Global service provider switching and routing equipment sales grew to $2.94bn in the final quarter of 2007, a 17 per cent increase compared to the same period 12 months previously.

"There were no significant market share movements in the fourth quarter of 2007," said Mark Seery, vice president of switching and routing at analyst firm Ovum. "Juniper took the honours for the quarter as its MX-series continues to ramp."

Ovum's market monitoring revealed that sales of IP/MPLS core equipment accounted for $718m globally during the period, up 35 per cent on the fourth quarter of 2006.

Sales of IP/MPLS edge routers and switches reached $1.45bn, up 29 per cent on the fourth quarter of 2006.

IP/Ethernet equipment saw more modest gains with a rise of seven per cent to $507m.