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<ACCESSION-NUMBER>0000950133-08-000410
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<FILING-DATE>20080208
<DATE-OF-FILING-DATE-CHANGE>20080208
<EFFECTIVENESS-DATE>20080208
<FILER>
<COMPANY-DATA>
<CONFORMED-NAME>CIENA CORP
<CIK>0000936395
<ASSIGNED-SIC>3661
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<STATE-OF-INCORPORATION>DE
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>1031
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<ACT>34
<FILE-NUMBER>000-21969
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<BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>1201 WINTERSON ROAD
<CITY>LINTHICUM
<STATE>MD
<ZIP>21090
<PHONE>4108658500
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<STREET1>1201 WINTERSON ROAD
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<DESCRIPTION>DEFA14A
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<TITLE>defa14a</TITLE>
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<DIV style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif">

<DIV align="center" style="font-size: 14pt; margin-top: 12pt"><B>UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION</B>
</DIV>

<DIV align="center" style="font-size: 12pt"><B>WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549</B>
</DIV>


<DIV align="center" style="font-size: 18pt; margin-top: 12pt"><B>SCHEDULE 14A</B>
</DIV>

<DIV align="center" style="font-size: 10pt"><B>(Rule&nbsp;14a-101)</B></DIV>



<DIV align="Center" style="font-size: 12pt; margin-top: 6pt"><B>INFORMATION REQUIRED IN PROXY STATEMENT</B>

</DIV>
<DIV align="center" style="font-size: 18pt; margin-top: 12pt"><B>SCHEDULE 14A INFORMATION</B>
</DIV>
<DIV align="center" style="font-size: 12pt; margin-top: 0pt"><B>Proxy Statement Pursuant to Section&nbsp;14(a) of the Securities<BR>
Exchange Act of 1934 (Amendment No. <U>&nbsp;&nbsp; </U>&nbsp;)</B></DIV>

<DIV align="center">
<TABLE style="font-size: 10pt" cellspacing="0" border="0" cellpadding="0" width="100%">
<!-- Begin Table Head -->
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD width="40%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="58%">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
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<TR valign="bottom">

<TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">Filed
by the Registrant <FONT face="Wingdings">&#254;</FONT></DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">Filed by a Party other than the Registrant <FONT face="Wingdings">&#111;</FONT></DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">Check the appropriate box:</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom"><!-- Blank Space -->
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">&nbsp;</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px"><FONT face="Wingdings">&#111;</FONT> Preliminary Proxy Statement
</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top"><FONT face="Wingdings">&#111;</FONT> Confidential, for Use of the Commission Only (as permitted by Rule&nbsp;14a-6(e)(2))</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom"><!-- Blank Space -->
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">&nbsp;</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">

<TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px"><FONT face="Wingdings">&#111;</FONT> Definitive Proxy Statement</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">

<TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px"><FONT face="Wingdings">&#254;</FONT> Definitive Additional Materials</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">

<TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px"><FONT face="Wingdings">&#111;</FONT>
Soliciting Material Pursuant to &#167;240.14a-12</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
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</TABLE>
</DIV>


<DIV align="Center" style="font-size: 14pt; margin-top: 6pt"><B>Ciena Corporation</B>

</DIV>

<DIV align="Center" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 6pt"><DIV style="width: 100%; border-bottom: 1px solid #000000; font-size: 1px">&nbsp;</DIV>

</DIV>
<DIV align="center" style="font-size: 10pt">(Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)</DIV>



<DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 12pt"><DIV style="width: 100%; border-bottom: 1px solid #000000; font-size: 1px">&nbsp;</DIV>
</DIV>

<DIV align="center" style="font-size: 10pt">(Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement if other than the Registrant)</DIV>



<DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 6pt">Payment of Filing Fee (Check the appropriate box):

</DIV>

<DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 6pt"><FONT face="Wingdings">&#254;</FONT> No fee required.

</DIV>

<DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 6pt"><FONT face="Wingdings">&#111;</FONT> Fee computed on table below per Exchange Act Rules&nbsp;14a-6(i)(1) and 0-11.

