While the Network Processor Unit (NPU) market is not quite where it had hoped to be by now, it still has a very bright future ahead of it, according to In-Stat/MDR. The high-tech market research firm reports that an increasing number of networking protocols, needs for more service-based revenues, and a resurgence of the importance of flexibility, will keep the NPU markets growing steadily. While 2003 is expected to finish up around $60 million, there is still a strong potential behind remaining NPU makers, and this market is expected to outpace most other silicon markets for the next 5 years.