Ciena

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American telecommunications company

title: "Ciena" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["ciena", "companies-listed-on-the-new-york-stock-exchange", "companies-formerly-listed-on-the-nasdaq", "companies-based-in-anne-arundel-county,-maryland", "networking-companies-of-the-united-states", "networking-hardware-companies", "telecommunications-equipment-vendors", "american-companies-established-in-1992", "telecommunications-companies-established-in-1992", "1992-establishments-in-maryland", "1997-initial-public-offerings", "computer-companies-of-the-united-states", "computer-hardware-companies", "software-companies-of-the-united-states", "companies-in-the-s&p-400"] description: "American telecommunications company" topic_path: "engineering" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ciena" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0

::summary American telecommunications company ::

::data[format=table title="Infobox company"]

FieldValue
nameCiena Corporation
logoCiena logo.svg
typePublic
traded_as
key_people{{ubl
industryNetworking systems & software
productsNetworking systems and products
revenue(2025)
operating_income(2025)
net_income(2025)
assets(2025)
equity(2025)
num_employees9,080 (2025)
foundation
founderDavid Huber, Optelecom (company), and Kevin Kimberlin
location_cityHanover, Maryland
location_countryUnited States
homepage
footnotes
::

| name = Ciena Corporation | logo = Ciena logo.svg | type = Public | traded_as = | key_people = {{ubl | Patrick Nettles (executive chairman) | Gary Smith (president & CEO)}} | industry = Networking systems & software | products = Networking systems and products | services = | revenue = (2025) | operating_income = (2025) | net_income = (2025) | assets = (2025) | equity = (2025) | num_employees = 9,080 (2025) | caption = | foundation = | founder = David Huber, Optelecom (company), and Kevin Kimberlin | location_city = Hanover, Maryland | location_country = United States | homepage = | footnotes = Ciena Corporation is an American optical networking systems and software company based in Hanover, Maryland. The company has been described as a vital player in optical connectivity. The company reported revenues of $4.8 billion

Customers include AT&T, Deutsche Telekom, and Verizon Communications.

History

Ciena was founded in 1992 under the name HydraLite by electrical engineer David R. Huber. Optelecom, an optical networking company and Huber's former employer, provided management assistance and production facilities, and co-founder Kevin Kimberlin provided initial equity capital during the formation of the company. Huber engaged William K. Woodruff & Co. to present the idea to John Bayless at Sevin Rosen in November 1993 which resulted in Sevin Rosen investing $1.25 million in April 1994. William K. Woodruff & Co. was a co-manager of Ciena's IPO in February 1997.

Ciena received $40 million in venture capital financing from Charles River Ventures, Japan Associated Finance Co., Star Ventures, and Vanguard Venture Partners. Bayless recruited physicist Patrick Nettles, a former colleague at the telecommunications company Optilink, to serve as Ciena's first CEO, and Lawrence P. Huang, another former colleague, to accept the sales chief role. Huber and Nettles, changed the company's name to Ciena, in 1994. They began working from an office in Dallas in February 1994; Huber would remain with Ciena until 1995.

The company's first products were introduced in May 1996 to Sprint Corporation. At $195 million, the company's first-year sales were the highest ever recorded by a startup at the time. WorldCom also became an early customer. As of early 1997, Sprint and WorldCom accounted for 97 percent of Ciena's revenue. Ciena began diversifying its clientele and acquiring smaller contracts in 1997.

Ciena went public on NASDAQ in February 1997 with initial public offering by a startup company to date, with a valuation of $3.4 billion. The company's headquarters were relocated to Maryland in March 1997. Ciena earned approximately $370 million in revenue and profits of $110 million for the fiscal year ending in October 1997. Customers at the time included AT&T, Bell Atlantic, and Digital Teleport.