</DIV>

<DIV style="margin-top: 6pt">
<TABLE width="100%" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="font-size: 10pt">

<TR valign="top" style="font-size: 10pt; color: #000000; background: transparent">
    <TD width="3%" nowrap align="left">(1)</TD>
    <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>Title of each class of securities to which transaction applies:</TD>
</TR>

</TABLE>
</DIV>
<DIV align="center"><DIV style="font-size: 3pt; margin-top: 16pt; width: 100%%; border-top: 1px solid #000000">&nbsp;</DIV></DIV>


<DIV style="margin-top: 6pt">
<TABLE width="100%" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="font-size: 10pt">

<TR valign="top" style="font-size: 10pt; color: #000000; background: transparent">
    <TD width="3%" nowrap align="left">(2)</TD>
    <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>Aggregate number of securities to which transaction applies:</TD>
</TR>

</TABLE>
</DIV>
<DIV align="center"><DIV style="font-size: 3pt; margin-top: 16pt; width: 100%%; border-top: 1px solid #000000">&nbsp;</DIV></DIV>


<DIV style="margin-top: 6pt">
<TABLE width="100%" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="font-size: 10pt">

<TR valign="top" style="font-size: 10pt; color: #000000; background: transparent">
    <TD width="3%" nowrap align="left">(3)</TD>
    <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>Per unit price or other underlying value of transaction computed pursuant to Exchange Act
Rule&nbsp;0-11 (Set forth the amount on which the filing fee is calculated and state how it was
determined):</TD>
</TR>

</TABLE>
</DIV>
<DIV align="center"><DIV style="font-size: 3pt; margin-top: 16pt; width: 100%%; border-top: 1px solid #000000">&nbsp;</DIV></DIV>


<DIV style="margin-top: 6pt">
<TABLE width="100%" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="font-size: 10pt">

<TR valign="top" style="font-size: 10pt; color: #000000; background: transparent">
    <TD width="1%" nowrap align="left">(4)</TD>
    <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>Proposed maximum aggregate value of transaction:</TD>
</TR>

</TABLE>
</DIV>
<DIV align="left"><DIV style="font-size: 3pt; margin-top: 16pt; width: 100%%; border-top: 1px solid #000000">&nbsp;</DIV></DIV>

<DIV style="margin-top: 6pt">
<TABLE width="100%" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="font-size: 10pt">

<TR valign="top" style="font-size: 10pt; color: #000000; background: transparent">
    <TD width="1%" nowrap align="left">(5)</TD>
    <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>Total fee paid:</TD>
</TR>

</TABLE>
</DIV>
<DIV align="center"><DIV style="font-size: 3pt; margin-top: 16pt; width: 100%%; border-top: 1px solid #000000">&nbsp;</DIV></DIV>

<DIV align="center">
<TABLE style="font-size: 10pt" cellspacing="0" border="0" cellpadding="0" width="100%">
<!-- Begin Table Head -->
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD width="3%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="2%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="95%">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<!-- End Table Head -->
<!-- Begin Table Body -->
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px"><FONT face="Wingdings">&#111;</FONT>
</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">Fee paid previously with preliminary materials.</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom"><!-- Blank Space -->
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">&nbsp;</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px"><FONT face="Wingdings">&#111;</FONT>
</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">Check box if any part of the fee is offset as provided by Exchange Act Rule&nbsp;0-11(a)(2) and
identify the filing for which the offsetting fee was paid previously. Identify the previous
filing by registration statement number, or the form or schedule and the date of its filing.</TD>
</TR>
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</TABLE>
</DIV>


<DIV style="margin-top: 6pt">
<TABLE width="100%" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="font-size: 10pt">

<TR valign="top" style="font-size: 10pt; color: #000000; background: transparent">
    <TD width="1%" nowrap align="left">(1)</TD>
    <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>Amount previously paid:</TD>
</TR>

</TABLE>
</DIV>
<DIV align="center"><DIV style="font-size: 3pt; margin-top: 16pt; width: 100%%; border-top: 1px solid #000000">&nbsp;</DIV></DIV>


<DIV style="margin-top: 6pt">
<TABLE width="100%" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="font-size: 10pt">

