Summary-level research findings of our study of the worldwide consumption value (US$, Million) of selected copper/fiber optic media converters used in communications applications.

For the purposes of this study, The media converter as a device that changes from one type of media to another. Specifically, we classify this product as a hardware device that connects different communication transmission media; for example, from copper to/from optical fiber or from copper to/from multimode optical fiber to/from singlemode optical fiber. The global media converter market is segmented into major product categories, as shown in Figure 1.

Media converter types range from small standalone devices and PC card converters to high port-density rack-mount products. Media converters can connect different Local area Network (LAN) media, modifying duplex and speed settings. Switching media converters can connect existing/installed 10Base-T network segments to more recent 100Base-TX or 100Base-FX Fast Ethernet infrastructure. For example, existing Half-Duplex hubs can be connected to 100Base-TX Fast Ethernet network segments over 100Base-FX fiber.

When expanding the reach of the LAN to span multiple locations, media converters are useful in connecting multiple LANs to form one large “campus area network” that spans over a limited geographic area. As premises networks are primarily copper-based, media converters can extend the reach of the LAN over singlemode fiber.