In March 1998, Nettles and Michael Birck of Tellabs began discussing a possible merger. Tellabs announced the purchase of Ciena for $7.1 billion in June. Revenue surpassed $700 million by August 1998, in September 1998 with financial performance and shareholder disapproval cited in the media as reasons. ::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/5b/Ciena_3903.svg" caption="Ciena 3903 in SVG format" alt="Ciena 3903 in SVG format"] ::

Since 2000s

During the telecoms crash, Ciena's annual sales decreased from $1.6 billion to approximately $300 million. To address the company's challenges this presented, Gary Smith replaced Nettles as the company's CEO in 2001, and Nettles became executive chairman. The company raised $1.52 billion by selling 11 million shares of stock and $600 million in convertible bonds in 2001. Ciena was the second largest fiber optic networking equipment producer in the U.S. at the time.

While many telecommunications companies experienced downturns during the early 2000s, Ciena's cash influx provided flexibility and allowed the company to expand its product portfolio to include a broader range of advanced networking solutions and other technologies. spending more than $2 billion to purchase five networking technology companies during 2001 to 2004.

AT&T, which previously tested select Ciena equipment, signed a supply agreement in 2001. and had approximately 3,500 employees. The company was the fourth largest producer of fiber optic equipment in the U.S. by 2003.

In 2003, a federal court jury determined that Corvis Corporation, another fiber optic telecommunications equipment provider established by Huber in 1997, infringed a patent owned by Ciena.

In 2008, Ciena earned $902 million and reported a profit of $39 million. Ciena had net losses until 2015, when the company earned $2.4 billion in sales and posted a $12 million profit.

Ciena earned $2.8 billion in revenue in 2017,

Acquisitions

::data[format=table]

Company acquiredYear
AstraCom Inc.1997
ATI Telecom International Ltd.1998
Terabit Technology Inc.1998
Lightera Networks Inc.1999
Omnia Communications Inc.1999
Cyras Corp.2001
ONI Systems2002
WaveSmith Networks Inc.2003
Akara Corp.2003
Catena Networks2004
Internet Photonics2004
World Wide Packets Inc.2008
Nortel Metro Ethernet Networks2010
Cyan2015
TeraXion Inc.2016
Packet Design2016
DonRiver2018
Centina Systems2019
Nubis Communications2025
::

Ciena acquired the telecommunications company AstraCom Inc. in 1997 for $13.1 million. Fourteen of AstraCom's engineers signed four-year contracts with Ciena, and joined the company's new research and development team in Alpharetta, Georgia. In early 1998, the company acquired Norcross, Georgia–based ATI Telecom International Ltd. and its subsidiary Alta Telecom in a transaction worth $52.5 million. Alta's engineering and installation products were used by service providers for switching, transport, and wireless communications; the company continued to operate as a subsidiary of Ciena. Ciena purchased Terabit Technology Inc., a producer of detectors for data transmission based in Santa Barbara, California, for $11.7 million in April 1998. The company acquired Cupertino, California–based Lightera Networks Inc. and Marlborough, Massachusetts–based Omnia Communications Inc. for $980 million in stock in 1999.

The company purchased Cyras Corp. of Fremont, California, during 2000 to 2001 for $2 billion in stock. ONI Systems, a San Jose, California–based producer of phone and computer data equipment, was acquired by Ciena for $900 million in stock in June 2002. The acquisitions of Cyras, which produced optical switch systems, and ONI, which made transport equipment for data transfer, allowed Ciena to focus on networks in metropolitan areas.

Ciena purchased WaveSmith Networks Inc., an optical-networking equipment manufacturer based in Acton, Massachusetts, for $158 million in stock in 2003. Ciena acquired the Ottawa-based data storage networking company Akara Corp. for $45 million in 2003. Akara expanded Ciena's product line and storage networking capabilities, and continued to operate as a subsidiary. Catena Networks and New Jersey–based Internet Photonics were purchased by Ciena in 2004. The stock transactions were valued at $486.7 million and $150 million, respectively. Catena had approximately 220 employees at the time, and the purchase of Internet Photonics marked Ciena's entrance into the cable industry.

