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Ciena expects high growth from Latin America

Expecting a transformation in Latin America’s telecommunications networks, Ciena Corp. said it believes region will grow at higher rates than other markets. “Latam is one area of great growth for Ciena. We are moving into more markets and growing tremendously,” said Fabio Medina, sales VP for Latin America, during a July 22 press conference in Brazil. The region has been growing 30% a year since 2004.
In addition, Marcos Villas-Bôas, Brazil’s general manager, pointed that in the country expansion comes from areas outside of São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro. “We’re observing an investment and demands increase from states such as Acre and Amazonas.” The phenomenon may be related to expansion of the medium class, which has become richer and started to buy more eletronic devices, and speak of broadband Internet.

Besides those aspects, across the Latam region impacts of IT virtualization and data center consolidation, growing demand for video, greater connectivity and mobile broadband are driving Ciena’s efforts.

The network company just unveiled advanced packet-optical platforms for intelligent infrastructures, that are designed to enable intelligent infrastructures using advanced silicon, software and switching technologies. “It’s great for poor quality fiber used in Brazil, because our  solutions help the data transmission,” said Villas-Bôas.

Executives are also looking forward coming events, as 2014 World Cup and Olympics Games, both in Brazil. “We have equipment that enables video transmission without compression, good for games or events that must be shot in HD, 3D. We are negotiating with suppliers for the World Cup and Olympics,” said Villas-Bôas.

In terms of revenues, Ciena does not disclose numbers, but says that carriers represent more than 50% of its income. Ciena has been operating in Latin America for 10 years and serves 20 countries from region offices located in São Paulo (Brazil), Bogotá (Colombia), Mexico City (Mexico) and Buenos Aires (Argentina). Telefonica and Temex are among Ciena’s Latam top 100 clients. The company sells directly and through channels with its partners.

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ABOUT AUTHOR

Roberta Prescott
Roberta Prescott
Editor, Americasrprescott@rcrwireless.com Roberta Prescott is responsible for Latin America reporting news and analysis, interviewing key stakeholders. Roberta has worked as an IT and telecommunication journalist since March 2005, when she started as a reporter with InformationWeek Brasil magazine and its website IT Web. In July 2006, Prescott was promoted to be the editor-in-chief, and, beyond the magazine and website, was in charge for all ICT products, such as IT events and CIO awards. In mid-2010, she was promoted to the position of executive editor, with responsibility for all the editorial products and content of IT Mídia. Prescott has worked as a journalist since 1998 and has three journalism prizes. In 2009, she won, along with InformationWeek Brasil team, the press prize 11th Prêmio Imprensa Embratel. In 2008, she won the 7th Unisys Journalism Prize and in 2006 was the editor-in-chief when InformationWeek Brasil won the 20th media award Prêmio Veículos de Comunicação. She graduated in Journalism by the Pontifícia Universidade Católica de Campinas, has done specialization in journalism at the Universidad de Navarra (Spain, 2003) and Master in Journalism at IICS – Universidad de Navarra (Brazil, 2010) and MBA – Executive Education at the Getulio Vargas Foundation.