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Free-Space Optics (FSO) The Worldwide Industry & Market Opportunities with Forecasts to 2012

Engalco
May 4, 2006
94 Pages - SKU: CFFQ1282645

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Countries covered: Global

This is Engalco's first market report to be released on FSO and our second analysis of the industry structure since 2002. The report comprises 66 pages of main text and charts together with two appendices and an Excel file of the associated data tables.

The principal features of this report are the market estimates and forecasts—as well as a unique analysis of the industry at this time together with a comparison with the situation as it was in 2002/2003. This report includes a substantial critique surrounding the exit of LightPointe on May 17, 2006.

The purpose of this report is to provide an update on the industry together with detailed market data for major world regions. In addition, this report provides information on the dynamics of the supply industry including changes in the players plus some important case studies.

"Last-mile Links", whether cabled or wireless-connected, form the vital connections between your organization and the outside world. And today highly broadband last-mile connections are absolutely essential. In cable form these links will comprise optical fibers but this is often a very expensive solution and wireless links using microwave radio or free-space optical (FSO) technology provide much more flexibility at a fraction of the installation cost. This approach is sometimes termed "Optical Wireless".

Companies and other organizations need large bandwidths in order to effectively communicate and compete in today's fast-moving business environment. Large bandwidths generally imply bit rates ranging from a relatively modest 2 Mb/s (D1, E1) right up to and even beyond 2.5 Gb/s (2,500 Mb/s). This is necessary for a variety of reasons, for example:

Where several staff need fast, always-on Internet access at all times;
When videoconferencing facilities are desired (increasingly);
Where the ability to frequently dump large files into remote storage is vital;
Where high-speed inter-site communications over the organization's intranet are required, etc. etc.

In an ideal world every commercial building, also every home, "should" be equipped with single-mode (monomode) fiber optic access-available for all incumbents. This would provide the ultimate in bandwidth but FSO links generally require a far lower CAPEX than fiber optics-on top of which they provide for much more flexible operation and the customers can take their FSO links with them when relocating.

FSO was originally conceived more than three decades ago and, initially, it was used by the military and space aviation pioneers to provide secure and rapidly deployable communications links. Recent developments in FSO technology have taken it to mainstream communications applications that include last-mile links for wireless backhaul (and as short-term solutions in disaster scenarios). The technology also provides an attractive and viable alternative for service providers to deliver the promise of all-optical networks. As an optical technology, FSO is a natural extension of the metro optical network core, bringing optical capacity to the network edge (i.e. the customer) in a cost-effective, reliable and speedy manner.

Unlike radio-based systems, the technology requires no spectrum licenses. It is easily upgradeable, and its open interfaces support equipment from a variety of vendors which assists carriers towards protection of their infrastructure investment.

The specific advantages of FSO, compared with fiber cabling, are:

Rapid deployment;
Low network maintenance, management and operating costs, and;
Relatively low installation costs.

You need your copy of this report so that you can plan in detail your strategies for addressing these substantially changing market scenarios and appropriate product technologies.

