

  • VimpelCom has deployed Ciena’s 6500 Packet-Optical Platform in its backbone network in Russia. With the deployment of 100G technology, VimpelCom addresses the capacity constraints it has been facing as a result of increasing adoption of bandwidth-heavy services, such as cloud computing and mobile video, among its consumer and business customers.
  • The new 100G link, which connects the Russian cities of Ufa and Samara through 587 kilometers of optical fiber, is an extension of VimpelCom’s existing Ciena-powered 40G network, with 100G wavelengths carrying live traffic and operating alongside 40G signals. The ability to simultaneously put 40G and 100G on the same system helps VimpelCom resolve the capacity crunch on its network and allows for seamless upgrades to higher data throughputs as and when the need arises.
  • In addition, the Ciena 100G technology protects VimpelCom’s existing investment in fiber infrastructure, by allowing a significant increase in data transfer volume without the need for costly deployment of new fiber routes.
  • The deployment was carried out in close cooperation with Ciena’s Platinum BizConnect partner ADV Consulting, which was instrumental in the implementation phase of the project. ADV Consulting’s expertise served VimpelCom in deploying Ciena’s 100G equipment in a live network alongside existing 40G channels ensuring that traffic was not disrupted as the new technology was introduced.

Executive Comments:

  • “As our customers have over the last few years become increasingly sophisticated in their use of devices and services, the traffic on our backbone network has grown exponentially. As a service provider in the leading edge of technology adoption, we are committed to ensuring that we have the latest technology at our disposal to address our needs, which has led us to deploying Ciena’s market-leading 100G solution. The ease with which the network extension was performed not only showed that any of our bandwidth constraint issues can be solved in an easy and truly non-invasive manner, but also proved that our infrastructure can scale as and when we need it to, in order to meet our customers’ future demands.”
    - Alexey Sapunov, Transport Network Director, OJCS VimpelCom
  • “The claim of leadership in the deployment of a technology requires that the differentiating quality solves a tangible business challenge. VimpelCom’s 100G network is, to our knowledge, the first long-haul 100G network deployed in the Russian Federation – but much more importantly, it helps the operator effectively address the very real issue of capacity demand, which in today’s era of sharp rises in broadband services many operators have become acutely aware of.”
    - Sergei Fishkin, regional managing director, Russia, CIS and the Baltics at Ciena

Technology Background:

  • Ciena's WaveLogic coherent optical processors enable operators to maximize the reach, capacity and flexibility of networks by enabling seamless upgrades to 40G/100G and beyond. Using innovative coherent receiver, high-speed analog to digital, and custom digital signal processing technology that integrates intelligence into the equipment, Ciena’s technology offers ease-of-deployment, cost efficiency and network investment protection.
  • The pioneer and market leader of coherent optical technology, Ciena has shipped more than 14,000 coherent 40G/100G line interfaces to over 120 customers across the globe.

Supporting Resources:

About VimpelCom

VimpelCom is one of the world’s largest integrated telecommunications services operators offering a wide range of wireless, fixed, and broadband services in Russia, Ukraine, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Armenia, Georgia, Kyrgyzstan, Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, Algeria, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Burundi, Zimbabwe, Central African Republic, Italy and Canada. VimpelCom’s operations around the globe cover territory with a total population of approximately 864 million people. VimpelCom provides services under the "Beeline", "Kyivstar", "djuice", “Wind”, "Infostrada" “Mobilink”, “Leo”, “banglalink”, “Telecel”, and “Djezzy” brands. As of December 31, 2011 VimpelCom had 205 million mobile subscribers on a combined basis. VimpelCom is traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol (VIP). For more information visit: http://www.vimpelcom.com.

About Ciena

Ciena is the network specialist. We collaborate with customers worldwide to unlock the strategic potential of their networks and fundamentally change the way they perform and compete. With focused innovation, Ciena brings together the reliability and capacity of optical networking with the flexibility and economics of Ethernet, unified by services and software that delivers the industry’s leading network automation. 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 Ciena 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 8, 2012. 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.

Contacts

Press Contact:
Ciena Corporation
Jamie Moody, +1 214-995-8035
jmoody@ciena.com
or
Ciena Limited
Artur Kwiatkowski, +44 20 7012 5584
akwiatko@ciena.com
or
Investor Contact:
Ciena Corporation
Gregg Lampf, +1 410-694-5700
ir@ciena.com

Release Summary

Ciena Corporation today announced that global telecoms service provider VimpelCom has deployed Ciena’s 100G coherent optical networking technology in its backbone network.

Contacts

Press Contact:
Ciena Corporation
Jamie Moody, +1 214-995-8035
jmoody@ciena.com
or
Ciena Limited
Artur Kwiatkowski, +44 20 7012 5584
akwiatko@ciena.com
or
Investor Contact:
Ciena Corporation
Gregg Lampf, +1 410-694-5700
ir@ciena.com