Vocus Group Transforms Network with Blue Planet to Drive Digital Customer Experiences

Vocus Group, a leading fiber  and network solutions provider in Australia and New Zealand, has selected intelligent  automation software solutions from Blue Planet,  a division of Ciena (NYSE: CIEN), to accelerate its network transformation and provide a cloud-like  experience for users. With the advanced software, Vocus is able to build an  adaptive network that is agile and reliable, and that will also help reduce unnecessary  costs.

Key Facts:

• Vocus has more  than 30,000km of fiber optic cable and 5,000 buildings connected to its network,  as well as future connectivity to an additional 20,000 buildings.
• Following a series  of acquisitions over recent years and a strong drive to digitize its business, Vocus is building a new network that  isn’t constrained by legacy and manually intensive silos. Blue Planet’s open  and standards-based design was a key factor in Vocus’ decision and streamlines its  ability to differentiate services and avoid vendor lock-in.
• Vocus is utilizing the Blue Planet portfolio, including Multi-Domain  Service Orchestration, Inventory and Route Optimization  and Assurance for end-to-end visibility across its multi-layer network and  to automate and optimize business processes. Another key aspect of this network  transformation is Blue Planet  Professional Services,  which enables faster time to deployment for Vocus.

Executive  Comments:

• “Our customers increasingly want a very simple and seamless  experience when working with us, similar to how they interact with everyday consumer  digital offerings. With automation from Blue Planet, we are able to execute on  our customer-first strategy by building a network that is fast, dependable and  enables them to have greater control.”
  -    Kevin Russell, Chief Executive  Officer, Vocus Group

• “Forward-thinking leaders like Vocus understand the  need for intelligent automation software to deliver strong digital engagement between service providers and customers. With Blue  Planet, Vocus can quickly adapt to user demands and compete in a marketplace  where speed is paramount.”
  -    Rick  Hamilton, Senior Vice President, Blue Planet, a division of Ciena

About Vocus
Vocus Group Limited (ASX: VOC) is Australia’s specialist fiber and network solutions provider, connecting all mainland capitals with Asia. Regionally, Vocus has back haul fiber connecting most regional centres in Australia. Vocus also operates an extensive and modern network in New Zealand, connecting the country’s capitals and most regional centres. In total, the Vocus terrestrial network is c.30,000 route-km of high performance, high availability fibre-optic cable supported by 4,600km of submarine cable connecting Singapore, Indonesia and Australia and 2,100km of submarine cable between Port Hedland and Darwin and connecting offshore oil and gas facilities in the Timor Sea. Vocus owns a portfolio of brands catering to enterprise, government, wholesale, small business and residential customers across Australia and New Zealand.

About Blue Planet
Blue Planet, a division of Ciena (NYSE: CIEN), provides market-leading intelligent automation software and specialized professional services to help clients modernize their IT and network operations. Driven by policy and AI-based insights, Blue Planet delivers the closed-loop automation tools needed to align IT and networking processes—critical to facilitating digital transformation. For updates on Blue Planet, visit www.blueplanet.com.

Note to Ciena Investors
You are encouraged to review the Investors section of our website, where we routinely post press releases, SEC filings, recent news, financial results, and other announcements. From time to time we exclusively post material information to this website along with other disclosure channels that we use. This press release contains certain forward-looking statements that are based on our current expectations, forecasts, information and assumptions. These statements involve inherent risks and uncertainties.  Actual results or outcomes may differ materially from those stated or implied, because of risks and uncertainties, including those detailed in our most recent annual and quarterly reports filed with the SEC. Forward-looking statements include statements regarding our  expectations, beliefs, intentions or strategies and can be identified by 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.