Microwave equipment market to hit $5.2 bn in 2017

BANGALORE, INDIA: The global microwave equipment market totaled $1.2 billion in 4Q12, down three per cent from 3Q12, and down 12 per cent from the year-ago fourth quarter (4Q11), finds market research firm Infonetics Research.

"The microwave equipment market ended 2012 tamely," reports Richard Webb, directing analyst for microwave and carrier WiFi at Infonetics Research. "The expected year-end boost to quarterly revenues did not materialize, as price erosion and capex conservation combined to deliver a seasonally counter-trend 4th quarter dip."

Microwave equipment spending declined 10 per cent worldwide for the full year 2012. Showing evidence of the continuing shift to all-packet microwave, Ethernet-only equipment accounted for 14.2 per cent of all units shipped in 4Q12.

"We expect the market trough to hang around a little while longer before renewed growth begins in late 2013," Webb continues. "And by 2017, Infonetics forecasts the microwave equipment market to reach $5.2 billion, powered by the continuing demand for backhaul capacity at macrocell sites."

Ericsson, Huawei, and NEC held steady at the top of the microwave equipment revenue leaderboard in 4Q12, though #4 Alcatel-Lucent closed the gap on NEC significantly, pulling to within a hair's breadth. Meanwhile, Aviat Networks leapfrogged Ceragon to move into the #5 spot in 4Q12, cracking the top five for the first time. Alcatel-Lucent continues to lead the all-packet segment, accounting for half of all revenue.