Preliminary results for the FTTx, DSL and CMTS markets show a mix of growth and declines in 2Q12 as multiple transitions in fixed access technologies and products continued, according to telecoms analyst Ovum.

 

In a new report Ovum says that PON ONT and ONU units and VDSL2 port shipments grew strongly while other segments lagged.

 

The transition stages vary greatly from country to country, but at a global aggregate level, they include a shift from DSL to FTTH/FTTB networks and a deceleration of OLT shipments as the focus swings to customer acquisition and ONT/ONU sales. In 2Q12 overall DSL shipments were down, but VDSL2 volumes recovered strongly to a record 6.3 million. In North America, the proportion of VDSL2 was 57 percent of all DSL shipments, in EMEA 43 percent.

 

Within FTTH/FTTB PON networks, shipments of global PON customer premise equipment (ONTs and ONUs) rose strongly as a long wave of OLT installations at the central office has begun to lose steam. Asia-Pacific and China in particular led sales of PON ONTs and ONUs. We noticed the first year-over-year decline in global PON OLT port shipments in more than three years.

 

The table below shows vendor rankings in each market segment. These rankings are for shipment volumes only.

 

1

2

3

FTTH/FTTB PON OLT ports

ZTE

Huawei

Fiberhome

FTTH/FTTB PON ONT/ONU units

Huawei

ZTE

Alcatel-Lucent

DSL ports

Huawei

ZTE

Alcatel-Lucent

CMTS ports

Cisco

Arris

Motorola

 

 

However, leadership in shipment volumes is not always translating into leadership in revenues or profits. Ovum revenue market share results and rankings will be available in a week, and the results differ from those of shipment volumes.

 

Kamalini Ganguly, Analyst, Network Infrastructure Practice comments: “The division that has opened up recently between PON volume and revenue trends continued in 2Q12 due to price wars, particularly in China, and will have an impact on vendor results and strategy.

 

“The conversation in fixed access tends to be around shipment volumes, but the focus should really be on revenues and profits. The PON price wars in China and elsewhere are not sustainable. Revenues are not keeping pace with growth in volumes. Vendors – even Huawei – are being pickier about projects and markets. If price pressures continue, there may be more vendor consolidation like that of Calix’s acquisition of Ericsson’s PON portfolio.”

 

CMTS vendors saw volumes drop quarter-on-quarter in 2Q12, but such softness is not unusual at this time of the year. Shipments are still high and were up 10 percent from the year-ago level.

 

“CMTS annualized shipments in North America and EMEA are at their peak,” concludes Ganguly.