8-K

UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, DC 20549

FORM 8-K

CURRENT REPORT PURSUANT
TO SECTION 13 OR 15(D) OF THE
SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

Date of report (Date of earliest event reported) October 12, 2010

Ciena Corporation

(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)

Delaware
(State or Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation)

0-21969	23-2725311
(Commission File Number)	(IRS Employer Identification No.)

1201 Winterson Road, Linthicum, MD	21090
(Address of Principal Executive Offices)	(Zip Code)

(410) 865-8500
(Registrant’s Telephone Number, Including Area Code)

(Former Name or Former Address, if Changed Since Last Report)

     Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions (see General Instruction A.2. below):

     o Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

     o Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

     o Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

     o Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

ITEM 7.01  –  REGULATION FD DISCLOSURE

On October 12, 2010, Ciena Corporation (“Ciena”) issued a press release reaffirming its financial guidance for its fourth fiscal quarter ending October 31, 2010. The text of the press release is furnished as Exhibit 99.1 to this Report. The information in this Report shall not be deemed “filed” for purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or otherwise subject to the liabilities of that section, and shall not be incorporated by reference into any registration statement pursuant to the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

This report contains forward-looking statements that are based upon management’s expectations and beliefs concerning future events affecting Ciena. Certain matters contained herein and in the attached release concerning future results of operations constitute forward-looking statements and are based upon management’s expectations and beliefs concerning future events affecting Ciena. There can be no assurance that these future events will occur as anticipated or that Ciena’s actual results will be as estimated. For a description of certain factors that could cause Ciena’s future results to differ materially from those expressed in any such forward-looking statements, see Part II, Item 1A of Ciena’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended July 31, 2010 entitled “Risk Factors.”

ITEM 9.01  –  FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND EXHIBITS

(c) The following exhibit is being filed herewith:

Exhibit Number	Description of Document
Exhibit 99.1	Text of Press Release dated October 12, 2010, issued by Ciena Corporation

SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.

	Ciena Corporation
Date: October 12, 2010	By:	/S/ David M. Rothenstein
		David M. Rothenstein
		Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary

EX-99.1

Exhibit 99.1

Press Contact:	Nicole Anderson
	Ciena Corporation
	(877) 857-7377
	pr@ciena.com
Investor Contact:	Gregg Lampf
	Ciena Corporation
	(888) 243-6223
	ir@ciena.com

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Ciena Reaffirms Financial Guidance for Fiscal Fourth Quarter

LINTHICUM, Md. – October 12, 2010 – Ciena^® Corporation (NASDAQ: CIEN) today reaffirmed its financial guidance for the fiscal fourth quarter ending October 31, 2010, which guidance was previously provided in connection with its third quarter results on September 8, 2010. As previously stated, Ciena currently expects a sequential increase in its fourth quarter revenue of up to 5%, which, based on third quarter results, reflects a revenue range of approximately $390 million to $409 million. Ciena also expects adjusted gross margin in the low 40s percent range.

Adjusted gross margin is a non-GAAP measure that excludes the effects of share-based compensation expense and amortization of intangible assets.

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About Ciena

Ciena is the network specialist. We collaborate with customers worldwide to unlock the strategic potential of their networks and fundamentally change the way they compete and perform. With focused innovation, Ciena brings together the reliability and capacity of optical networking with the flexibility and economics of Ethernet, unified by a software suite that delivers the industry’s leading network automation. We routinely post recent news, financial results and other important announcements and information about Ciena on our website. For more information, visit www.ciena.com.

Note to Ciena Investors

Forward Looking Statements:  This press release contains forward-looking statements based on current expectations, forecasts and assumptions that involve risks and uncertainties. These statements are based on information available to the Company as of the date hereof, and Ciena’s actual results could differ materially from those stated or implied, due to risks and uncertainties associated with its business, which include the risk factors disclosed in its Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, which Ciena filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on September 8, 2010. Forward-looking statements include statements regarding Ciena’s expectations, beliefs, intentions or strategies regarding the future and can be identified by forward-looking 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.