A leading market and technology
consultancy, today announced the report release of their 10-year market
forecast of the global consumption of Planar Lightwave Circuit (PLC) splitters
used in Fiber Optic Communication Networks.
According to the market review and forecast
report, the worldwide consumption volume (quantity) of PLC component-level
(bare-fiber) splitters reached an estimated 32.796 million units in 2017. PLC component splitters will continue to
contribute an important role in deploying optical fiber closer to the subscriber
(Fiber-to-the-Home/Building/Premises), by allowing a single passive optical
network (PON) interface to be shared among many subscribers. PLC splitters
distribute optical signals from an input optical fiber port to multiple optical
fibers output port.
This Publisher study report quantifies PLC
splitter compact devices (bare fiber PLC components) and in-turn; PLC splitter
devices used in factory-installed/fabricated PLC splitter modules (such as ABS
Box modules and other types).
There are several piece-parts that are
needed to produce a typical PLC splitter, such as 1 or 2 input optical fibers
with an input fiber containment unit, a planar (splitter) chip, a fiber array
containment unit, and several output optical fibers, as well as the
housing/exterior package. PLC splitters are available in several
configurations; the report provides market data on 11-separate configuration
(port-count) for the years 2017-2027.
PLC splitter compact devices used in FTTx,
Passive Optical Networks (PONs) and other Telecom (and CATV) service provider
network applications led in global consumption volume (quantity) with 97.2
percent in relative market share or 31.878 million units in 2017. PLC splitter compact devices used with
testing and monitoring applications are forecast to reach 1.24 million units in
2027, up from 841-thousand units last year.
Market forecast data in this study report refers to consumption (use)
for a particular calendar year; therefore, this data is not cumulative data.
10-Year Market Forecast
This market forecast report, which is available
immediately, is part of a consultant service from Publisher Consultants to our
clients. This is the Publisher analysis
and forecast of global market consumption of planar lightwave circuit (PLC)
splitters used in optical communication applications. For the purposes of this study, Publisher
specifically addresses the PLC splitter, using waveguide circuits and aligned
fiber optic pigtails, integrated inside a package.
The 2017-2027 quantitative market review
and forecast data presented in this report are segmented into the following
geographic regions, plus a Global summary:
- America (North America, Central and South
America)
- EMEA (Europe, Middle Eastern countries,
plus Africa)
- APAC (Asia Pacific)
PLC Splitter Applications analysis covered
in this report:
- Service Providers Telecommunication and
Cable TV (CATV)
- Passive Optical Network (PON), FTTX, Other
- Fiber Optic Test/Measurement
- Private Enterprise/Data Centers/Local Area
Networks (LANs)
- Harsh Environment (Military, Industrial,
Other)
The forecast for each product-level is
presented by function:
- Consumption Value ($, Million)
- Number of Units (Quantity in 1,000)
- Average Selling Prices ($, each)
- Planar Lightwave Circuit (PLC) Splitters
Global Market Forecast & Analysis 2017-2027
PLC splitters will continue to contribute
an important role in Fiber to the Home (FTTH) networks by allowing a single
passive optical network (PON) interface to be shared among many
subscribers. PLC splitters are available
in compact sizes; therefore, they can be used in aerial apparatus, pedestals or
in-ground as well as rack mount or other module-based value-added product.
Installation is simple using a variety of connector types or splicing.
This report provides a detailed market and
technology analysis of PLC splitters, which are largely driven by FTTX / Fiber-to-the-Home (FTTH) and are trending
towards commodity manufacturing processes.
The Publisher market forecast is segmented by the following product
categories and split configurations:
Hierarchy of Selected PLC Splitters, by
Fabrication-Level
- Component Device (compact)
- Modules
Hierarchy of Selected PLC Splitters, by
Splitter Configuration
- xN
- 1×2
- 1×4
- 1×8
- 1×16
- 1×32
- 1×64
- 2xN
- 2×4
- 2×8
- 2×16
- 2×32
- Other (miscellaneous MxN)
The information is presented in
easy-to-follow illustrations and text.
The reasons for the forecasted trends are discussed. The report also outlines the market research
methodology followed and the key assumptions made. Terms, acronyms, and abbreviations used are
defined. A list of fiber PLC splitter
manufacturers and related companies is provided, along with description of the
types of PLC splitters and related technologies that they address. The technology trends of other pertinent
fiber optic components and devices in the fiber optic marketplace are
presented.
Optical communication networks combine
voice, audio, data at high and low speeds, video, television (including
interactive 3D high resolution television), and other specialized transmission
into a single integrated infrastructure.
Included within the infrastructure is
business Enterprise resource planning (ERP) software, unified messaging,
web-assisted call centers, and a variety of small-business infrastructures.
Residential use includes smart-TV (Internet-based TV), cloud-based video on
demand (Netflix/Amazon), e-commerce, small office/home office telecommuting,
advertising, medical monitoring, elder care monitoring, childcare monitoring,
home and office security. Most existing communications will be built upon an
Internet backbone during the period of this study. Reasons for this transition
are rooted in demand. The customers are demanding greater speed, more
functionality and reliability, and naturally, they expect “perfect” quality of
service.
