SAN MATEO, Calif., Oct. 19 -- Global consumption of semiconductor optical amplifiers (SOAs) will expand from $48 million in 2000 to $260 million by 2005, according to ElectroniCast. The technology forecasting firm said these devices' primary near-term use will be as optical switch elements in telecommunication photonic switches for optical cross-connects, and in wavelength division multiplex links and other digital fiber-optic transmission applications. Total telecommunication SOA consumption will reach 47 percent, or $122 million, by 2005, it also said. According to ElectroniCast, laboratory field test and built-in instrumentation will also be a major SOA user, with 38 percent value share in 2000, declining to a 24 percent share, or $62.4 million, by 2005. "Optical line amplifiers will lead long-term use of SOAs in the 2005 to 2010 period with a 54 percent value share in 2000, receding to 46 percent, or $118 million, by 2005," the company predicts.
"The North American consumption of semiconductor optical amplifiers will rise from $31.3 million in 2000 to $147.1 million in 2005, and the leading application for these SOAs by 2010 will be within photonic switch matrices," it reports. "This use will be almost matched by amplifiers for local access WDM networks, laboratory instrumentation and military/aerospace data links. The Japan/Pacific Rim consumption share will reach 9 percent or $24 million by 2005. A major portion of North American consumption will consist of SOAs imported from Europe."