RIO DE JANEIRO -- CIENA Corporation (NASDAQ: CIEN), a globalleader in intelligent optical networking systems and software, todayannounced that it is expanding its commitment to the Brazilian market withthe launch of a second office, which is located in Rio de Janeiro. Inaddition, Marcelo Schoueri de Abreu has been appointed to the newly createdposition of Director General for CIENA's Brazilian operations.

Mr. Abreu will be responsible for directing daily operations in Brazil,including the new Rio de Janeiro office as well as CIENA's existingoperations based in São Paulo. He also will be charged with expandingCIENA's strategic business relationships with leading service providers inthe region.Prior to joining CIENA, Mr. Abreu was most recently country and generalmanager of Tellabs in Brazil, overseeing the build-out of more than 17different networks in the region. He also was general manager and owner ofMA/Datacom Engenharia de Comunicações Ltda., a telecommunications consultingand engineering company.

"The Latin American and the Brazilian market, in particular, are poised tobenefit from CIENA's intelligent optical solutions, which have positioned usto lead the worldwide shift from legacy networks to cost-effectivenext-generation networks," said Arely Castellón, vice president and generalmanager of CIENA in Latin America. "Marcelo's 25 years of industryexperience will strengthen our presence in the area as well as provide soundguidance as we continue our global expansion."

Ciena Corp.