Optical broadband gear could see 2011 expansion

Investment into broadband and networking fibre optic equipment could be set to rise in 2011, as the overall figure for the previous year disguises a substantial fourth-quarter rise in spending.

According to Infonetics Research, the full-year figure for 2010 stood at an 11 per cent decline in spending on optical network hardware across Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA).

But a "spending flurry" towards the end of the year drove a reversal in fortunes that prevented the continuing economic turbulence in some areas from having a more severe effect on the headline statistic.

Andrew Schmitt, directing analyst for optical at Infonetics Research, says: "We forecast an overall gain of about seven per cent in EMEA in 2011, as a result of spending recovery in Western Europe [and other factors]."

Mr Schmitt spent almost two decades working in the telecoms industry before joining Infonetics Research, with 14 years dealing directly with optical networking.