In 2008, Ciena acquired World Wide Packets Inc. (WWP), a Spokane Valley, Washington–based producer of switches and software for Ethernet services, for approximately $296 million. WWP offered the LightningEdge operating system and network management tools, and had more than 100 customers in 25 countries at the time. WWP became a whole owned subsidiary, and the company's office and 65 employees in Spokane, Washington were used by Ciena until mid 2018.

Ciena acquired Nortel's optical technology and Carrier Ethernet division for approximately $770 million during 2009 to 2010. Nortel's Metro Ethernet Networks business developed next-generation optical-transmission equipment and had more than 1,000 customers in 65 countries at the time. The business had approximately 1,400 employees in Canada, including 1,125 in Ottawa and 250 in Montreal. In 2017, Ciena's 1,600 Ottawa personnel were relocated to a new campus in Kanata, Ontario, along with employees of Catena. These 1,600, many of whom worked for Nortel, comprise less than 30 percent of Ciena's workforce, but represent the company's largest operational hub and complete half of its research and development work.

Ciena acquired Cyan, which offers platforms and software systems for network operators, for approximately $400 million in 2015. The assets of TeraXion Inc., a network management system company based in Quebec City, were purchased for $32 million in 2016. Ciena acquired Packet Design, an Austin-based network performance management software company specializing in network optimization, route analytics, and topology, in 2016. In 2018, Ciena purchased software and services company DonRiver for an undisclosed amount.

Operations in India

Ciena opened a campus in Gurgaon, India, in 2006. The campus focuses on research and development, and was further expanded in 2018 to begin manufacturing products for local markets. There were approximately 1,500 employees on site, representing 20 percent of the company's global workforce, as of May 2018.

Ciena and Sify partnered in mid 2018 to increase the information and communications technology company's network capacity from 100G to 400G. Ciena's converged packet optical products support big data analysis, cloud computing, and the Internet of things across 40 of Sify's data centers in India. In 2019, Bharti Airtel used Ciena equipment to build a 130,000 km photonic control plane network, connecting more than 4,000 locations in India. Ciena provides converged packet optical and Ethernet services to Bharti Airtel, Jio, and Vodafone Idea Limited, and supplies equipment to the Government of India, as of mid 2019.

Rajesh Nambiar was named the chairman and president of Ciena India in mid 2019 until October 2020.

Products

Ciena develops and markets equipment, software and services, primarily for the telecommunications industry and large cloud service firms. Their products and services support the transport and management of voice and data traffic on communications networks.

Network infrastructure

Ciena's network equipment includes optical network switches and routing platforms to manage data load on telecommunications networks. The company launched its WaveLogic 5 modem platform in 2019. The platform provides network capacity up to 800G. Ciena also provides technology and equipment for undersea cable networks.

Software and analytics

The company's Blue Planet software platform is used by telecoms companies for programming communications networks, including for network automation.

