Technology market research firm Infonetics Research has released its fourth quarter (4Q10) CMTS and Edge QAM Hardware and Subscribers report, which tracks cable modem termination systems (CMTS), edge quadrature amplitude modulation (QAM) channels, and cable broadband subscribers.
“Although the usual fourth quarter budget flush was quieter than in recent years, 2010 ended as the biggest year yet for both CMTS and edge QAM [hardware] revenue," comments Jeff Heynen, Infonetics Research's directing analyst for broadband access.
He added, "Given the revolutionary density enhancements we’re expecting on both platforms and the stated capacity demands of major MSOs worldwide, the next 5 years should see significant port growth."
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The report provides worldwide and regional vendor market share, market size and forecasts through 2015 for standard and wideband cable broadband subscribers. Upstream and downstream CMTS revenue and ports are alos discussed, as well as edge QAM channels and revenue by application, including linear broadcast TV, video on demand (VOD), unicast video, switched digital video, M-CMTS and Data Over Cable Service Interface Specification (DOCSIS).
Companies tracked in the report include ARRIS, BigBand, Casa Systems, Cisco Systems, Ericsson, GoBack TV, Harmonic, LiquidXStream, Motorola, RGB Networks, Sumavision, Teleste, and Vecima.
Highlights of the report, according to Infonetics, include:
-- Worldwide CMTS and edge QAM revenue increased to $368M in 4Q10, up 2% from 3Q10.
-- For the year, the CMTS and edge QAM market grew 23% to $1.62 billion worldwide in 2010.
-- The big end-of-year spending typically seen in the CMTS market (4Q09 revenue was up 26%) didn’t happen in 4Q10 for several reasons: some MSOs are waiting for Cisco’s 3G60 and ARRIS’ XD-CAM CMTS line cards, many have already achieved their DOCSIS 3.0 homes-passed goals, and some shifted focus to their hybrid fiber coaxial (HFC) plants.
-- In 4Q10, some operators slowed their switched digital video rollouts or, like Comcast, postponed them altogether.
-- Cisco’s strong CMTS sales in 2010, particularly in North America and EMEA, propelled them back into the #1 spot.
-- Harmonic, due to its ongoing video-on-demand deployments with operators worldwide, held on to the top spot among edge QAM vendors in 2010 and 4Q10.
"Increased revenue will be a challenge early on as vendors absorb some forward pricing on these denser platforms," concludes Infonetics' Heynen. "But MSO demands for more DOCSIS channels will ultimately boost annual revenue increases."
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For more information, visit www.infonetics.com.
