Filed by MRV Communications, Inc. Pursuant to Rule 425
                                                Under the Securities Act of 1933
                                                      Registration No. 333-44536
                                                   Commission File No. 001-11174
                                       Subject Company: MRV Communications, Inc.
                                                    Commission File No.001-11174

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

                            MRV AND LUMINENT ANNOUNCE
                        INTENT TO MERGE LUMINENT INTO MRV

Chatsworth, California - September 13, 2001 - MRV Communications, Inc. (NASDAQ:
MRVC) and Luminent, Inc. (NASDAQ: LMNE) jointly announced today that MRV intends
to carry out a short-form merger with Luminent, its 92.3% owned subsidiary.

The consideration to be offered in exchange for the outstanding Luminent stock,
which MRV does not already own, will be determined and announced later. Under
Delaware law, Luminent shareholders not wishing to accept the consideration
offered in the merger will be entitled to appraisal rights and to receive
payment of the fair value for their shares following the effectiveness of the
merger. The merger will be subject to usual terms and conditions including
regulatory approvals. In conjunction with the filing, MRV intends to seek
outside professional advice and consider other strategic alternatives for
Luminent.

Noam Lotan, President & CEO of MRV, commented: "Due to the current slowdown in
the telecommunications sectors, the market for optical components is currently
suffering from weak demand. Although this could change in the future, the
business of Luminent will be better served when integrated into MRV. By applying
MRV's system level know-how, we achieve a higher level of integration of optical
components and optical subsystems. This is expected to enhance Luminent's
optical transmission platforms, thereby better supporting existing customers,
while creating new market opportunities."

Lotan continued: "Unifying Luminent with MRV is expected to enhance our
competitive position and generate substantial savings in the consolidated
results, by removing inefficiencies and duplications. Our action will allow
Luminent to invest and improve its technology and its bottom line."

Effective today, Dr. William R. Spivey, has stepped down and resigned his
position as Luminent's President, CEO and Director. Noam Lotan, who is currently
Chairman of Luminent, will assume the position of interim CEO.

Mr. Lotan commented: "Dr. Spivey did a great job getting the company through a
successful IPO and a turbulent year. We want to express our gratitude to Bill.
We look forward to continuing our relationship in the future."

As a result of the anticipated merger, Messrs. Richard Hill and Amos Wilnai
resigned from Luminent's board and have been replaced by Dr. Yigal Shidlovsky
and Arie Zimmerman. Dr. Shidlovsky serves as Director of MRV Communications. Mr.
Zimmerman was the founder of several companies including Phasecom Corporation,
which was subsequently sold and became public under Vyyo, MDS Systems and
Satelite Common Carrier.

Separately, MRV Communications announced that Mr. Shay Gonen has been appointed
as interim Chief Financial Officer, replacing Edmund Glazer, MRV's CFO who
perished Tuesday on American Airlines flight #11 that crashed into the New York
World Trade Center. Shay Gonen is currently CFO, and President North American
Operations at Optical Access, Inc., an MRV subsidiary.


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ABOUT MRV COMMUNICATIONS, INC.

MRV Communications, Inc. is a world-class leader in network infrastructure
systems and optical components. The company has leveraged its early leadership
in fiber optic technology into a portfolio of well-focused operating entities.

MRV formed a balanced portfolio of independent business units such as Luminent,
Optical Access, iTouch Communications, Cescomm and NBase-Xyplex. In addition,
MRV helped create and manage several cutting edge start-up companies including
Zaffire, Charlotte's Networks, Zuma Networks, RedC Optical Networks, Optical
Crossing and All Optical.

Visit MRV's web site at http://www.mrv.com.


ABOUT LUMINENT, INC.:

Luminent designs, manufactures and sells a comprehensive line of single mode
active and passive fiber optic components for high-capacity data transmission in
the metropolitan and access markets. Luminent employs over 1200 people world
wide and has over 300 customers who rely on Luminent to provide technical depth,
responsive customer service and volume manufacturing to meet the increasing
requirements for transmission capacity and speed between nationwide, metro and
access networks and end-users.

This release may contain forward-looking statements that involve risks and
uncertainties. These statements may differ materially from actual future events
or results. Readers are referred to the documents filed by MRV with the
Securities and Exchange Commission, specifically the most recent reports on
Forms 10K and 10Q, and as amended, which identify important risk factors that
could cause actual results to differ from those contained in the forward-looking
statements, including potential fluctuations in operating results, dependence on
new product developments, rapid technological and market changes, manufacturing
risks, volatility of the company's stock price, financial risk management, and
future growth subject to risks. The announcement of the anticipated filing of
any registration statements contained herein does not constitute an offer of any
securities for sale.


CONTACT: MRV Communications Inc.
Diana Hayden, 818/886-6782, Investor Relations
diana@mrv.com

MRV Communications, Inc.
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