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Ciena

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Ciena Corporation
Company typePublic
NYSE: CIEN
IndustryTelecommunications equipment
Founded1992
Headquarters
Hanover, Maryland
,
United States
Key people
Patrick Nettles
(executive chairman)
Gary Smith
(president and CEO)
ProductsNetworking systems and products
Revenue2.3 Billion USD
Decrease-$40 million USD
Number of employees
5200
Websitewww.ciena.com

Ciena Corporation is a United States-based global supplier of telecommunications networking equipment, software and services that support the delivery and transport of voice, video and data services. Its products are used in telecommunications networks operated by telecommunications service providers, cable operators, governments and enterprises.[1] The company was founded in 1992 and is headquartered in Hanover, Maryland.[2]

Ciena sells products and services across four segments: Converged Packet Optical, Packet Networking, Optical Transport, and Software & Services.[3] Key current platforms include the 6500 Packet-Optical Platform, 5430 Reconfigurable Switching System, CoreDirector Multiservice Optical Switch, 3000 family of service delivery switches, and the 4200 Advanced Services Platform. It also offers the Ciena One integrated network and service management software suite, consulting and support services, deployment services, maintenance and support services, spares and logistics management.[4]

History

Ciena was founded by David Huber, Kevin Kimberlin, and Optelecom to find ways to increase the capacity to design optical networking tech anagogic communication.[5][6][7] In 1994, Sevin Rosen invested $3.3 million in Ciena's Series A Venture financing.[8]

In late 1994, during the transition of the first high-speed optical backbone from public sector control of the National Science Foundation to private companies, Ciena began working with Sprint – an earlier carrier of Internet traffic – to develop "high-capacity fiber optic transmission systems called dense wave division multiplexing (DWDM)." [9] The outcome of their effort was the first commercial dense wave division multiplexing system. With it, the capacity increased "Sprint's nationwide, all-digital fiber-optic network by a stunning 1,600 percent."[7] Sprint therefore became the world’s largest carrier of Internet traffic. With success from Sprint and others, Ciena’s "first-year sales were the highest ever recorded by a start-up."[10]

In February 1997 Ciena pulled off the biggest initial public offering of a startup company ever, with a first-day valuation of $3.4 billion.[8] Subsequently Goldman Sachs, in a research note, commented on the records set by Ciena: "1) steepest revenue ramp for any company in history, 2) most profitable company ever in its first year of product shipments, and 3) largest market capitalization of any new IPO."[11] By 2001, Ciena had achieved annual revenues of $1.6 billion and a marketing capitalization of nearly $30 billion. [12]

Despite setbacks along the way, Ciena continue to grow over the next few years, by both introducing new products and by acquiring companies such as Lightera (optical switches) and Omnia (local access equipment). With a broader product line, Ciena’s customer base had grown from a small handful to 27 companies as network operators continued building their systems.[13]

In 2000, Ciena announced the MultiWave Metro optical transport solution, which allowed metropolitan area networks to deliver particular frequencies to individual customer premises. By June 2000, Ciena’s stock had soared to $120 per share, giving it a market capitalization exceeding $30 billion. Sales of the company's new line of products prompted the investor optimism, though some analysts were beginning to wonder whether the U.S. fiber optic network had been overbuilt. The customer list continued to grow as it approached 50 names.[13]

Market downturn and diversification

During 2001, the telecommunications market went through a severe downturn, and the segment that included Ciena's optical networking equipment fell by nearly 2/3 to $9.1 billion and in 2002, Ciena's revenues had declined 80% to $361 million.[14] To address the firm's challenges, Gary Smith, previously president and head of sales, was named CEO in May 2001, and Patrick Nettles, CEO since 1994, became executive chairman.

Over the next few years, Ciena re-grouped by expanding its product portfolio to include a broader range of advanced networking solutions, including optical switching, new generation hybrid gear and Ethernet technologies.

Ciena accomplished its diversification effort with internal development as well as a series of acquisitions and strategic partnerships. By 2004 Ciena had purchased a total of 11 firms (half prior to the downturn) with an aggregate value of over $3.3 billion.[15] With a broader range of offerings, Ciena was able both to offer its existing customers a wider range of solutions as well as compete for new customers in additional segments and regions.

"The network specialist"

In late 2004 Ciena refreshed its branding with the tag-line "the network specialist"[13] to reflect additional capabilities in optical transport and switching. Ciena's diversification strategy and numerous acquisitions were accompanied by its ability to integrate new products and technology advances. This success was in contrast to many of its rivals, such as Nortel, Alcatel Lucent and others that struggled.[15]

In 2010, Ciena bought from Nortel Networks its optical networking and Carrier Ethernet business for $774 million. This acquisition doubled Ciena's size to more than 4000 employees and increased its customer base to over 1000.[16]

Ciena's acquisition history

Company acquired Closed date Approximate value
US$ million
Nortel Metro Ethernet Networks Mar 19, 2010 774
World Wide Packets Mar 3, 2008 296
Internet Photonics May 3, 2004 100
Catena Networks May 3, 2004 314
Akara Sep 3, 2003 46
WaveSmith Networks June 18, 2002 398
Cyras Mar 29, 2001 1,100
Omnia Communications July 1, 1999 474
Lightera Networks Mar 31, 1999 464
Terabit Apr 22, 1998 12
Alta Telecom Feb 19, 1998 52
AstraCom Dec 17 13

[17]

References

  1. ^ Morgenson, Gretchen. "Ciena Corporation". Companies. New York Times. Archived from the original on 24 November 2009. Retrieved 24 November 2009.
  2. ^ "Ciena Corp Moving HQ to Station Ridge in Hanover". citybizlist Baltimore. citybizlist.
  3. ^ "Ciena Reports Fiscal First Quarter 2013 Financial Results". Ciena Corp.
  4. ^ "Ciena 2012 Annual Report" (PDF). Ciena Corp.
  5. ^ http:1lwww .sec.govIArchives/edgar/data/936395 /0000950 133-96-00 2787.txt
  6. ^ http://online.wsj .com/article/SB89701 0328374193000 .html
  7. ^ a b http://www.ciena.com/about/newsroom/press-releases/Sprint-Boosts-Fiber-Optic-Network-Capacity-1600-Percent.html
  8. ^ a b Mack, Toni (6 October 1997). Forbes http://www.forbes.com/forbes/1997/1006/6007070a.html. {{cite news}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  9. ^ https://aresu.dsi.cnrs.fr/IMG/pdf/dwdm_ciena.pdf
  10. ^ http://articles.baltimoresun.com/1998-08-16/news/1998228038_1_ciena-corp-nettles-general-instrument
  11. ^ Henry, Mary (July 30, 1997) Ciena Corporation – Breaking the Bandwidth Barrier, Goldman Sachs U.S. Research Report,
  12. ^ http://ciena.com
  13. ^ a b c http://www.fundinguniverse.com/company-histories/ciena-corporation-history
  14. ^ History of Ciena, Ciena Corp., Retrieved Nov. 1, 2013 from Ciena website
  15. ^ a b Moritz, Scott (March 7, 2008) Ciena's Secret Weapon: Diversification, Forbes Magazine, Retrieved, Nov. 13, 2013
  16. ^ Smith, Gary (June 9, 2012) Tenacity and Teamwork, The New York Times, Retrieved, Nov. 13, 2013
  17. ^ Ciena Website. Retrieved Dec 13, 2014

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