There is an area where Ethernet hasn't yet hit its full stride, and that area is mobile backhaul, according to a recent report by Infonetics Research.

Last time, I relayed the results of another Infonetics report, one that quantified the growth in metropolitan-area Ethernet.

This report focuses on mobile backhaul equipment, the gear that takes all the transmissions from wireless mobile devices and transports them over cabling. Mobile operators and other providers purchased $3.7 billion in mobile backhaul equipment last year.

From 2009 to 2011, Infonetics says the companies will grow their spending at double-digit rates. The IP and Ethernet portion of the market will experience a triple-digit, five-year compound annual growth rate from 2007 to 2011, the research firm says. The cell-site backhaul connections that are driving the growth will quadruple worldwide during that same time period.

The findings are not too surprising, given the rapid growth of mobile technologies - Infonetics says there will be 4.4 billion mobile subscribers worldwide in 2011 - and the acceptance of Ethernet in so many other areas of networking.

Infonetics identified three primary factors that are forcing providers to migrate to Ethernet in mobile backhaul. First, other technologies are likely to cost up to 40 times as much in service charges in 2011. Second, while many carriers are looking to keep 2G and 3G voice on current TDM technology, packet technology makes sense for data services. And third, T-Mobile, Swisscom Mobile, and Telecom Italia have already signed contracts for Ethernet backhaul, and more contracts are expected.

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