Cignal AI

Welcome to TRANSMIT, Cignal AI’s monthly newsletter keeping you up-to-date on important news and trends in the optical industry, our latest research, and noteworthy upcoming events.

What Can You Expect at OFC 2019?

The 2019 Optical Fiber Conference (OFC) is less than three weeks away, and we're gearing up for the biggest annual show in the optical communications market.

We wrote up what we think are going to be the key trends and announcements at the show, and we wanted to share our thoughts with you. Let us know what you think!

The four-page report is free to download!

400ZR will steal the show
Roadmaps will extend beyond third generation coherent
Disaggregation will continue, under many definitions
IP-over-DWDM will start to make sense
5G is the buzzword of the day
Software is critical for optics
Vendors will embrace vertical integration
The post-consolidation era begins in 2019
400GbE optical module supply improves and becomes cheaper

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Optical Hardware Tracker Goes Interactive

Cignal AI is unique among market research firms in providing a real-time view of quarterly results in the optical hardware market. Now we're taking the next step and making the data interactive and user-friendly.

With the availability of our 4th quarter 2018 Optical Hardware Market Share Tracker, we're introducing a new, interactive format that allows you to manipulate data online and see information in a way that is most useful to your company. Cignal AI's modern data infrastructure and toolsets are unique in the industry and make it possible to offer our clients this value-added content.

We invite clients of the Optical Hardware report to check back regularly for the latest results. If you are not yet a client, contact us and we can arrange a demo.

The final 4Q18 Optical Hardware report will be published by February 28. At that time, subscribers will be able to download the traditional Excel and PDF files with complete results for the quarter.

View Real Time Data

OFC 2019 Live Presentations

Don't miss these sessions featuring Cignal AI analysts:

State of the Industry - Analyst Panel
Tuesday, March 5, 10:30 a.m.
Andrew Schmitt, Cignal AI's directing analyst, Optical Networking, will provide details about key shipment and industry trends in the coherent WDM optical market, with a focus on 400ZR and its complex supply chain. Andrew also previews which companies are poised to lead the transition to 4th and 5th generation coherent technology.

Market Projections for Wireline and Wireless Technologies to Support 5G
Tuesday, March 5, 12:30 p.m.
Scott Wilkinson, Cignal AI's lead analyst, Optical Hardware, will outline the impact of 5G on optical hardware sales, both today and in the future. He also will discuss what the industry has been saying about requirements for optical networks and the reality of what has been delivered, as well as share his predictions for the future of optical networks to support 5G.

Both analysts are also available for meetings during OFC.

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Cignal AI to Moderate March 14 Webinar on Disaggregation Strategies

Join Cignal AI's Scott Wilkinson for a free webinar on Thursday, March 14 on Disaggregation Strategies & Transport SDN, hosts by NGON & DCI World.

Scott will moderate the discussion, which will center on how to reduce the disconnect between multiple components and improve interoperability, with a focus on the blueprint for bringing enhanced disaggregation strategies and SDN toolsets together.

Optical Spending Not Increasing to Support 5G

While conventional wisdom would lead the industry to believe that metro optical network upgrades are needed in advance of the move to 5G, the reality appears to be different.

We spoke with several network operators around the world with 5G trials underway or planned, as well as five of the largest optical vendors providing 5G frontal/backhaul solutions, and discovered that network operators are instead building the radio network first and updating their optical networks only when needed.

The findings of these discussions are outlined in a two-part series we're publishing that offers a thorough analysis of the current and future state of 5G. Part one, now available, looks at optical hardware spending for 5G in North America, budget limitations, the monetization of new services, and the impact of both fixed and mobile 5G wireless. In part two, expected to be published shortly, we will share our forecasts for the future impact of 5G.

Interesting News

Nokia and M-net Conduct First Field Trial Using Nokia Photonic Service Engine 3
First field trial of new third generation coherent DSP from Nokia. Not clear if this used the actual DSP or emulation, but the company appears to be gearing up for launch later this year.

Aligning Blue Planet with the Future of Intelligent Network Automation
Ciena spins off group into an independent division. This is interesting because financial metrics will be more visible. Potential customers are supposed to see this as a more neutral supplier.

Nokia at Risk of China Ban
Nokia's optical business in China is negligible. A loss of China is more than offset by the potential gains in Europe if a security and trade war is escalated.

Upcoming Events

March 4-7, 2019
OFC
San Diego, Calif.

April 10-12, 2019
Ciena Partner Summit
Los Angeles

April 15-19, 2019
Client Visits
China

May 20-23, 2019
NGON
Nice, France

June 10-13, 2019
Cisco Live
San Diego, Calif.

July 30-31, 2019
OIF Meeting
Montreal, Canada

Reports

Optical Hardware
Analyzes market share and size for entire optical equipment market according to hardware-based features and capabilities. Includes 10/40/100G+ client and line port shipment numbers.

Optical Applications
Examines market share and size for portions of optical market addressing specific functions or customer applications, including compact modular and Packet-OTN switching equipment. Details market size and share for the 100G+ coherent and non-coherent market across multiple technologies and reaches.

Optical Customer Markets
Tracks the size of optical equipment market by six end customer types, including incumbents, cloud and colo, and wholesale. Includes vendor market share of the cloud and colo customer segment.

Active Insight
Reporting and analysis on notable events is included with any active report subscription.

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