References

References

  1. (12 December 2025). "Ciena Corporation FY 2025 Annual Report (Form 10-K)". [[U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission]].
  2. (July 19, 2018). "Ciena Corp. to close its Spokane Valley office this fall". [[Spokane Journal of Business]].
  3. (April 2, 2019). "Gary B. Smith". [[Daily Record (Maryland).
  4. (May 11, 2018). "Ciena to start local manufacturing in India; says India fastest growing market globally". [[The Economic Times]].
  5. (December 13, 2018). "No Optical Illusion at Ciena". [[The Wall Street Journal]].
  6. (June 6, 2019). "Huawei wariness is helping an American networking company". [[CNN Business]].
  7. (June 6, 2019). "Ciena Stock Is Soaring on Strong Earnings and 'Very Good Execution'". [[Barron's (newspaper).
  8. "Ciena Corp Moving HQ to Station Ridge in Hanover". citybizlist.
  9. (December 13, 2018). "As global demand spurs strong results, Hanover-based Ciena could benefit from China tensions". [[The Baltimore Sun]].
  10. (April 2, 2019). "Gary B. Smith". [[Daily Record (Maryland).
  11. Patel, Nilay. (2025-01-27). "How Ciena keeps the internet running, with CEO Gary Smith".
  12. (September 26, 2000). "Company News; Ciera Shares Leap After Company Wins Korea Contract". The New York Times.
  13. (January 2, 2019). "Bagnall: Ciena's blowout year — built from the ghost of Nortel". [[Ottawa Citizen]].
  14. Markoff, John. (March 3, 1997). "Fiber-Optic Technology Draws Record Stock Value".
  15. Auerweck, Steve. (May 17, 1993). "Optelecom, HydraLite become partners Optelecom Inc. of Gaithers...". The Baltimore Sun.
  16. "Ciena Corp – IPO: 'S-1/A' on 2/7/97".
  17. (August 16, 1998). "Ciena Corp. built on dreams, risks Decision: Shareholders will vote Friday on the sale of the Linthicum telecommunications company, one of the most successful U.S. start-ups.". [[The Baltimore Sun]].
  18. (October 6, 1997). "Communications:the next wave". [[Forbes]].
  19. (June 5, 1998). "With Ciena, Investors Hit a Jackpot That's One for the Record Books". The Wall Street Journal.
  20. "Big Milestones from our 25 Years at Ciena".
  21. "25 Big Milestones from our 25 Years at Ciena".
  22. (March 3, 1997). "Fiber-Optic Technology Draws Record Stock Value". The New York Times.
  23. (September 21, 1998). "The Story of a Failed Merger Proves to Be a Page Turner". The New York Times.
  24. (February 22, 1999). "Outlook Brightens for Ciena After Catastrophic '98 Drop". The New York Times.
  25. (March 19, 2001). "The Markets: Market Place; Despite Soaring Profits and Sales, Ciena Is Tarred by Nasdaq Brush". The New York Times.
  26. (September 15, 1998). "Let's Call the Whole Thing Off: Tellabs Drops Acquisition of Ciena". The New York Times.
  27. (September 20, 1998). "Business: Diary; Turning Tides Sink A Big Technology Deal". The New York Times.
  28. (June 24, 2016). "Against all odds: How Ciena and its Nortel engineers won optical". Ottawa Citizen.
  29. (February 7, 2001). "Technology Briefing: Telecommunications; Ciena Raises $1.5 Billion". The New York Times.
  30. (May 18, 2001). "Technology; Ciena, Fiber Optic Company, Reports a Loss". The New York Times.
  31. (May 23, 2001). "Technology Briefing : Hardware: Ciena Wins First AT&T Order". The New York Times.
  32. (February 19, 2004). "Ciena scoops up start-ups". CNET.
  33. (April 29, 2003). "Technology Briefing : Telecommunications: Corvis Infringed Ciena Patent, Jury Says". The New York Times.
  34. (February 19, 2002). "In a Merger Of Networkers, Ciena Will Buy ONI Systems". The New York Times.
  35. (February 21, 2003). "Technology Briefing : Hardware: Ciena Loss Widens On Costs To Retire Debt". The New York Times.
  36. (February 4, 2004). "Technology Briefing: Hardware: Ciena Posts Higher-Than-Expected Loss". The New York Times.
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  38. (February 18, 1998). "Georgia Tech Firms Seem, At Last, Worth Watching". The Wall Street Journal.
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  40. (January 27, 1998). "Ciena to buy equipment installer ATI Telecom would enable acquirer to do 'the whole package'". [[The Baltimore Sun]].