<TR valign="top" style="font-size: 10pt; color: #000000; background: transparent">
    <TD width="1%" nowrap align="left">(2)</TD>
    <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>Form, schedule or registration statement no.:</TD>
</TR>

</TABLE>
</DIV>
<DIV align="center"><DIV style="font-size: 3pt; margin-top: 16pt; width: 100%%; border-top: 1px solid #000000">&nbsp;</DIV></DIV>


<DIV style="margin-top: 6pt">
<TABLE width="100%" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="font-size: 10pt">

<TR valign="top" style="font-size: 10pt; color: #000000; background: transparent">
    <TD width="1%" nowrap align="left">(3)</TD>
    <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>Filing party:</TD>
</TR>

</TABLE>
</DIV>
<DIV align="center"><DIV style="font-size: 3pt; margin-top: 16pt; width: 100%%; border-top: 1px solid #000000">&nbsp;</DIV></DIV>


<DIV style="margin-top: 6pt">
<TABLE width="100%" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="font-size: 10pt">

<TR valign="top" style="font-size: 10pt; color: #000000; background: transparent">
    <TD width="1%" nowrap align="left">(4)</TD>
    <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>Date filed:</TD>
</TR>

</TABLE>
</DIV>
<DIV align="center"><DIV style="font-size: 3pt; margin-top: 16pt; width: 100%%; border-top: 1px solid #000000">&nbsp;</DIV></DIV>




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<DIV style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif">


<DIV align="center" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 18pt">February&nbsp;8, 2008
</DIV>


<DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 12pt">To: Ciena All-hands
</DIV>


<DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 6pt">From: Suzanne DuLong
</DIV>


<DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 6pt">Subject: 2008 Annual Meeting / Proxy and Annual Report
</DIV>

<DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 12pt">Every year, Ciena shareholders have the opportunity to participate directly in the governance of
our company through the proxy voting process.
</DIV>

<DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 6pt">This year, Ciena is taking advantage of a new SEC rule that allows us to furnish proxy materials to
shareholders via the Internet as an alternative to traditional mailed delivery of printed
materials. This means that instead of receiving a printed copy of the annual report and proxy by
mail, shareholders will receive a Notice that explains how to access these materials online. The
items up for shareholder consideration at this year&#146;s Annual Meeting are set forth in detail in the
proxy statement.
</DIV>

<DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 6pt">If you were a Ciena shareholder as of January&nbsp;28, 2008, the record date for the Annual Meeting, you
will soon receive a Notice that your proxy materials are available online. Depending on where your
shares are held, and how you&#146;ve chosen to receive information in the past, this Notice will arrive
either through an electronic link directly from our transfer agent, Computershare, or in the mail
at your address of record. By following the instructions included in your Notice, you can view our
proxy materials, request that printed copies be sent to you by mail and vote your shares
electronically.
</DIV>

<DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 6pt">By implementing the SEC&#146;s new &#147;Notice and Access&#148; rule, we&#146;ve reduced the number of printed copies
of our annual report and proxy materials this year by more than 80&nbsp;percent, lowering the cost of
both producing and delivering these materials while also reducing the associated environmental
impact.
</DIV>

<DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 6pt">Even if you are not a shareholder, both our 2007 annual report and proxy statement for the Annual
Meeting are available online: <U>http://www.ciena.com/investors/investors_IR_Kit.htm</U> and
printed copies are available upon request by completing the information request form here:
<U>http://phx.corporate-ir.net/phoenix.zhtml?c=99134&#038;p=irol-inforeq</U>.
</DIV>

<DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 6pt">As we have in the past, we will ensure each major Ciena facility has a supply of printed annual
reports for distribution to employees, customers and visitors as needed. These printed copies will
be sent to the receptionist or facilities coordinator at each location in the coming weeks.
</DIV>

<DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 6pt">Answers to what we expect will be some frequently asked questions about the 2008 Annual Meeting can
be found on the IR portion of Ciena&#146;s website:
<U>http://www.ciena.com/investors/investors_meeting_faq.htm</U>.
</DIV>

<DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 6pt">If you have any additional questions, please don&#146;t hesitate to contact me directly at 410.865.8072
or by email at sdulong@ciena.com.
</DIV>



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