Table of Contents: List of Figures; List of Tables; Scope of this Report; Methodology and Sources of Information
Section 1 Executive Overview: Section 1.1 Some FSO Basics; Section 1.2 A Brief Historical Overview; Section 1.3 A Selection of Technical Challenges; Section 1.4 Laser Wavelengths
Section 2 Some Product Specifications: Section 2.1 Understanding Specification Data; Section 2.2 Examples of Some OEM Products
Section 3 Industry Structure and Dynamics: Section 3.1 The Players; Section 3.2 Rationale for the Departures of Two of the 2002-2003 OEMs and LightPointe in May 2006; Section 3.3 A Selection of Recent Installations; Section 3.4 Speculated Industry Trends-2006 Onwards
Section 4 Profiles of Players: Section 4.1 AOptics Technologies; Section 4.2 Cablefree Solutions; Section 4.3 Canon U.S.A.; Section 4.4 Communications by Light (CBL); Section 4.5 Celletra; Section 4.6 Celerica (iRLan); Section 4.7 Dominion Lasercom; Section 4.8 fSONA; Section 4.9 Infrared Technologies America (ITA); Section 4.10 LaserBit; Section 4.11 LSA; Section 4.12 Mostcom; Section 4.13 MRV Communications; Section 4.14 Omnilux; Section 4.15 PAV Data Systems; Section 4.16 Plaintree Systems; Section 4.17 Silcom Technology; Section 4.18 Sunflower Technologies; Section 4.19 Terabeam
Section 5 Market Forecasts-Summaries and Critiques of TAMs: Section 5.1 Overall Grand Total Markets; Section 5.2 Overall Commercial Markets; Section 5.3 Overall Military Markets; Section 5.4 Commercial Markets in the Developed Economies; Section 5.5 Commercial Markets in the Developing Economies; Section 5.6 Developed Economies in More Detail (Commercial Markets); Section 5.7 Developing Economies in More Detail (Commercial Markets); Section 5.8 Developed Economies Segmented by Bandwidth Regimes (Commercial Markets); Section 5.9 Developing Economies Segmented by Bandwidth Regimes (Commercial Markets); Section 5.10 Military Markets in the Developed Economies; Section 5.11 Military Markets in the Developing Economies; Section 5.12 Developed Economies in More Detail (Military Markets); Section 5.13 Developing Economies in More Detail (Military Markets); Section 5.14 Developed Economies Segmented by Bandwidth Regimes (Military Markets); Section 5.15 Developing Economies Segmented by Bandwidth Regimes (Military Markets)
Section 6 Average Selling Prices (ASPs) and Selected Shipments Forecasts: Section 6.1 ASPs by Bandwidth Regime; Section 6.2 Commercial Shipments in the Developed Economies; Section 6.3 Commercial Shipments in the Developing Economies; Section 6.4 Military Shipments in the Developed Economies; Section 6.5 Military Shipments in the Developing Economies
Appendix A Company Directory (OEMs)
Appendix B Acronyms
List of Figures
Figure 1.1 Schematic Overview of an FSO Link
Figure 1.2 Schematic Block of the FSO Transceiver
Figure 5.1 Overall Grand Total TAMs ($M) Forecasts 2005 - 2012
Figure 5.2 Worldwide Overall TAM ($M) Commercial Forecasts 2005 - 2012
Figure 5.3 Overall Worldwide Military TAMs ($M) Forecasts 2005-2012
Figure 5.4 Developed Economies TAM ($M) Commercial Forecasts 2005 - 2012
Figure 5.5 Developing Economies TAM ($M) Commercial Forecasts 2005 - 2012
Figure 5.6 Global Economies TAM ($M) Commercial Forecasts 2005 - 2012
Figure 5.7 Developed Countries TAM ($M) Commercial Forecasts 2005 - 2012
Figure 5.8 Forecast Commercial TAM ($M) for Europe 2005 - 2012
Figure 5.9 Forecast Commercial TAM ($M) for North America 2005 - 2012
Figure 5.10 Forecast Commercial TAM ($M) for Other Developed Economies 2005 - 2012
Figure 5.11 Developing Countries Commercial TAM ($M) Forecasts 2005 - 2012
Figure 5.12 Forecast Commercial TAM ($M) for Africa 2005 - 2012
Figure 5.13 Forecast Commercial TAM ($M) for China 2005 - 2012
