According to Infonetics’ IP/Ethernet in Mobile Backhaul Networks: Global Service Provider Survey, mobile backhaul equipment spending increased 21 percent in 2009 to $7.2 billion worldwide. But the market is not going to rest on its laurels. By 2014, Infonetics forecasts that the mobile backhaul market will grow to $10.4 billion.

The mobile backhaul market continues to be dominated by two major segments: microwave radio and wireline-based Ethernet gear (routers and gateways).

On the microwave side, the dominant vendor continues to be Ericsson with 20 percent revenue share in 2009. The microwave segment, which consisted of both TDM-based and Ethernet or dual Ethernet/TDM-based equipment, was 81 percent of 2009′s mobile backhaul equipment sales, while dual and pure Ethernet microwave equipment is rising. No less compelling was the Ethernet-based routing sector, where revenue rose 136 percent in 2009.