WiredInUSA June 2016

INDEX

Cabling overview

country is “expected to continue showing healthy growth in the forecast period to 2018.” Cabling products used in LANs account for approximately 80 percent of total global consumption, with data center cabling products accounting for approximately 20 percent. BSRIA’s study tracks back to 2009; in that span of time, 2015 was only the second time the data center segment contracted rather than growing, falling by slightly more than 2 percent last year. According to BSRIA, fiber optic products represent over two thirds of all cabling installed in data centers, and the uptake of fiber continues to increase. “Most of the hyperscale data centers are 90 to 100 percent fiber, and bothmediumand large data centers are seeing an increase in use of fiber,” BSRIA said. “Copper cabling continues to be installed in computer rooms and small data centers, and are more common in co-location data centers.”

In its most recent world cabling overview the market-intelligence firm BSRIA concluded that the global cabling market declined 3 percent during 2015, to $6 billion. BSRIA commented: “The strong dollar has reduced market values in 2015 in many countries, measured in US dollars, and has therefore expanded the decline to 3 percent.” Russia and Brazil are identified as faring particularlybadly last year. “Russia suffered from sanctions and contra-sanctions, and from low oil prices,” BSRIA said. “Projects were postponed and fierce competition pushed cabling specifications and prices down.” Meanwhile, in Brazil: “Some unusual large projects were completed in 2014 and early 2015, and the country is in economic and political turmoil after some years with significant growth.” The China market grew, but at a rate of 2.3 percent in US dollars: “The data center segment performed very well, but it was not enough to boost the overall increase.” The Indian market increased by over 7 percent in US dollars, and BSRIA said the

wiredInUSA - June 2016

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