Cisco tops network vendor list in 2011: Frost & Sullivan

Cisco gained the maximum revenue share of $44.82 billion, increasing 6 percent in the first nine months of the year 2011, says research firm Frost & Sullivan.

Chinese vendor ZTE gained the highest revenue growth of 33.4 percent, with its revenue reaching $9.17 billion, compared to $6.87 in the nine months of the year 2010.

The whole network infrastructure equipment industry grew at an average rate of 10 percent in the year 2011, in which Cisco contributed with 6 percent growth, with its revenue reaching $44.82 billion; Ericsson's revenue grew 10 percent, reaching $32.89 billion; Huawei increased 14 percent with its revenue hovering at $31.76 billion; and Nokia Siemens Networks (NSN) growing 8 percent, and generating a revenue of $18.18 billion.

The overall economy slow-down affected the worldwide telecom market, especially in US and European countries. Most network infrastructure equipment vendors, with the exception of Chinese based players, are either losing money or quitting the business,which includes not only the well known vendors like Ericsson and Huawei, but also players who have been in the market for quite a long time.

The Chinese telecom equipment industry maintained high rate of growth, with a 26.6 percent increase in export business, mainly to the emerging countries. Increasing demand for communication service supported by economic development along with major development in technology (such as 3G and 4G), has also boost the demand for telecommunication services in China.