Cloud and colo optical hardware spend up 50% in North America

News and Business

Cloud and colo operator spending on optical communications hardware continued to spur market growth in the first quarter of 2019, according to the most recent Optical Customer Markets Report from research firm Cignal AI. Spending in these sectors increased over 50% in North America, offsetting declines in other regions, with Ciena continuing to lead all sales to cloud operators.
Cignal AI says in EMEA, traditional telco (incumbent and wholesale network operators) optical spending recovered and will grow by double digits during 2019. Spending growth by these operators is slowing in APAC as total spending reaches record highs. Huawei continues to lead this market in APAC, EMEA, and CALA, while Ciena leads in North America.

“Optical spending in North America continues to shift from traditional telco providers to the cloud and colo operators,” said Scott Wilkinson, Lead Analyst for Optical Hardware at Cignal AI. “Despite traditional telco operators accounting for most spending, the rapid growth in cloud spending combined with traditional operators now adopting cloud architectures has permanently changed supplier R&D priorities.”

The Cignal AI Optical Customer Markets Report is issued quarterly and quantifies optical equipment sales to five key customer markets: incumbent; wholesale; cloud and colo; cable/MSO; and enterprise and government.

The latest report includes optical equipment vendor market share for all customer markets as well as updated forecasts through to 2023.

Additional findings in the 1Q19 Optical Customer Markets Report include:

• Ciena Waveserver Ai market share continues to increase as cloud and colo spending grows. New compact modular platforms targeted at this market are entering the market in 2Q19 with Cisco, Infinera, and Nokia among those expecting stronger sales in the next quarter
• North American cable/MSO spending declined in the first quarter. However, moderate growth is still expected in 2019
• Enterprise and government spending shows pressure from consolidation and cloud and colo encroachment, and isn’t expected to recover in the next two years.

Vendors examined by Cignal AI include Adtran, ADVA, Ciena, Cisco, ECI, Ekinops, Fiberhome, Fujitsu Networks, Huawei, Infinera, Juniper Networks, Mitsubishi Electric, MRV, NEC, Nokia, Padtec, TE Conn, Tejas Networks, Xtera and ZTE.

For moreinformation, visit https://cignal.ai