Figure 5.14 Forecast Commercial TAM ($M) for Middle East 2005 - 2012
Figure 5.15 Forecast Commercial TAM ($M) for "Other" Developing Economies 2005 - 2012
Figure 5.16 Forecast Commercial Segmentations by Bandwidths - Developed Economies 2005 - 2012
Figure 5.17 Forecast Commercial Segmentations by Bandwidths - Europe 2005 - 2012
Figure 5.18 Forecast Commercial Segmentations by Bandwidths - North America 2005 - 2012
Figure 5.19 Forecast Commercial Segmentations by Bandwidths - Other Developed Economies 2005 - 2012
Figure 5.20 Forecast Commercial Segmentations by Bandwidths - Africa 2005 - 2012
Figure 5.21 Forecast Commercial Segmentations by Bandwidths - China 2005 - 2012
Figure 5.22 Forecast Commercial Segmentations by Bandwidths - Middle East 2005 - 2012
Figure 5.23 Forecast Commercial Segmentations by Bandwidths - Other Developing Countries 2005 - 2012
Figure 5.24 FSO Forecast TAM ($M) for Military Applications in Developed Economies 2005-2012
Figure 5.25 FSO Forecast TAM ($M) for Military Applications in Developing Economies 2005-2012
Figure 5.26 FSO TAM ($M) for Military Applications in Developed & Developing Economies 2005-2012
Figure 5.27 FSO TAM ($M) Forecasts for Military Applications in Europe, N. America & Other Developed Economies 2005-2012
Figure 5.28 FSO TAM ($M) Forecasts for Military Applications in Africa, China, Middle East & Other Developing Economies 2005-2012
Figure 5.29 % Military Market Segmentations by Rx/Tx Transmission Bandwidth Standards Developed Economies
Figure 5.30 Military TAM ($M) Segmentations by Rx/Tx Transmission Bandwidth Standards Europe 2005-2012
Figure 5.31 Military TAM ($M) Segmentations by Rx/Tx Transmission Bandwidth Standards North America 2005-2012
Figure 5.32 Military TAM ($M) Segmentations by Rx/Tx Transmission Bandwidth Standards for Other Developed Economies 2005-2012
Figure 5.33 % Military Market Segmentations by Rx/Tx Transmission Bandwidth Standards Developing Economies
Figure 5.34 Military TAM ($M) Segmentations by Rx/Tx Transmission Bandwidth Standards for Africa 2005-2012
Figure 5.35 Military TAM ($M) Segmentations by Rx/Tx Transmission Bandwidth Standards for China 2005-2012
Figure 5.36 Military TAM ($M) Segmentations by Rx/Tx Transmission Bandwidth Standards for the Middle East 2005-2012
Figure 5.37 Military TAM ($M) Segmentations by Rx/Tx Transmission Bandwidth Standards for Other Developing Economies 2005-2012
Figure 6.1 ASPs for Different Ranges of Bandwidth Product 2005 - 2012
Figure 6.2 Commercial Shipments to Developed Economies 2005 - 2012
Figure 6.3 Commercial Shipments to Developing Economies 2005 - 2012 (Lower Bandwidth Products)
Figure 6.4 Commercial Shipments into Developing Economies 2005 - 2012 (Higher Bandwidth Products)
Figure 6.5 Shipments into Military Applications in Developed Economies 2005 - 2012
Figure 6.6 Military Shipments to Developed Economies 2005
Figure 6.7 Military Shipments to Developed Economies 2012
Figure 6.8 Shipments into Military Applications in Developing Economies 2005 - 2012
Figure 6.9 Military Shipments to Developing Countries 2005
Figure 6.10 Military Shipments to Developing Countries 2012
List of Tables
Table 3-1 Players in the Business 2002-2003 and 2006 Compared
Table 3-2 Quantitative (Geographic by HQ) Changes in the Numbers of FSO OEMs
Table 3-3 Departures and Arrivals Since 2003
Table 3-4 Summary Data on fSONA Products
Table 3-5 ROI Comparison for FSO, Fiber-Optics and Radio Networks
Table 5-1 Overall Grand Total TAM ($M) Forecasts 2005 - 2012
Table 5-2 Worldwide Overall TAM ($M) Commercial Forecasts 2005 - 2012
Table 5-3 Overall Worldwide Military TAM ($M) Forecasts 2005 - 2012
Table 5-4 Developed Economies TAM ($M) Commercial Forecasts 2005 - 2012
