ATCA Suppliers Face a Value Challenge, Heavy Reading Reports

CAMBRIDGE, Mass., May 14, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- A new survey of telecom and networking equipment manufacturers shows that while more than half of those vendors are using Advanced Telecom Computing Architecture (ATCA) in their products, increased use of ATCA, MicroTCA and advanced mezzanine cards (AMCs) will depend on a clearer demonstration of cost savings, according to the latest report from Heavy Reading Components Insider (www.heavyreading.com/commchip), a paid research service of Heavy Reading (www.heavyreading.com).

ATCA, AMCs & MicroTCA: 2012 User Survey analyzes the current and projected use of ATCA, AMCs and MicroTCA by manufacturers, based on the results of an exclusive worldwide survey of 86 engineers, designers, product managers and sales/marketing personnel that work for nearly 60 different telecom and networking system equipment manufacturers. The 17-page report includes results and analysis of the survey, conducted in the first quarter of 2012.

View a complete list of components makers covered in this report: http://img.lightreading.com/cci/pdf/cci0512_companies.pdf

"ATCA provides a compelling platform for many telecom applications, allowing telecom equipment providers to quickly develop carrier-grade solutions," says Simon Stanley, research analyst for Heavy Reading Components Insider and author of the report. "By using ATCA, telecom equipment providers can significantly lower development costs and dramatically reduce time to market for new systems."

The percentage of telecom equipment providers using ATCA has remained static at around 50 percent over the last seven years; however, the number of systems based on ATCA at these companies has been steadily increasing, Stanley notes. "To increase the number of third-party components used in ATCA systems, vendors must provide greater value by increasing integration, delivering faster time to market and reducing the cost," he says. "If the total market for off-the-shelf ATCA components and platforms is to continue growing significantly over the next two to three years then all vendors in the supply chain need to continue delivering greater value to telecom equipment providers."

Key findings of ATCA, AMCs & MicroTCA: 2012 User Survey include the following:

• Most vendors use ATCA for one or more systems.
• ATCA is a maturing platform, with 75 percent of vendors already shipping.
• 3G/4G wireless infrastructure and IMS are key applications for ATCA.
• There is significant growth in the use of ATCA for media servers and blade servers.
• Third-party middleware is being used by an increasing number of companies.
• COTS ATCA blade usage is growing, with fewer companies using in-house designs for key blade types.
• System integrators are being used by significantly fewer companies than in previous surveys.
• AMCs are used by half of companies, down slightly from previous surveys.
• Interest in MicroTCA is falling, with only one third of companies planning on MicroTCA-based systems.

ATCA, AMCs & MicroTCA: 2012 User Survey is available for $900. Please visit www.heavyreading.com/commchip for more information. Site or Enterprise License subscriptions are available.

For more information about Heavy Reading Components Insider, please visit: www.heavyreading.com/commchip. For more information about other Heavy Reading Insider research services, please visit: www.heavyreading.com/research.

To request a free executive summary of the report, or for details on multi-user licensing options, please contact:

Jeff Claudino
Director of Sales
Insider Research Services
619-229-9940
claudino@lightreading.com

Press/analyst contact:
Jennifer Baker
Marketing Director, Light Reading Communications Network
617-871-1910
jbaker@lightreading.com

About Heavy Reading (www.heavyreading.com)
Heavy Reading is an independent research organization offering deep analysis of emerging telecom trends to network operators, technology suppliers, and investors. Its product portfolio includes in-depth reports that address critical next-generation technology and service issues, market trackers that focus on the telecom industry's most critical technology sectors, exclusive worldwide surveys of network operator decision-makers that identify future purchasing and deployment plans, and a rich array of custom and consulting services that give clients the market intelligence needed to compete successfully in the $4 trillion global telecom industry. As a telecom research arm of the Light Reading Communications Network (www.lrcn.com), Heavy Reading contributes to the only integrated business information platform serving the global communications industry.

About Light Reading Communications Network (www.lrcn.com)
The Light Reading Communications Network combines the most trusted telecom research brands with award-winning online communities and a rich events portfolio to deliver the only integrated business information platform serving the global communications industry.   With the power of this platform, leaders who build, deploy, finance, and regulate next-generation telecom networks are able to make more informed decisions on emerging market and service opportunities.  Light Reading Communications Network is a division of UBM TechWeb (www.ubmtechweb.com), the global leader in technology media and business information. 

SOURCE Heavy Reading