(Source: Business Wire)MTS Allstream Inc. ("MTS Allstream"), one of Canada's leading national communication solutions companies, and Ciena® Corporation (NASDAQ:CIEN) ("Ciena"), the network specialist, today announced a strategic partnership that will see MTS Allstream launch the next generation of Managed Wavelength Services to its business customers across Canada that require resilient network solutions for mission critical applications. MTS Allstream also joined Ciena's BizConnect global partner program as a designated Managed Services Provider (MSP) partner.

This strategic partnership will enable the delivery of differentiated, high-speed managed optical services capable of transporting any type of protocol or network traffic to a variety of customers in MTS Allstream's markets, serving major Canadian metropolitan areas including Ottawa, Montreal, Toronto and Vancouver. Based on Ciena's CN 4200® FlexSelect® Advanced Services Platform, MTS Allstream's managed optical networks will enable service flexibility and wavelength efficiency, while optimizing capacity to address high-bandwidth requirements for storage backup and disaster recovery needs.

"MTS Allstream has achieved another critical milestone in delivering true value to our customers and transforming the way our customers do business," said Dean Prevost, President Enterprise Solutions, MTS Allstream. "Whether it's a large business or a carrier using our wavelength services, our investment in state-of-the-art technology guarantees the network is available at the right time, and the right place to ensure customers have access to the most advanced, reliable telecommunications services in the country."

"The practical innovations within our portfolio, coupled with the comprehensive resources of our BizConnect program, offer our partners operational and management simplicity while enabling high-value managed services that can be tailored flexibly to meet the needs of evolving enterprise applications," said Theresa Caragol, Vice President, Global Alliances & Partners at Ciena. "BizConnect already serves a strong base of MSP partners, and we are excited to welcome MTS Allstream as our latest member."

In addition to deploying Ciena's CN 4200 to enable new managed services, MTS Allstream also deployed the CN 4200 across its metro and regional infrastructure nationwide to support the transition from a legacy, ring-based SONET network to a next-generation, scalable architecture that supports a growing range of high-bandwidth, IP-based services.

About MTS Allstream MTS Allstream is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Manitoba Telecom Services Inc.