Cable plant spending to grow steadily, Open RAN stabilising | Computer Weekly

"Two studies from analyst Dell'Oro Group have provided cause for confidence in the prospects for the wired and wireless communications equipment markets, predicting that cable outside plant equipment revenues are expected to increase 86% by the end 2025, while the long-heralded open radio access network (Open RAN) sector is beginning to show signs of stabilisation, with preliminary data indicating that Open RAN revenues grew year-on-year in the second quarter."

""Tier one cable operators, particularly in the North American market, are in the beginning stages of a multi-year investment cycle to boost broadband speeds, while also dramatically improving the intelligence and automation capabilities of their outside plant," said Jeff Heynen, vice-president of broadband access and home networking market research at Dell'Oro Group. "These upgrades will result in a significant increase in spending on optical nodes, amplifiers and passive equipment, including taps and hardline splitters, through 2029.""

"Global cable outside plant equipment revenues are projected to peak in 2027, when the largest number of tier one operators in North America are expected to be in the middle of their amplifier, node and passives upgrades for Docsis 4.0. Indeed, the North American market is forecast to remain the largest region for cable outside plant equipment revenue, as operators in other regions either continue with Docsis 3.1 or increasingly overbuild with fibre. Generic access platform (GAP) nodes are expected to ramp up in the North American market in 2025 and 2026."

Cable outside plant equipment revenues are expected to increase 86% by the end of 2025, driven by a surge in 1.8 GHz amplifiers and DAA nodes supporting remote PHY deployments. Full duplex 1.2 GHz amplifiers will begin shipping with significant volumes anticipated in 2026. Global revenues are projected to peak in 2027 as North American tier-one operators undertake amplifier, node, and passive upgrades for DOCSIS 4.0. The North American market will remain the largest while other regions stick with DOCSIS 3.1 or overbuild with fiber. GAP nodes are set to ramp in 2025–2026. Open RAN shows early stabilisation with preliminary year-on-year revenue growth in Q2.

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