Technical Insight
Global integrated optical components market could top $2.6 billion by 2005 (Market News)
Global integrated optical components market could top $2.6 billion by 2005 Building integrated optical circuits similar to those manufactured by the microelectronics industry has been an area of intense research. According to Communications Industry Researchers (CIR), this endeavor is at last beginning to bear fruit, and the worldwide market for integrated optical components is expected to grow from $13.4 million in 2001 to $2.6 billion by 2005. The most significant growth is expected in transmitters and transceivers, which will grow steeply from $5.4 million this year to $1.6 billion by 2005, largely as a result of accelerating demand for access and metro products. Transponders containing integrated laser and wavelength lockers, and also transceivers containing integrated optics and electronics will form an important part of this market sector. Integrated optical components will also be enabled by emerging InP technology, says the report, largely due to the ability of InP devices to operate at the high speeds required in next-generation networks, and the ability to integrate optical devices with ICs. This could lead to a total market of $1.1 billion for InP components in 5 years (see ). "The Market for Integrated Optical Products: 20012005" is available from CIR see www.cir-inc.com.
