May 20, 2004 San Francisco -- The global optical networking market fell 7% in the first quarter of 2004, to $2.2 billion, according to market research and advisory services firm RHK Inc.
Rolling four-quarter share positions of the top five vendors were unchanged during the quarter, with Alcatel remaining in the top spot despite a nearly 50% decline in revenues following a particularly strong 4Q03. Among the balance of the top ten, Marconi, Siemens, and Tellabs edged up slightly at the expense of NEC.
"A slight dip in revenues in the first calendar quarter is part of a normal annual spending cycle and bolsters our claim that the market has stabilized," explains Dana Cooperson, RHK group director for Optical Networking. "Compared to the first quarter of 2003, revenues were up 16%, which is again in line with our prediction of market stability and our expectation of full-year growth in this market."
RHK's Optical Networks: Global program provides detailed global and regional analysis of optical networks, including SONET/SDH, OED/MSPP, DCS, OCS, and metro and long-haul WDM transport products. For more information, visit .