Optical network market "poised for growth in 2013"

The global market for optical network hardware looks set to have a good year in 2013, with North America and 100G expected to shine particularly bright, according to a report from Infonetics Research.

The US research firm estimates that the worldwide optical network hardware market fell ten per cent worldwide in 2012, with the SONET/SDH optical segment faring particularly badly last year, as global legacy capex fell 30 per cent.

However, Andrew Schmitt, principal analyst for optical at Infonetics Research, believes that things are looking up for 2013.

“Our conversations with equipment providers continue to trend positive, particularly in North America where 100G spending is about to ramp,” says Schmitt.

“The general consensus remains that an optical cycle for equipment in the core is emerging, what we call the ‘optical reboot.’

“Meanwhile, there are positive rumbles in the EMEA region, where 2012 ended with a spending flourish and carriers are cutting dividends to plough capital into general capex.”

The analyst adds that he is looking forward to visiting carriers in Beijing this spring, and that preliminary indications suggest that 2013 will be a “huge year” for 100G technology.