Planar waveguide circuits (PWCs) also
referred to as planar lightwave circuits (PLCs), incorporate numerous active
and passive functional uses for packaged modules. The long-term trend is for a larger share of
discrete-circuit (single-function) based PWCs/PLCs being displaced by
equivalent performance hybrid (multiple-function) planar devices.
The majority of optical functions, such as
splitters, variable optical attenuators (VOAs) and array waveguides (AWGs) are
currently developed and implemented forming discrete (single
function/monolithic) component integration. The combination of the packaging
and integrated optics aspects of PWC technology provides for an attractive and
powerful technology for devices/modules, which will hold multiple (two or more)
functions (integrated multifunction devices); thereby, reducing size, weight,
and cost versus larger, bulkier discrete devices/modules.
As the demand for larger quantities of
optical communication components evolve, technologies, which are friendly to
automation assembly processes, will have a competitive manufacturing/cost
advantage. Use of silicon wafers, for
example, draws extensively on the mass-production techniques of the commercial
integrated circuit (IC) production whelm, since the fabrication of PWCs
incorporates many of the same pieces of equipment and processes.
Fiber-to-the-Home passive optical networks
(FTTH/PONs) integrated PLCs, with multiple functions, have promise for a
sizable market. The biplexer, an all-in-one transponder that includes the two
wavelengths, 1310nm upstream and 1490nm downstream, is one end-use modules
based on planar waveguide technology that is required for PON. And some
networks will use a 1550nm wavelength for a cable TV overlay, creating the need
for triplexers.
INFORMATION BASE
This study is based on analysis of
information obtained continually over 15 years, but updated through the middle
of March 2018. During this period,
Publisher analysts performed interviews with authoritative and representative
individuals in the fiber optics industry plus telecommunications, cable TV,
private datacom, military/aerospace & other communication industries,
instrumentation/ laboratory – R&D and factory/manufacturing, from the
standpoint of both suppliers and users of planar waveguide circuits. The
interviews were conducted principally with selected:
Engineers, marketing personnel and
management at manufacturers of fiber optic couplers/splitters, PON/FTTH
components/devicse, optical fiber, AWGs/optical waveguide and other components,
cable assemblies, test/measurement equipment, Fiber optic connectors,
mechanical splices splice and installation apparatus
Design group leaders, engineers, marketing
personnel and market planners at major users and potential users of optical
communication devices, including passive optical devices and
active/transceivers, such as telecommunication transmission, switching and
distribution equipment producers, data communications equipment producers,
harsh environment, military systems, aircraft and spacecraft electronic
equipment producers, optical instrumentation system producers and others
Other industry experts, including those
focused on standards activities, trade associations, and investments.
The interviews covered issues of
technology, R&D support, pricing, contract size, reliability,
documentation, installation/maintenance crafts, standards, supplier competition
and other topics.
Selected customers also were interviewed,
to obtain their estimates of quantities received and average prices paid, as a
crosscheck of selected vendor estimates. Customer estimates of historical and
expected near term future growth of their application are obtained. Their views
of use of new technology products were obtained.
The analyst then considered customer
expectations of near term growth in their application, plus forecasted economic
payback of investment, technology trends and changes in government regulations
in each geographical region, to derive estimated growth rates of quantity and
price of each product subset in each application. These forecasted growth rates
are combined with the estimated baseline data to obtain the long-range
forecasts at the lowest detailed level of each product and application.
A full review of published information was
also performed to supplement information obtained through interviews. The
following sources were reviewed:
Professional technical journals and papers
- Trade press articles
- Technical conference proceedings
- Product literature
- Company profile and financial information
- Additional information based on previous
Publisher market studies
- Personal knowledge of the research team.
In analyzing and forecasting the
complexities of the worldwide markets for planar waveguide circuits and related
devices, it is essential that the market research team have a good and a deep
understanding of the technology and of the industry. Publisher members who
participated in this report were qualified.
Bottom-up Methodology - Publisher forecasts
are developed initially at the lowest detail level and then summed to
successively higher levels. The background market research focuses on the
amount of each type of product used in each application in the base year (last
year - 2017), and the prices paid at the first transaction from the
manufacturer. This forms the base year data.
Publisher analysts then forecast the growth rates in component quantity
use in device type, along with price trends, based on competitive, economic and
technology forecast trends, and apply these to derive long term forecasts at
the lowest application (use) levels. The usage growth rate forecasts depend
heavily on analysis of overall end user trends toward digital broadband
communication equipment usage and economic payback.
Spanning over 518 pages “Planar
Lightwave Circuit (PLC) Splitters Global Market Forecast & Analysis
2017-2027” report covers PLC Splitter Market Forecast Executive
Summary, PLC Splitter Market Forecast, by Fabrication-Level and Port-Count
Configuration, PLC Splitter Market Forecast, by Fabrication-Level, Split Ratio
and Application, PLC Splitter Technology, PLC - Related Product Suppliers
Company Profiles – Company Profiles, Optical Communication Trends, Research and
Analysis Methodology, Definitions: Acronyms, Abbreviations, and General Terms,
10-Year Market review and Forecast Data Base (2017-2027), Year Market Forecast
Data Base – Excel Spreadsheets: Addendum.
