According to a new optical communication market study by the ElectroniCast Corp., the total dense WDM components consumption was $2.85 billion in 2000. The new ElectroniCast study presents a forecast for (only) the major DWDM components that are used in DWDM system equipment and optical add/drop multiplexers. This will expand rapidly to over $10 billion by 2005. Growth will then continue, at a strong pace, to reach $34.6 billion by 2009. This component consumption will be led by North America, with 54 percent or $18.7 billion dollars by 2009.
There is very strong demand for more communication bandwidth, and several different ways to meet this demand. Using dense wavelength division multiplexing (DWDM) is one possible solution. The choice between solutions, or a combination of several solutions, will be made by communication service providers almost entirely on the basis of first installed cost. Secondary considerations include projected life cycle costs, and flexibility for future upgrade.
Several different component technologies have advanced to the point that DWDM networks are now the clear economics-based solutions in some networks, such as undersea cable and "long haul" terrestrial networks involving spans of hundreds of kilometers. As the WDM component technology continues to advance and per gigabit-kilometer costs drop, WDM increasingly will be applied to shorter distance links.
Optoelectronics Dominated DWDM Component Value
Although the DWDM filter module is a key element of the high capacity fiber network, its per-channel cost is moderate compared to the transmitter and receiver. "While the per-channel cost of transmitter/receiver pairs at a fixed wavelength will drop more rapidly than filter cost, there will be a strong countering trend toward deployment of higher data rate, more expensive T/Rs," according to ElectroniCast President Stephen Montgomery. The T/R (+ integrated optoelectronics) share of global DWDM component consumption value was 62 percent in 2000 and will be 85 percent or $29.4 billion in 2009
The multi-wavelength transmitter set is a key element of the dense WDM system. "The transmitter set and the DWDM filter module must provide the required number of wavelengths/channels with precise wavelength spacing between channels, very narrow optical width per channel, and extremely little drift permitted during operating and environmental conditions. The optical amplifiers and the receiver photodiodes, in contrast, are relative broadband and require less precision of control," Montgomery said.
About ElectroniCast:
ElectroniCast, founded in 1981, provides forecasting for the fiber optic, optoelectronic, and photonic industries. This includes technology forecasting, markets and applications forecasting, strategic planning, competitive analysis, and marketing/sales consultation. For more information, visit www.electronicast.com.