It hardly seems like five years have passed since Cisco rolled out the CRS-1 core router. The system was unveiled as a multiterabit, multichassis-capable routing matrix, an alternative to Juniper’s T series systems and TX interconnect. From all indications, the CRS-1 is enjoying a growing childhood. Cisco claims it has now shipped more than 3,200 units to about 300 customers, and that 250 or more of the routers are multichassis configurations, deployed at more than 25 service providers. It took three years for the platform to generate its first $1 billion in revenue, but its latest $1 billion came in just a year, according to this report from IDG News Service’s Stephen Lawson. But Cisco’s “rolling four quarter” market share declined 3% in carrier routing, while that of its competitors — Juniper, Huawei, Alcatel Lucent and Ericsson — increased, according to first quarter 2009 data from Dittberner Associates. Dittberner says these vendors are growing faster than the market while Cisco is “slipping.” Cisco, however, claims the CRS-1 specifically is gaining share and that demand for the product is strong. Globally, carrier router revenue in the first quarter was down 18% from the fourth quarter of 2008 to $3 billion, the third quarter in a row that revenue declined, according to Dittberner.
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