In the world of security, standing still means falling behind. For large facilities like casinos, sprawling government buildings, or massive warehouses, relying on outdated analog CCTV systems is not just a security risk—it’s a significant financial drain. The leap to modern IP (Internet Protocol) surveillance often seems daunting, with visions of massive costs and operational nightmares. But what if there was a way to get the immense benefits of an IP system without the crippling expense of a complete rewiring?

A deep dive into the costs reveals a compelling financial case for upgrading, especially when you can leverage the wires you already own.

The High Cost of a Full “Rip-and-Replace”

Let’s be clear: a complete overhaul of a large-scale analog system is a major investment. If you’re looking at a full “rip-and-replace” project, the costs add up quickly:

• High-End IP Cameras: For the crystal-clear, high-resolution images needed in sensitive environments, expect to pay anywhere from $500 to over $2,000 per camera.
• The Nightmare of Rewiring: This is often the biggest budget killer. Running new Ethernet cable through a large, complex building can cost upwards of $250 for a single camera drop. For a facility with hundreds or thousands of cameras, you’re looking at a six or even seven-figure bill for labor and materials alone.
• Powerful Software & Storage: A robust Video Management System (VMS) is crucial. Licenses can run from $50 to over $300 per camera, on top of the significant cost of servers and storage solutions needed to handle high-resolution video data.
• Installation and Labor: The technical expertise required to install and configure a modern IP system doesn’t come cheap and can form a substantial part of your total project cost.

The Game-Changer: Migrating Without Rewiring

The primary obstacle for many businesses is the thought of that expensive, disruptive rewiring process. But here’s the good news: you don’t have to.

The market now offers a powerful solution: IP over Coax converters. These devices act as a bridge, allowing you to transmit high-resolution digital video from new IP cameras over your existing legacy coaxial cables.

The savings are immediate and dramatic:

• Eliminate Rewiring Costs: This is the big one. You instantly remove what is often the largest single expense from the project budget. This also means minimal disruption to your daily operations—a critical factor for any 24/7 facility.
• Slash Material Expenses: No need to purchase thousands of feet of new Ethernet cable.
• Deploy Faster: Projects that don’t require rewiring can be completed in a fraction of the time, meaning you see the benefits of your new system much sooner.

While the converters themselves have a cost—typically $200 to $800 for a single-channel pair—this pales in comparison to the cost of a full rewire.

Cost Comparison: The Financial Bottom Line

Let’s look at a quick, hypothetical 500-camera upgrade for a large warehouse.

Cost Component	Full Rip-and-Replace	Migration with Coax Converters
IP Cameras (mid-range)	$250,000	$250,000
Rewiring (Labor & Materials)	$125,000	$0
IP over Coax Converters	$0	$125,000
VMS & Servers	$100,000	$100,000
Total Estimated Cost	$475,000	$375,000
Estimated Savings		$100,000 (21%)

A 21% savings is significant for any business.

In larger, more complex facilities, the savings could easily run into millions.

Beyond the Initial Savings: Long-Term ROI

The financial benefits don’t stop after installation. An IP system, even one running over existing coax, delivers a powerful long-term return on investment:

• Actionable Evidence: Superior image quality means you can actually identify faces and read license plates, turning your video from a blurry recording into usable evidence.
• Intelligent Security: Unlock the power of advanced video analytics for everything from perimeter protection to gathering business intelligence on customer foot traffic.
• Future-Proof Scalability: Adding new cameras to an IP network is simple and cost-effective.
• Total Awareness: Securely access your camera feeds from anywhere in the world, on any authorized device.
• Seamless Integration: Connect your video system with access control, alarms, and other building systems for a truly unified security platform.

The bottom line is clear. Sticking with an outdated analog system is no longer a cost-saving measure; it’s a liability. With the ability to leverage your existing wiring, the path to a modern, intelligent, and more effective IP surveillance system is more affordable and accessible than ever. It’s time to stop seeing your old cables as a limitation and start seeing them as a bridge to the future of security.

The Multi-Billion Dollar Upgrade: Sizing the U.S. Market for Analog to IP Surveillance Migration

The addressable market for migrating analog CCTV systems to IP (Internet Protocol) in the United States represents a significant, multi-billion dollar niche within the broader video surveillance industry.

The U.S. surveillance analog camera market is valued at approximately $3.01 billion in 2025. While its growth is modest, projected to reach approximately $4.29 billion by 2030 with a CAGR of about 7.34%, its persistence underscores a crucial market reality: ripping and replacing existing coaxial cabling is often prohibitively expensive. This financial barrier is the primary driver for the analog-to-IP integration market.

The Addressable Niche: A Market in Transition

The true addressable market lies in the millions of analog cameras currently in operation that are prime candidates for an upgrade. This includes systems in:

• Government and Public Buildings: These facilities often have extensive and complex wiring that is difficult and costly to replace.
• Healthcare and Educational Campuses: Similar to government buildings, these large sites benefit from phased upgrades that utilize existing coax.
• Retail and Small to Medium-Sized Businesses: For these users, the cost savings of reusing cable are a major incentive to upgrade to high-definition capabilities.
• Industrial and Critical Infrastructure: Reliability and the high cost of disrupting operations make rip-and-replace projects unattractive.

IP over Coax (EoC) Converters: This technology allows new IP cameras to transmit data directly over existing coaxial cables. The global market for EoC equipment is poised for significant expansion, with forecasts predicting growth from $1.2 billion in 2023 to around $2.5 billion by 2032, reflecting a CAGR of approximately 8.2%. North America is a key market for these devices due to the extensive legacy cabling infrastructure.

Expected Growth in the Niche Sector

The growth in the analog-to-IP integration sector is driven by a compelling value proposition: achieving the benefits of modern IP surveillance without the high cost and disruption of a complete rewiring. Several factors are expected to fuel steady growth in this niche market over the next several years:

• Demand for Higher Resolution and Analytics: End-users want the advantages of high-definition video and AI-powered analytics (like facial recognition and license plate reading) which are hallmarks of IP systems. Migration solutions offer a cost-effective pathway to these features.
• Cost-Savings on Installation: The primary driver is the significant reduction in labor and material costs by avoiding the need to run new Ethernet cabling.
• Phased Modernization: Organizations can upgrade their surveillance systems incrementally, replacing cameras and head-end equipment as budgets allow, while keeping their existing cable infrastructure. This staged approach is highly attractive to large organizations.

For savvy business investors, the size of the addressable market and the expected CAGR of 8.2% are compelling reasons to look at investments in this space.

Accelerated Manufacturing Brokers, Inc. has listed the industry’s pioneer and leader in analog-to-IP conversion products. Unlike their competitors, this client’s products are proudly made in the USA. They have 40 years of respected history, with patented and trademarked products. To learn more, execute an NDA, which you can access HERE.