- 25 March 2006 -

Market News Summary: FTTH goes from strength to strength, flux making comes to Milton Keynes

Asian markets continue to see good growth

In new research from The Diffusion Group it is predicted that the number of Asian FTTH users will grow eightfold in the next five years, from 5 m in 2005 to more than 40 m in 2010. According to "The FTTH Market in Asia: Analysis & Forecasts", by 2010 FTTH will account for more than 25% of all Asian residential broadband subscriptions. Meanwhile, As of year-end 2005, the total number of Japanese broadband FTTH subscribers exceeded 4.6 m, with a 2.3 m annual increase in 2005, according to Japan's Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications. New Japanese broadband FTTH subscribers have exceeded those for new DSL subscribers since the first quarter of 2005. New FTTH subscribers first exceeded those for cable subscribers in June 2005.

Web: http://www.thediffusiongroup.com

Passave delivers one-millionth FTTH ONU chip to Mitsubishi

Passave has delivered its one millionth FTTH ONU device to Mitsubishi Electric for use in Japan's gigabit/second FTTH broadband access network market. Mitsubishi has been supplying customer premise equipment (CPE) using Passave semiconductor devices to carriers in Japan since 2004. The FTTH broadband access network in Japan is the world's largest, with new FTTH subscribers exceeding new DSL subscribers since the first quarter of 2005.

Web: http://www.passave.com

Largest FTTP PON system installed in Northern Europe

Wave7 Optics Inc., and Sydfyns Elforsyning (SEF), a major utility company based in Svendborg, Denmark, announced a major FTTP PON network that is currently the largest such system installed in Northern Europe. The two companies announced further that 1200 residential customers have been connected to the network and are now enjoying a full suite of 'triple play' voice, RF video and data services. SEF expects to have more than 5000 customers 'on net' by the end of this year. Eltel Networks is managing the project as the equipment installer and integrator. Wave7 Optics Inc., also announced at the TelecomNEXT conference and exhibition a new 7000-home FTTP network with CableOne in Rio Rancho (Albuquerque), NM. CableOne, one of the Top 10 MSOs in the U.S. and a unit of The Washington Post Company, will deploy Wave7's Last Mile Link System in the new "Mariposa" residential development. The companies are in the process of connecting the first 1000 homes and will connect the remainder depending on the pace of construction and other factors.

Web: http://www.wave7optics.com

Flux manufacture comes to Milton Keynes

Indium Corporation says it has begun manufacturing wave solder fluxes in its European facility, in Milton Keynes, UK, augmenting its existing production facility in North America and will improve customer service to the European consumer. The company recently celebrated its 72nd Anniversary - founded in Utica, NY, USA, from a start-up business in a garage, Dr. William S. Murray (President), J. Robert Dyer, Jr. (Vice President) and Daniel Gray (Research), revolutionized the solder and indium chemical worlds.

Web: http://www.indium.com