SAN JOSE, Calif., Feb. 26 -- Worldwide revenues for intelligent optical network hardware hit $5.37 billion in 2000 and are expected to reach $8.52 billion in 2001, says a report from Infonetics Research. "We're at the beginning of a period of remarkable growth in the intelligent optical network hardware market," said Infonetics Research principal analyst and co-founder, Michael Howard. "Our numbers support this reality: Intelligent long-haul equipment revenues alone totaled $2.78 billion in 2000 and we forecast them to reach $4.25 billion in 2001." The report examines the five segments of the intelligent optical network hardware market: Last mile access (data-aware SONET/SDH, Ethernet, PON, and DWDM CPE); metro edge equipment; metro core and regional equipment; long haul (cross connects and transport equipment); and submarine. For more information on the report "Intelligent Optical Network Hardware" contact Larry Howard, larry@infonetics.com, or Paul Ruggeri, paul@infonetics.com.