The worldwide market for optical amplifiers used in telecommunications applications will experience a CAGR of 22% to jump from $3 billion in 2000 to more than $7 billion by 2004, according to a new report from optoelectronics market-research firm Strategies Unlimited (Mountain View, CA-see Figure). Critical to long-distance telecom networks and cable-TV distribution systems, optical amplifiers are used to extend the length of optical links and boost the signal power over these links.
The optical amplifier emerged as a commercial product in the early 1990s but is now entering a new phase, say analysts. At the high-performance end of the market, erbium-doped fiber amplifiers (EDFAs) are now being used in conjunction with Raman pump blocks.
The emergence of Raman amplifiers will substantially change the design of EDFAs, says the report, as well as the variety of pump-laser products used in optical amplifiers.
At the low-performance end of the market, emerging technologies such as erbium-doped waveguide amplifiers (EDWAs) and semiconductor optical amplifiers (SOAs) promise lower-cost alternatives for a wider range of applications.
North America continues to lead the world in both supply and consumption of optical amplifiers, capturing more than 75% of both revenues and purchases.
The report, "Optical Amplifiers: Raman, EDFA, EDWA, and SOA, Market Review and Forecast, 2001," examines the market for optical amplifiers and their associated pump lasers based on applications, device types, wavelengths, and data rates. The report profiles 29 suppliers of optical amplifiers and 30 suppliers of pump lasers around the world and provides market-share estimates for each sector. For more information, contact Strategies Unlimited at (650) 941-3438 or visit the company's Website at www.strategies-u.com.