<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001275606-21-000018.txt : 20211216
<SEC-HEADER>0001275606-21-000018.hdr.sgml : 20211216
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20211216154651
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001275606-21-000018
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20211214
FILED AS OF DATE:		20211216
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20211216

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			HAMILTON RICK
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001275606

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-36250
		FILM NUMBER:		211497717

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		9500 AMBERGIEN
		CITY:			AUSTIN
		STATE:			TX
		ZIP:			78729

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			CIENA CORP
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000936395
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	TELEPHONE & TELEGRAPH APPARATUS [3661]
		IRS NUMBER:				232725311
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1030

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		7035 RIDGE ROAD
		CITY:			HANOVER
		STATE:			MD
		ZIP:			21076
		BUSINESS PHONE:		4108658500

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		7035 RIDGE ROAD
		CITY:			HANOVER
		STATE:			MD
		ZIP:			21076
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
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<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
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    <periodOfReport>2021-12-14</periodOfReport>

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    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000936395</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>CIENA CORP</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>CIEN</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001275606</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>HAMILTON RICK</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O CIENA CORPORATION</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>7035 RIDGE RD.</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>HANOVER</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>MD</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>21076-1426</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>SVP, Software and Services</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2021-12-14</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
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                <transactionShares>
                    <value>16279</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
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                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0.0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
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                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>76446</value>
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            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
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        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
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            <transactionDate>
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            <securityTitle>
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            <transactionDate>
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            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>M</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
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                    <footnoteId id="F4"/>
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                    <value>D</value>
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        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
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    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Market Stock Units (2021)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>0.0</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2021-12-14</value>
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            <transactionCoding>
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                <transactionCode>M</transactionCode>
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                    <value>8693</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F6"/>
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                    <value>0.0</value>
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                    <value>D</value>
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                <footnoteId id="F4"/>
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                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
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    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Reflects the number of stock units earned pursuant to the terms of a performance stock unit award granted on December 16, 2020 reflecting the achievement of the related performance conditions. These shares vest in equal 1/2 amounts on each of December 20, 2021 and 2022.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Shares reported include unvested Restricted Stock Units (RSUs), Performance Stock Units (PSUs), and Market Stock Units (MSUs).</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">Reflects Restricted Stock Units (RSUs) that vest over four years, with one-sixteenth of the grant amount vesting on March 20, June 20, September 20, and December 20 of each year, commencing on March 20, 2022.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F4">Reflects the number of stock units earned pursuant to the terms of a market stock unit (MSU) award granted on December 18, 2018 reflecting the level of achievement of the applicable total shareholder return (TSR) performance conditions. These shares vest on December 20, 2021.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F5">Each MSU will convert on the vesting date into common stock pursuant to the terms of the MSU award.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F6">Each MSU represents the contingent right to receive, following vesting, between 0% and 200% of one share of the Issuer's common stock, subject to the level of achievement of applicable TSR performance conditions over a three-year period from fiscal 2019 through fiscal 2021.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>By: Michelle Rankin For: Rick Hamilton</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2021-12-16</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
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</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
