IHS forecasts global hybrid fibre-coaxial (HFC) optical node shipments to more than double in the 5 years from 2014 to 2019, jumping from 92,000 to 200,000. Driving the boost are cable operators upgrading their networks with optical fibre cable, taking advantage of its high-bandwidth, low-noise, low-interference characteristics to deliver broadband video, data and voice services to homes and businesses.

“Optical nodes have rapidly become important platforms for cable operators to grow their broadband capabilities. By way of increased node splitting today for increased bandwidth and a transition to distributed access in the coming years, optical nodes will see significant unit growth and innovation,” said Jeff Heynen, research director for broadband access and pay TV at IHS.

Report highlights include:

• Globally, HFC optical node revenue reached $356 million in 2014, up 14 per cent from 2013
• In 2014, 80 per cent of worldwide optical node revenue came from digital return nodes, and 15 per cent from analogue return nodes
• By 2019, IHS expects 35 per cent of new physical nodes to be remote CCAP devices, 27 per cent to be R-PHY units, and 23 per cent to be traditional digital return nodes
• ARRIS led optical node global revenue and physical node unit shipments for the full-year 2014

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