  41. (January 27, 1998). "Company News; Ciena in $52.4 Million Stock Deal for ATI Telecom". The New York Times.
  42. (June 18, 2014). "Public Universities and Regional Growth: Insights from the University of California". Stanford University Press.
  43. (June 4, 1998). "Ciena may lose its name and keep a bit of dazzle After 'joining forces' with Tellabs, firm sees more Md. growth". The Baltimore Sun.
  44. (March 16, 1999). "Ciena to Acquire Lightera and Omnia". [[Los Angeles Times]].
  45. (March 16, 1999). "Company News; Ciena in Two Acquisitions for $980 Million". The New York Times.
  46. (December 20, 2000). "Technology Briefing: Hardware; Ciena Buying Cyras for $2 Billion". The New York Times.
  47. (January 7, 2001). "Cyras buy gives Ciena stronger hand in optical competition". Silicon Valley Business Journal.
  48. (September 1, 2002). "Executive Life; Squeezing Yourself Out (for the Company)". The New York Times.
  49. (April 10, 2003). "Ciena to Acquire WaveSmith Networks". The Washington Post.
  50. (April 10, 2003). "Ciena expands WaveSmith investment to buyout". EE Times.
  51. (August 21, 2003). "Ciena pays $45 million for storage networking specialist Akara". EE Times.
  52. (March 2, 2006). "Ciena staging comeback by diversifying". The Baltimore Sun.
  53. (February 19, 2004). "Ciena buys Catena, Internet Photonics in deals worth $636 million". EE Times.
  54. (February 19, 2004). "Ciena buying Ottawa's Catena". [[The Globe and Mail]].
  55. (March 31, 2004). "Ciena to acquire Internet Photonics". [[Advantage Business Media]] }}{{Dead link.
  56. (January 23, 2008). "Carrier Gear Vendor Ciena Buys World Wide Packets". [[PC World]].
  57. (December 3, 2009). "Ciena Beats Nokia-Siemens to Nortel Unit". The New York Times.
  58. (November 24, 2009). "Ciena Buys Nortel Assets for $769 Million". The Wall Street Journal.
  59. (May 4, 2015). "Ciena to Buy Cyan for $400 Million". The Wall Street Journal.
  60. (May 4, 2015). "Ciena to buy software firm Cyan for $400M". The Baltimore Sun.
  61. (January 19, 2016). "Ciena Corp. to buy TeraXion Inc.'s assets for $32 million". The Baltimore Sun.
  62. (January 22, 2016). "Ciena Buys TeraXion Assets to Bolster Optical Networking Lineup". [[eWeek]].
  63. (May 31, 2018). "Ciena to Acquire Lone Rock-Backed Packet Design". The Wall Street Journal.
  64. (September 5, 2018). "Ciena Buying DonRiver to Boost 'Adaptive Network' Automation Strategy". [[CRN (magazine).
  65. (July 20, 2007). "US-based Ciena to make India top hub for R&D". [[Hindustan Times]].
  66. (June 28, 2018). "Sify partners with Ciena to upgrade network capacity from 100G to 400G". The Economic Times.
  67. (February 25, 2019). "Airtel, Ciena to build photonic control plane networks". [[Business Line]].
  68. (February 25, 2019). "Airtel and Ciena to build one of the world's largest photonics control plane networks in India". [[The Times of India]].
  69. (July 27, 2019). "Ciena says to play a bigger role in India's 5G journey; ups focus on govt vertical". The Economic Times.
  70. (July 1, 2019). "Ciena appoints Rajesh Nambiar as chairman and president of Ciena India". The Economic Times.
  71. Mike Dano. (April 2, 2020). "COVID-19-driven network traffic shows signs of stabilizing". LightReading.
  72. Ray Le Maistre. (September 5, 2019). "Web-Scale Business Fuels Ciena's Growth but Stock Takes a Hit". LightReading.
  73. (June 10, 2013). "Ciena expects strong demand from cloud, mobile computing". TelecomEngine.com.
  74. (February 24, 2020). "Ciena offers 5168, 5166, and 5164 routers for 5G mobile network support". Lightwave.
  75. Kelsey Ziser. (March 5, 2019). "As Sales Boom, Ciena Hits the 800G Transmission Mark". LightReading.
  76. (January 21, 2019). "Telstra Launches Continuous Connection on its Subsea Infrastructure". TelecomEngine.com.
  77. Kelsey Ziser. (May 14, 2019). "Ciena: We'll Stop 95% of Network Outages". LightReading.

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