Mobile backhaul market to top $8B by 2010

The market for mobile first-mile backhaul equipment is expected to reach $8.2 billion by 2010, according to a new report from Infonetics Research.
The company said Ethernet copper and fiber equipment are expected to lead the growth in the market. Infonetics said rapid growth in mobile subscribers, strong competition among carriers and an explosion in mobile data and video use are driving growth of the mobile backhaul market.
“2008 will be the year of adoption for IP/Ethernet backhaul, and 2009 will kick off the Ethernet mobile backhaul revolution,” said Michael Howard, principal analyst of Infonetics Research and lead analyst on the report.
“Ethernet made up just 1% of total mobile backhaul equipment revenue in 2006, but will grow to 21% of the market by 2010.”