INTELLIGENCE FROM THE BROADBAND ECONOMY

THE PROMISE OF GIGABIT ETHERNET

Gigabit Ethernet equipment sales will skyrocket in the next four years, becoming a $44 billion worldwide industry by 2005, according to a new study by Pioneer Consulting. But it isn't just gig-E that will enjoy a renaissance. Pioneer's data shows the entire Ethernet industry will see a growth spurt, evolving from a $17.3 billion to a $145.2 billion industry in 2005. In fact, the general proportion of Ethernet vs. gig-E equipment sales will stay the same, with gig-E gaining only 3% more market share in four years. Gig-E's transition from a LAN technology to a public network technology, however, will be a boon for carriers. Pioneer estimates Ethernet service revenue for service providers will jump from a mere $217.2 million in 2001 to $14.08 billion in 2005.
— Kevin Fitchard

COUNTING THE MINUTES

The amount of time the U.S. populace spends on the phone has been on the steady rise as the population and the subsequent number of phone lines has increased in the last 18 years, according to data from the FCC. But where Americans are allocating those minutes has changed substantially. In 1981, 16% of all dial equipment minutes (two DEMs equals one conversation) came from intra- and interstate toll calls, but in 1999 that number had increased to 23%. That's not to say people stopped calling locally. Between 1996 and 1999, local DEMs jumped 41.4%, the largest surge in local calling in 20 years, owing mainly to widespread use of dial-up modems.

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