USA Fiber Optic Cable Outside Plant (OSP) Ducts Market Forecast

This report provides a comprehensive market forecast of the North America regional consumption of selected products, which are used in outside plant fiber optic installation apparatus (FOIA). Profiles of selected vendors of products for fiber optic installation apparatus are also provided, as well as estimates of the 2017 market share for leading vendors.

The 2017-2027 market forecast data presented in this study report are segmented into the following geographic sections, plus a (total) North America summary:

• The North American Region


• United States of America (USA)


• Rest of North America (Canada and Mexico - Combined)

The forecast for each product-level is presented by function:

• Consumption Value ($, Million)


• Number of Units (Quantity in 1,000)


• Average Selling Prices ($, each)

Also, the fiber optic installation apparatus products market forecast data are built up from specific application, as shown below, as well as from selected product-type segments.

• Telecommunications/Multimedia


• Private Data Networks


• Cable TV/Multimedia

Product Category List Service providers that provide landline telephony are considered in the Telecommunications category, even if they also provide Internet, Cable TV, as well as mobile/cell phone service; service providers that offer mobile/cell phone service (only) are considered in the Telecommunications application category. Service providers that provide Cable TV and/or Internet and (plus) mobile/cell phone service are considered in the Cable TV/Multimedia application category. Companies that provide Internet (only) are considered in the Cable TV/Multimedia category.

Outside Plant - Forecast Data Base Structure
Fiber Optic Installation Apparatus - Product Category List

• Outside Plant


• Cable Splice Closure


• Aerial Mount


• < 12 Fibers


• 12-< 96 Fibers


• >96-216 Fibers


• >216 Fibers


• Pole/Wall/Pedestal Mount


• < 12 Fibers


• 12-< 96 Fibers


• >96-216 Fibers


• >216 Fibers


• Tunnel/Duct & Direct Buried


• < 12 Fibers


• 12-< 96 Fibers


• >96-216 Fibers


• >216 Fibers


• Cable & Fiber Management


• Above Ground


• 4 Ports or Less


• >4 Ports


• Below Grade


• 4 or Ports or Less


• >4 Ports

Information Base for the Market Forecast

Market analysis and forecasting are complex tasks. Any predictions of the shape and trends of technology and economic movement start from the notion that the germ of what will be important tomorrow is present, although smaller or larger or in a different form, in our environment today. However, taking as a basis for a prediction the assumptions of current, conventional belief creates a set of preconceived notions that can lead to serious mistakes. The author, instead, looks to the basic driving forces.

The future market for this particular type of fiber optic product category depends on a number of factors, including:

• User equipment demand


• The continuing trend of regarding increasing performance/cost ratio, driving an economics based expansion


• Current and future use of other competing technologies, based on economic advantage and technology advancement


• Possible displacement of these technologies by other solutions


• Shifts in the types and technologies of products deployed and in their end applications


• Trends in world economies, regional economies and government policies

The analysts perform interviews with selected authoritative and representative individuals involved with fiber optic installation apparatus component and device (product) development and marketing/sales, from the standpoint of both suppliers and users of pertinent products.

The interviews are conducted principally with:

• Engineers, marketing personnel and management at manufacturers of the pertinent types of products.


• Design group leaders, engineers, marketing personnel and market planners at major users and potential users of the applicable products.


• Other industry experts, including those focused on standards activities, trade associations, and investments.

The interviews cover issues of technology, R&D support, pricing, contract size, reliability, documentation, installation/maintenance crafts, standards, supplier competition and other topics.

Selected customers (contractor/installers, telecommunication operators, distributors, similar) are interviewed, to obtain their estimates of quantities received and average prices paid, as a crosscheck of vendor estimates.

Estimates from the selected customer contacts of historical and expected near term future growth of their application are obtained. Their views of use of new technology products are researched.

A review of published information was also performed to supplement information obtained through interviews.

The following sources are reviewed:

• Professional technical journals and papers


• Trade press articles


• Technical conference proceedings


• Product literature


• Company profile and financial information


• Additional information based on previous market studies


• Personal knowledge of the research team.

In analyzing the complexities of the marketplace for the selected products, it is essential that the market research team have a good and a deep understanding of the technology and of the industry. The members who participate in this study are qualified.

Bottom-up Methodology: The author forecasts, as illustrated in the forecast data base structure, are estimated initially at the lowest detail level, then summed to successively higher levels. The background market research focuses on the amount of each type of product used in each application in the base year (2017), and the prices paid at the first transaction from the manufacturer. This forms the base year data. The analysts then forecast the growth rates in component quantity use in each application, along with estimated price trends, based on competitive, economic and technology forecast trends, and apply these to derive long term forecasts at the lowest application levels. The usage growth rate forecasts depend heavily on analysis of overall end user trends toward digital broadband communication equipment usage and economic payback.

Cross-Correlation Increases Accuracy The quantities of fiber optic splitters, splices, optical fiber/cable, connectors, and other products used in this particular application is interrelated. Since the author conducts annual market research studies, current quantity estimates in each application are part of the corporate database. These quantities are cross-correlated as a “sanity check.”

Each year since 1985, the author has conducted market research studies, as part of the consultant service offering and have updated the estimates and forecasts of each fiber optic component category. As technology and applications have advanced, the number of component subsets covered by the forecasts has expanded impressively.

The calculation and analysis data spreadsheet technique is based upon input/output analysis, leveraging the quantitative consumption quantity, price and value of each item in each application at all levels to achieve quantitative conclusions; this interactive analysis concept, first applied on a major scale by Leonteff, of the US Department of Commerce, in the mid 1950s, was then adopted successfully by analyst/forecasting firms Quantum Science, Gnostic Concepts and (in 1981).