Sales of 10-, 40-, and 100-Gbps optical transceivers for datacom applications grew 14% year over year in the first half of 2015, says IHS (NYSE: IHS). Growing interest in 40G QSFP and 100G CFP/CFP2 helped spur datacom optical module sales to $752 million in that timeframe, according to the most recent „IHS Infonetics 10G/40G/100G Data Center Optics report.“
The datacom market is evolving away from a reliance on 10-Gbps optical transceivers, according to the report; in fact, IHS believes that 10-Gbps module revenues reached their peak last year. Sales of 40-Gbps interfaces are growing strongly, and 100 Gigabit Ethernet (100GbE)
module sales should begin to ramp in 2016.
„Suppliers are preparing for a fundamental shift in data center optics from 10G technologies and processes to 25G — this applies to both VCSELs (vertical-cavity surface-emitting lasers) and single-mode optics. This is the single largest change the industry has experienced in the last decade, and the advent of 100GbE in 2016 is the key catalyst,“ said Andrew Schmitt, research director for carrier transport networking at IHS Technology.
At 40 Gbps, 40GBase-SR and -LR QSFP+ modules are the most popular options, the report reveals. Next year’s 100GbE acceleration will see QSFP29 modules lead the way, with demand of „several hundred thousand units,“ in the words of an IHS press release.
Schmitt, along with other analysts, provides further color on datacom module trends in a pair of Lightwave podcasts, „100G in the Data Center at ECOC 2015“ and „Optics in the Data Center at ECOC 2015.“
The biannual „IHS Infonetics 10G/40G/100G Data Center Optics“ report covers worldwide market size, forecasts through 2019, analysis and trends for manufacturer revenue, units shipped, and ARPU. The report analyzes the optical transceiver market by module speed (10G, 40G, 100G), reach, wavelength and form factor. Unit volume forecasts are based on the „IHS Infonetics Networking Ports: 1G, 2.5G, 10G, 40G, 100G“ forecast, which aggregates trends from a wide range of enterprise, data center, optical transport, and carrier routing and switching equipment.
