Darnell Publishes Global Communications Update

The external communications power supply market is being driven primarily by -48V rectifier and VRLA battery sales, but "new equipment in unfamiliar places" is behind the growth of emerging communications segments. This trend and more are discussed in the new Darnell Group report, Global Communications Power: Market Forecasts, Emerging Technologies and Competitive Analysis. This nearly 200-page report identifies the key markets for seven product categories, including -48V, +24V and -130V rectifiers; dc/dc converters; inverters; batteries; and LVDs, racks, controllers and fuses.Worldwide external communications power supply dollar sales are expected to increase from $12.1 billion in 2000 to $43.6 billion in 2005, a compound annual growth rate of 29.2 percent. Five-year dollar forecasts are provided for Worldwide, North America, Europe, Asia, Central and Latin America, China and ROW regions.Data and voice convergence are driving data equipment into the outside plant environment, where harsher environments are demanding more expensive and sophisticated packaging solutions. And advances in broadband technology are leading a "build-out" to more remote sites, culminating with "Last Mile" powering to the customer premises.The application segments in this report include Network Equipment, ISDN, xDSL (including CO DSLAMs and Remote DSLAMs), Broadband Wireless (including WLL and LMDS), Cellular/PCS, CATV and Fiber. The competitive analysis profiles 26 of the major worldwide players in the external communications market. Like the industry itself, the competitive environment is under-going significant changes and consolidation.Finally, an "Emerging Applications" chapter focuses on five growing markets: Broadband Cable/MMDS; Broadband Wireless (WLL/LMDS); xDSL; Fiber/WDM; and PCS Microcells/Wideband PCS. Each of these is analyzed in terms of power requirements, market forecast, commercial implications and competitive environment. Additional discussions are provided on "Last Mile" powering issues, as well as Softswitch and VoDSL.