Boom Seen for Optoelectronic ASICs

SAN MATEO, Calif., Aug. 6 -- Optoelectronic application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs) are poised for a boom, according to a report from ElectroniCast. The market research firms predicts that global consumption of optoelectronic ASICs will climb at an average rate of over 44 percent per year, from $1.32 billion in 2000 to $8.3 billion in 2005. Amplifier and driver ASICs will continue as volume leaders, with a combined value share of 71 percent in 2000, but declining to 46 percent by 2000. The fastest growth will be by more complex devices, such as integrated multifunction ASICs, expanding to a 14 percent share by 2005.

The combined silicon/silicon-germanium share of optoelectronic ASIC value will drop from 86 percent to 68 percent over the 2000-2005 span, with SiGe taking the lead. GaAs plus InP ASICs will move up to more than double their year 2000 market share.

"This explosive growth will be driven by a very rapid expansion of transmitter/receiver and transponder quantities in metro/access and intra-equipment links. Plus a significant shift to higher priced ASICs for 10 and 40 Gb/s and to highly complex ASICs such as multichannel/multifunction in up to 256x256 parallel links," ElectroniCast Founder and Chairman Jeff Montgomery said.