Worldwide optical market revenues were just under $3 billion in the third quarter of this year, a 4 percent decline over the second quarter of this year, according to a newly published report by Dell’Oro Group. 
The demand for optical transport equipment stabilized in North America where revenues have increased in the two most recent quarters. Asia Pacific continues to be the largest region for optical transport equipment with nearly 40 percent of worldwide market revenues. The report indicates that DWDM Long Haul 40 Gbps wavelength shipments during the third quarter of this year increased more than 10 percent sequentially and 130 percent year-over-year.
“We believe that the optical market is recovering, and forecast steady improvements in year-over-year growth rates as well as a return to positive year-over-year growth by the first quarter of 2010,” said Jimmy Yu, Director of Optical Transport research at Dell’Oro Group. “We expect the 2010 optical sales recovery to be primarily led by increased demand for metro equipment, such as WDM Metro systems and Multiservice SONET/SDH systems, and 40 Gbps wavelengths. The DWDM Long Haul market may continue to be weak through 2010, but with continued strength in 40 Gbps wavelengths,” Yu added.
