Fibre optic test equipment in demand
March 18, 2013
The increasing number of fibre cable network deployments has spurred demand for fibre optic test equipment (FOTE) globally. fibre optic communication is quickly becoming the future of network and communication, and the optic network will soon be the framework of every industry. As such, testing for insertion loss and bandwidth is vital in order to ensure effective real-time operations. This presents the global FOTE market with immense growth opportunities.
Analysis from Frost & Sullivan finds that the market earned revenues of over $584.4 million in 2011 and estimates this to reach $805.8 million in 2018.
Technological advancements will facilitate real-time 40 gig and 100 gig network deployments in every sector. This will require high fibre optic performance, and in turn, encourage the adoption of FOTE.
“The Internet presently requires swift data transfer for switching, routing, virtualisation, and convergence,” said Frost & Sullivan Industry Manager Sujan Sami. “fibre optic cables are capable of such high-speed transfers, and their increasing use necessitates fibre optic testing.”
Since networks and electronic products are becoming complex, it is critical to develop FOTE with better functionality, ease-of-use, and enhanced testing capabilities. The advent of powerful bit error rate testers as well as integrated and next-generation testing systems will boost testing frequency and add to market revenue.
Despite this market relevance of FOTE, the lack of customer awareness restrains implementation. End users do not fully comprehend the sophisticated technologies or possess the skills to use them effectively.
Furthermore, while the number of fibre cable networks has grown, the number of networks monitored for proper functioning has not gone up, resulting in performance degradation.
“Suppliers must educate companies on the importance of proactive testing,” concluded Sami. “Research and development along with increased manufacturing will draw investments into the FOTE market, particularly in Asia-Pacific and emerging markets.”