North Georgia Network Selects Infinera for Broadband Stimulus Network


SUNNYVALE, CA--(Marketwire - March 22, 2011) - North Georgia Network Cooperative (NGN) has selected Infinera (NASDAQ: INFN) for a federally-funded broadband stimulus network that will extend from Atlanta to North Carolina delivering the benefits of broadband with the speed, flexibility, and cost-effective scalable bandwidth of an Infinera DTN network to thousands of community anchor institutions, businesses and homes in rural North Georgia.

Last week, at the 2011 Economic Development and Technology Summit, co-hosted by NGN and North Georgia College & State University on the University's Dahlonega campus, Bruce Abraham, CEO and President of NGN, announced plans to break ground on construction this week. 

NGN won a $33 million grant in the first round of the federal broadband stimulus program to deploy a 260-mile regional fiber-optic ring with associated middle mile and last mile segments. This network will deliver affordable gigabit broadband speeds to an eight-county area of more than 334,000 people, laying the foundation for a new, technology-based economy in the North Georgia region just outside of metro Atlanta. NGN's open access network model will enable independent service providers to interconnect and build out their own fiber-optic services to end users.

NGN chose an Infinera Digital Optical Network because Infinera's speed, scalability, and ease of operation support the middle-mile open access business model. With an Infinera DTN network, NGN can deliver a wide range of services quickly, react quickly to customer demands, and offer more than a Terabit/second of capacity, while keeping operating costs low.

"We are excited to bring an unprecedented level of broadband services to North Georgia, and we have selected the best vendors," said Abraham. "With an Infinera network, NGN will be able to deliver world-class high-speed Internet services that will be the equal of those available anywhere in the world. This will be a vitally important asset to help us attract new industries, create jobs, and deliver 21st century services like telemedicine and distance learning to our region."

"We are pleased to support the NGN network and help the people of North Georgia participate fully in today's Internet economy," said Infinera CEO Tom Fallon. "The Infinera Digital Optical Networks architecture supports broadband stimulus networks with a solution that is simple, fast, and flexible."

The Infinera DTN is the first, and still the only, optical networking system powered by photonic integrated circuits. The Infinera DTN combines high-capacity DWDM transport, integrated digital bandwidth management, and GMPLS-powered service intelligence in a single platform.

About North Georgia Network Cooperative (NGN)
The North Georgia Network (NGN) is a non-profit company that is building and managing a 260-
mile fiber optic transport network to deliver broadband access to thousands of businesses, public and community institutions and households in North Georgia. The network is part of a regional economic development initiative to spur job creation by enabling start-ups, expansions and relocations of technology-reliant businesses. 

About Infinera
Infinera provides Digital Optical Networking systems to telecommunications carriers worldwide. Infinera's systems are unique in their use of a breakthrough semiconductor technology: the photonic integrated circuit (PIC). Infinera's systems and PIC technology are designed to provide customers with simpler and more flexible engineering and operations, faster time-to-service, and the ability to rapidly deliver differentiated services without reengineering their optical infrastructure. For more information, please visit http://www.infinera.com/.

This press release contains certain forward-looking statements based on current expectations, forecasts and assumptions that involve risks and uncertainties. These statements are based on information available to Infinera as of the date hereof; and actual results could differ materially from those stated or implied, due to risks and uncertainties. Forward-looking statements include statements regarding Infinera's expectations, beliefs, intentions or strategies regarding the future, including that NGN chose an Infinera Digital Optical Network because Infinera's speed, scalability, and ease of operation support the middle-mile open access business model that an Infinera DTN network, NGN can deliver a wide range of services quickly, react quickly to customer demands, and offer more than a Terabit/second of capacity, while keeping operating costs low; that the Infinera Digital Optical Networks architecture supports broadband stimulus networks with a solution that is simple, fast, and flexible; and the Infinera DTN is the first, and still the only, optical networking system powered by photonic integrated circuits. Such forward-looking statements can be identified by forward-looking words such as "anticipated," "believed," "could," "estimate," "expect," "intend," "may," "should," "will," and "would" or similar words. The risks and uncertainties that could cause our results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements include aggressive business tactics by our competitors, our dependence on a single product, our ability to protect our intellectual property, claims by others that we infringe their intellectual property, and our ability to respond to rapid technological changes, and other risks that may impact any of the group's business are set forth in their annual reports on Form 10-K filed with the SEC on March 1, 2010, as well as subsequent reports filed with or furnished to the Securities and Exchange Commission. These statements are based on information available to us as of the date hereof and we disclaim any obligation to update the forward-looking statements included in this press release, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

Contact Information:

For media and analysts:
Media:
Anna Vue
Tel. (916) 595-8157
avue@infinera.com

Investors:
Bob Blair
Tel. (408) 716-4879
bblair@infinera.com