Table 5-5 Developing Economies TAM ($M) Commercial Forecasts 2005 - 2012
Table 5-6 Global Economies TAM ($M) Commercial Forecasts 2005 - 2012
Table 5-7 Developed Countries TAM ($M) Commercial Forecasts 2005 - 2012
Table 5-8 Forecast Commercial TAM ($M) for Europe 2005 - 2012
Table 5-9 Forecast Commercial TAM ($M) for North America 2005 - 2012
Table 5-10 Forecast Commercial TAM ($M) for Other Developed Economies 2005 - 2012
Table 5-11 Developing Countries Commercial TAM ($M) Forecasts 2005 - 2012
Table 5-12 Forecast Commercial TAM ($M) for Africa 2005 - 2012
Table 5-13 Forecast Commercial TAM ($M) for China 2005 - 2012
Table 5-14 Forecast Commercial TAM ($M) for the Middle East 2005 - 2012
Table 5-15 Forecast Commercial TAM ($M) for other Developing Economies 2005 - 2012
Table 5-16 Forecast Commercial Segmentations (TAM $M) by Bandwidths-Developed Economies 2005 - 2012
Table 5-17 Forecast Commercial Segmentations (TAM $M) by Bandwidths-Europe 2005 - 2012
Table 5-18 Forecast Commercial Segmentations (TAM $M) by Bandwidths-North America 2005 - 2012
Table 5-19 Forecast Commercial Segmentations (TAM $M) by Bandwidths-other Developed Economies 2005 - 2012
Table 5-20 Forecast Commercial Segmentations by Bandwidths - Africa 2005 - 2012
Table 5-21 Forecast Commercial Segmentations by Bandwidths - China 2005 - 2012
Table 5-22 Forecast Commercial Segmentations by Bandwidths - Middle East 2005 - 2012
Table 5-23 Forecast Commercial Segmentations by Bandwidths -Other Developing Economies 2005 - 2012
Table 5-24 FSO Forecast TAM ($M) for Military Applications-in Developed Economies 2005 - 2012
Table 5-25 FSO Forecast TAM ($M) for Military Applications-in Developing Economies 2005 - 2012
Table 5-26 FSO TAM ($M) for Military Applications- in Developed & Developing Economies 2005 - 2012
Table 5-27 FSO TAM ($M) Forecasts for Military Applications - in Europe, N. America & Other Developed Economies 2005 - 2012
Table 5-28 FSO TAM ($M) Forecasts for Military Applications in Africa, China, Middle East & Other Developing Economies 2005 - 2012
Table 5-29 % Military Market Segmentations by Rx/Tx Transmission Bandwidth Standards - Developed Economies
Table 5-30 Military TAM ($M) Segmentations by Rx/Tx Transmission Bandwidth Standards - Europe 2005 - 2012
Table 5-31 Military TAM ($M) Segmentations by Rx/Tx Transmission Bandwidth Standards - North America 2005 - 2012
Table 5-32 Military TAM ($M) Segmentations by Rx/Tx Transmission Bandwidth Standards - in Other Developed Economies 2005 - 2012
Table 5-33 % Military Market Segmentations by Rx/Tx Transmission Bandwidth Standards - Developing Economies 2005 -2012
Table 5-34 Military TAM ($M) Segmentations by Rx/Tx Transmission Bandwidth Standards - for Africa 2005 -2012
Table 5-35 Military TAM ($M) Segmentations by Rx/Tx Transmission Bandwidth Standards - for China 2005 - 2012
Table 5-36 Military TAM ($M) Segmentations by Rx/Tx Transmission Bandwidth Standards - for the Middle East 2005 - 2012
Table 5-37 Military TAM ($M) Segmentations by Rx/Tx Transmission Bandwidth Standards - for Other Developing Economies 2005 - 2012
Table 6-1 ASPs for Different Ranges of Bandwidth Product 2005 - 2012 Table 6-2 Commercial Shipments to Developed Economies 2005 - 2012 (rounded to nearest 100)
Table 6-3 Commercial Shipments to Developing Economies 2005 - 2012 Lower Bandwidth Products)
Table 6-4 Commercial Shipments to Developing Economies 2005 - 2012 (Higher Bandwidth Products)
Table 6-5 Shipments into Military Applications in Developed Economies 2005 - 2012 (rounded to nearest 100)
Table 6-6 Shipments into Military Applications in Developing Economies 2005 - 2012 (rounded to nearest 100)

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