Metro Ethernet Drives 100G Interface Demand, Heavy Reading Finds

100G is driving industry demand, making cost reduction and increased port density top priorities, says Heavy Reading Components Insider

Aug 15, 2013

NEW YORK, Aug. 15, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- User demand for 100G networking drives the industry, and the key focus going forward is reducing the cost and increasing port density, according to the latest report from Heavy Reading Components Insider (www.heavyreading.com/commchip), a paid research service of Heavy Reading (www.heavyreading.com).

100G Components User Survey: 2014 Market Outlook analyzes the current and projected use of 100Gbit/s optical modules and PHY semiconductor components by equipment vendors, based on the results of an exclusive worldwide survey of engineers, designers, product managers and sales/marketing personnel that work for telecom and networking system equipment manufacturers and suppliers. The responses to our survey make it clear that these devices are critical components in many types of networking equipment, from long-haul to the access edge, data center and core of the network.

For a complete list of companies covered in this report, http://twimgs.com/audiencedevelopment/LRHR/PDFS/cci0813_companies.pdf.

"Demand for 100Gbit/s network connections is growing rapidly," says Simon Stanley, research analyst for Heavy Reading Components Insider and author of the report. "Initial deployments in the long-haul network and data center are now being eclipsed by the widespread deployment of 100Gbit/s interfaces in the metro network."

During 2012 we saw the introduction of second- and third-generation 100G solutions with cost-effective 10x10Gbit/s optical modules and production-ready 4x25Gbit/s optical modules for metro systems, Stanley says. "The 100G market is divided into three distinct areas – long haul, metro/enterprise and the data center – and the industry has developed three distinct 100G technologies," he adds. "There is now a very strong 100G ecosystem with almost 20 PHY device vendors and over 20 optical module manufacturers, and the key focus for 100G going forward is reducing the cost and increasing port density."

Key findings of 100G Components User Survey: 2014 Market Outlook include the following:

  • More than 30 percent of companies are shipping systems with 100G ports
  • Metro Ethernet is the leading application for 100G, followed by long-haul DWDM and data center
  • 400G is growing, with 30 percent expecting to ship 400G ports by mid-2015
  • 100GBase-SR10 is the leading 100GE port type, followed by 100GBase-LR4
  • Merchant silicon is ahead of ASICs and FPGAs for 100G PHY devices
  • CFP2 is replacing CFP for enterprise and metro systems, with CFP4 next
  • QSFP28 is set to replace CXP in data center systems
  • Performance is the most important factor in selecting 100G optical modules

100G Components User Survey: 2014 Market Outlook is available as part of an annual single-user subscription (6 issues per year) to Heavy Reading Components Insider, priced at $1,595. Individual reports are available for $900 (single-user license).

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:

David Williams
Global Director of Sales, Research
Heavy Reading
858-829-8612
david.williams@ubm.com

Press/analyst contact:
Jennifer Baker
Marketing Director, Light Reading Communications Network
617-747-4110
jennifer.baker@ubm.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 global telecom industry. As a division of UBM Tech (tech.ubm.com), Heavy Reading contributes to the only integrated business information platform serving the global communications industry.

SOURCE Heavy Reading