Global metro Ethernet market to reach $26 bln in 2008

Worldwide metro Ethernet equipment revenue more than doubles between 2004 and 2008, from $3.1 bln to $7.6 bln, totaling almost $26 bln during the five-year period, and ports shipments will more than quadruple, according to Infonetics Research. All this equipment buying is driving the Ethernet services market, which will jump 276% between 2005 and 2009, reaching $22.2 bln.

Worldwide carrier Ethernet switch and router revenue hit $183 mln in 2004, and will grow to $2.6 bln in 2008, representing 34% of the metro Ethernet equipment market. With the exception of Cisco, a shakeup in market share is expected in 2005. Nortel is the worldwide revenue market share leader for both Ethernet over SONET/SDH and Ethernet over WDM in 2004.