Metro Ethernet equipment market generated $1.7 bln in 2004

Metro Ethernet equipment market reached $1.7 bln in 2004 and will increase at a 26% compound annual growth rate (CAGR) through 2009. Long-time telecom equipment providers need to prepare for change as Ethernet technology, once dedicated to LAN environments, goes metro. According to IDC, this shift is being driven by next-generation broadband applications, including IPTV, video-on-demand, and "triple play" services that combine video with IP voice and high-speed Internet access.