SURREY, UK, Oct. 8 -- Demand for embedded optical backplanes has slowed as technology advances push data transmission rates over copper lines beyond 10 Gbps, according to a new report on electrical and optical backplanes.

Yet despite the increasing popularity of low-loss photoimageable waveguide materials, opportunities will continue to emerge for low-cost, mechanically and optically stable alternative approaches, says BPA Consulting Ltd. The firm also found that over 85% of backplanes are proprietary in design.

Sales of backplanes will grow from $1.99 billion this year to $2.11 billion in 2005 and $2.48 billion in 2009, or 9.8%, BPA forecasts.

The report identifies demand for low-loss/low-dielectric constant laminates, high-speed power connectors, advanced backplane fabrication and assembly, and high-speed (10 Gbps and above) channel design services. The report also analyzes the impact of new design standards such as the Advanced Telecommunication Computing Architecture (ATCA).

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