Ciena acquired Nortel's optical technology and Carrier Ethernet division for approximately $770 million during 2009–2010. Nortel's Metro Ethernet Networks business developed next-generation optical-transmission equipment and had more than 1,000 customers in 65 countries at the time. The business had approximately 1,400 employees in Canada, including 1,125 in Ottawa and 250 in Montreal. In 2017, Ciena's 1,600 Ottawa personnel were relocated to a new campus in Kanata, Ontario, along with employees of Catena. These 1,600, many of whom worked for Nortel, comprise less than 30 percent of Ciena's workforce, but represent the company's largest operational hub and complete half of its research and development work.