New Ovum report says 40G market moves to generalized deployment phase

Demand, driven by video, is stressing network capacities

For immediate release, 24 November 2008. Leading global advisory and consulting firm Ovum today posted its global market update detailing the 40G/100G market.

"After many years of waiting, the 40G market is finally moving to a generalized deployment phase. Consumer demand, mostly driven by video, is stressing network capacities and as long as this dynamic stays in place, 40G deployments will continue to see healthy growth," said Ron Kline, Research Director, at Ovum and author of this latest 40G/100G analysis by Ovum. "What's most important now is that the industry works to reduce the cost for 40G in order to move the market towards mass adoption."

After years of technology development, product announcements, and trials, the 40G market is finally moving to a new phase. Globally, over 30 network operators have spent more than $250 million since 2005 deploying the technology. Nortel introduced its DP QPSK to the market in April 2008 and has already gained over 30 customers; the technology is highly regarded by both carriers and competitors. Further, the Optical Internetworking Forum industry group announced in August 2008 that it had selected DP QPSK as the standardized modulation format for 100G long-distance DWDM transmission, a move welcomed by component suppliers, as it makes their investment cases easier to justify.

The largest 40G application by volume thus far is for router-to-router interconnect. Comcast and AT&T have the largest commercial deployments, but government-funded defense and research networks have contributed significantly to revenues. "Global revenue for 40G line cards in 2007 was $178 million and we expect the market to grow 48% annually through 2013," said Kline.

The new report from Ovum's Network Infrastructure practice provides Ovum's analysis of the 40G market, including market drivers and challenges to deployment, and correlating commercial activity. The report also includes analysis of market competitors, including descriptions of 40G capabilities and customer deployments, analysis of 40G modulation formats, revenues and unit forecast, and market share data for the global 40G market as well as analysis of 100G development efforts.

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For further information:

The global 40G/100G market update is published by Ovum's Network Infrastructure practice, which provides detailed competitive analysis of optical networking vendors and markets.

For more information or to speak with Ron Kline about this research, please contact Sara Kaufman, Public Relations, sara.kaufman@ovum.com, or a member of our global PR team listed below.

About Ovum:

Ovum's primary activity is providing value-added advisory services and consulting to retained and project clients. The company acts as a well-respected and trusted source of industry data, knowledge and expertise on the commercial impact of technology, regulatory and market changes. Ovum engages in continuous research and industry analysis to determine market dynamics in its specialist sectors.

Ovum has developed long-standing relationships with many of its corporate clients, which include major international blue-chip companies such as Alcatel-Lucent, AT&T, BT, Cable & Wireless, Cisco Systems, Deutsche Telekom, Fujitsu, HP, IBM, Microsoft, Telstra and Vodafone.

Ovum is part of the Datamonitor Group.

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