Research firm Dell ‘Oro Group put out a report this week on the Worldwide Shared Hub, Ethernet & LAN Switch market. The report shows the damage that the current economy has done to the switch market.
For 2009, Dell ‘Oro is forecasting global Ethernet switch revenues of $15.8 billion which is a 19 percent decline over the $19.5 billion reported for 2008.
Moving forward the forecast is for 1 percent growth in 2009 for market revenues of $16.0 billion. By 2013 the current forecast model has global Ethernet & LAN Switch market at $18.3 billion.
To my naked eye that means over the next five years, the Ethernet switch market will not recover to 2008 levels of revenue. Frankly, I find that shocking.
I queried Dell’Oro about the report (they graciously sent me the numbers but didn’t have time to answer my questions). I also tried to get the opinions of the major switch vendors, but they were also quiet.
