The annual Ethernet Survey is a survey of the Ethernet network infrastructure and service markets. The survey is based on the latest research and real-life usage of Ethernet networking. The report on the North America Metro Ethernet services marketplace includes an analysis of current trends, segmentation, growth factors, and critical market sectors. Integration and advanced tools for tracking the current health and performance of local area networks (LANs) are also presented. Network diagnostics tools and utilities, real-time reporting and statistics, usage alert and more are also included in the study.
Based on an analysis of the research, the forecasted future demand for Ethernet networking is found to be quite bullish. In the coming year, there is expected to be a significant growth in sales of both new and used networking equipment and devices. The growth is predicted to be driven by high-end enterprise users who continue to adopt new technologies at a rapid rate. Major areas of focus in this Ethernet networking market include:
The growth factors identified for the North America region as part of the Ethernet services forecast include: the increasing popularity of wireless networking; the increasing prevalence of smart phones and tablets; the continued adoption of VoIP by business users; the increase in the deployment of Ethernet over Copper (EoC) networks; and the continued adoption of ultra-fast data transmission via Wi-Fi. Wireless connections are the most rapidly growing segment, with over two-thirds of all PCs and laptops in use in North America having at least one wireless adapter.
There is also a trend towards the growth of wireless phone use, with a higher than ever adoption rate. There is a notable deceleration in the growth of new PCs, possibly because of the popularity of tablet computers and the decline of the popularity of laptops. Tablet computers and laptops are generally more expensive than desktops, so the deceleration in new PC sales could result in a flattening of the PC market in North America.
Wireless and wired networks continue to expand in the North America region. As the demand for wired devices increases, more companies will need to partner with network providers to provide their customers with access to these resources. This is creating a market for bandwidth providers that can provide network access by offering virtual private network services (VPNs). An Ethernet network needs to have sufficient bandwidth to allow the delivery of voice and data traffic between providers and clients. The growth in demand for VPNs is resulting in an increasing competition among carriers to acquire and maintain a controlling interest in the lucrative North America Ethernet markets.
Segement of North America Ethernet services
Another segment of the North America Ethernet services market is the metropolitan Ethernet service market segment. The growing population in large cities in North America means that more people will require expanded and reliable infrastructures capable of handling the increased traffic. Currently there are three major players in this segment of the market: metropolitan area networks (managed services providers), metropolitan area networks with gateway devices, and stand alone PIX (public Intranet) servers. Although some of these devices are very similar in functionality, each has unique characteristics that make them desirable for particular market segments. The availability of resources on the retail web allows customers to easily compare pricing and bandwidth availability among these different options.
The third segment of North America Ethernet services is comprised of service providers that offer software-defined networking. Software-defined networking is rapidly gaining in popularity as it provides users with a flexible choice of flexible application solutions that are inherently more cost-effective than most enterprise level solutions. In addition, it provides for a highly-efficient virtualization platform that enables the easy management of data centers. Software-defined networking is rapidly expanding in North America as service providers look to partner with small and mid-sized businesses in order to satisfy growing demand for connectivity solutions. In North America, this segment is currently experiencing more growth than any other area of the market.
The fourth and final segment of the North America Ethernet services market is comprised of vendors who specialize in managed services for the home, commercial, or government clientele. Many of these companies offer equipment leasing as well as contract management solutions to meet varying demand levels. These companies are seeing increased growth in the home and commercial markets as more consumers become familiar with the benefits of Ethernet over traditional phone lines and replace landlines with Ethernet based technology. Demand for this technology is expected to continue to grow as more people realize how valuable this service can be.
As mentioned previously, this report examines the demand in the North America market in terms of revenue in 2021. It is important to note that revenue is not the only factor that affects a company's profit margin. It is also important to look at the factors that will affect the future profitability of a company. If there is an increase in demand, but if the supply exceeds the demand, then the profit margin of the company will be negatively affected. Therefore, it is important to determine the demand, the supply, and the future profitability of a company before making a decision on which provider to select.