Router sales hit record in 2006, led by Cisco

Global sales of routers to Internet service providers rose 28% to a record $5.63 billion in 2006, led by Cisco Systems Inc., as people sought to download more videos and music from the Web, research firm Dell’Oro Group said.

Cisco, based in San Jose, posted a 27% jump in router sales to $3.19 billion, according to data compiled by the firm. Sales by No. 2 Juniper Networks Inc. rose 1% to $1.27 billion.

Cisco Chief Executive John Chambers has won business from telephone and cable companies by offering faster routers capable of handling video traffic.

The industry’s 2006 router sales to all customers rose 17% to a record $9.7 billion, Dell’Oro said.