The worldwide optical network hardware market increased 9.6% to $3.58 billion in 4Q10 over 3Q10 according to the latest figures from market research firm Infonetics Research. The strength of the fourth quarter came from the expected year-end capex surge in EMEA, where optical spending jumped 24.6% in 4Q10.
However, for the full year 2010, worldwide optical spending was down 4.2%.
"We are seeing acceleration in the trend away from SONET/SDH to WDM optical equipment in the US and China, and a similar transition in EMEA awaits. The shift toward next-generation mobile backhaul infrastructure is one factor, as are preparations by carriers for the optical reboot, a rebuilding of core networks to use 40/100G, OTN, and ROADM technologies," notes Andrew Schmitt, Infonetics Research's directing analyst for optical.
Other optical hardware market highlights included:
- Asia Pacific posted its first negative year since 2004, down 6.6% for 2010
- ROADM spending set a new high in 4Q10, surging 6% over 3Q10 and 27% over 4Q09
- Huawei finally showed up for the spending party in the EMEA region, with 70% quarter-over-quarter growth, while Alcatel-Lucent's optical revenue grew 18% in the region
- Ciena nearly doubled its optical revenue in 2010 over 2009 as a result of the Nortel acquisition, and ZTE's optical revenue grew 41%.
Infonetics' quarterly Optical Network Hardware report tracks Adtran, ADVA, Alcatel-Lucent, BTI, Ciena (Nortel), Cisco, ECI, Ericsson, Fujitsu, Huawei, Infinera, NEC, Nokia Siemens Networks, Sycamore, Tejas Networks, Tellabs, Transmode, Tyco, Xtera, ZTE, and others.
The report provides worldwide and regional market share, market size, and analysis (forecasts and in-depth analysis will be published by Feb. 24).
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