In particular, distributed, virtualised architectures are set to transform cable broadband networks.
“Global cable operators are investing heavily in distributed access architectures to make their networks more efficient, offer premium bandwidth, and stay ahead of fiber-based competitors,” said Jeff Heynen, research director at Dell’Oro Group. “Today’s investments in DAAs will prepare cable operators for a future of 10Gbps services using a combination of extended spectrum DOCSIS, full duplex DOCSIS 3.1 and, ultimately, fibre to the home.”
The new findings come from Dell’Oro Group’s Broadband Access 5-Year Forecasts report that offers a complete overview of market trends and includes figures covering revenue, port/unit shipments, and average selling price forecasts for: Cable, DSL, PON and Dial Modem.
Additional forecasts from the report include that sales of cable broadband access equipment will increase from $1.5 billion in 2019 to $2 billion in 2023. This will be driven by spending on remote PHY (physical layer) and MACPHY devices, as well as virtual CCAP (converged cable access platform) platforms. Spending on cable equipment will grow faster than PON equipment over the same period.
It also found that XGS-PON will surpass NG-PON2 deployments throughout the same period, due to lower component and equipment costs.
Lastly, VDSL Profile 35b and Gfast will offset some—not all of the revenue loss from declining ADSL port shipments. Some major Gfast deployments are already seeing signs of shrinking, as governments lobby operators to increase their investments in fibre.
