Cabling's sentinel.

The cabling infrastructure industry might be considered the "canary in the coal mine" as it relates to the overall health of the IT market. Data center cabling, enclosures, raceways, media converters and such are the underpinnings of all IT networks. As goes the cabling industry, so goes the IT market. So it was of great interest when we attended the BICSI winter conference and exhibition in Orlando to see how the cabling segment was faring in today's economic situation.

BICSI's audience is primarily cable installers and integrators, a small but important segment of Communications News' subscribers. Like the use of canaries to warn coal miners of toxic fumes, when the business of this market segment is down, or up, that is a pretty good indicator of the health of the overall IT enterprise market.

BICSI is a fairly large event in terms of exhibitors, particularly with most of today's trade shows focusing on vertical technologies, such as security, storage or telephony. In past years, the event usually drew more than 200 exhibitors and 2,000 attendees.

On the plus side this year, the event had roughly the same number of exhibitors as last January-a good sign--although many of the booths were staffed by regional or local sales representatives rather than corporate marketing people (Can you say marketing budget cuts?). Attendance, however, was down this year by perhaps 30 percent, reflecting reduced budgets for travel for many of the companies who send staff to the conference.

The mood at the show, however, was not one of angst or despair. Vendors offered assessments of their current business climates in generally positive, although not glowing, terms. Their customers, they said most often, are not canceling projects; they are delaying them.

Attendees, according to several exhibitors, were showing buying signs, although they were not necessarily making purchases on the show floor, which often happens. A few exhibitors expressed more caution than others, but the general consensus seemed to be that the current funk in the enterprise IT market was in its twilight. Improvement in the second and third quarter of this year was predicted often by many.

During the IT meltdown of 2001-2002, the canary seemed to be on its last gasp. This time around, while it is not yet singing happily, it does not need life support. At least that's the message from the 2009 BICSI winter conference.

Ken Anderberg

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