Sales of systems for access networks – which includes PON, DSL, and cable hybrid fiber/coax (HFC) equipment – grew by a “moderate” 6% year-on-year in the third quarter of 2012, according to a new report by Dell’Oro Group. PON systems were the stars, advancing 21% over the same quarter of 2011.
Systems for cable MSO networks grew 5% annually. However, DSL equipment declined versus the year-ago quarter, as a decrease in ADSL revenues offset 30% growth in VDSL revenues.
“We saw strong growth from three segments in the third quarter. PON revenue surged to a record level, largely driven by strong GPON shipments to China, continuing the trend of the last several years,” said Steve Nozik, principal analyst of access research at Dell’Oro Group. Cable revenue growth was driven by strong DOCSIS 3.0 CPE sales that more than offset sharply lower CMTS sales.
“For DSL, high-speed VDSL port shipments grew more than 50% over the year ago period driven by Western Europe, where a number of operators have chosen a fiber-to-the-node (FTTN) upgrade strategy utilizing VDSL,” Nozik said.
Alcatel-Lucent, Huawei, and ZTE won the quarter in the GPON space; excluding sales in China, however, Calix would jump into the third position, the report states. In the growing VDSL segment Alcatel-Lucent and Huawei again held the top two slots, with ADTRAN at number three. For cable equipment sales, Cisco retained its top position in CMTS sales in 3Q12, while Arris led the cable CPE segment.
The Dell’Oro Group Quarterly Access Report provides tables that cover manufacturers’ revenue, average selling prices, and port/unit shipments for cable, DSL, and PON equipment.