WI-FI: THE NEXT GENERATION

WI-FI: THE NEXT GENERATION published by Telecom Trends International in May, 2007. This report price starts from US $ 2490.

Introduction

Abstract

The report provides a comprehensive look at the market for Wi-Fi (or WiFi), the acronym for Wireless Fidelity that denotes wireless local area networks (LANs). It is the thesis of the report that fixed LANs are migrating to hybrid architecture with integrated wireless LAN functionality. The report examines market and technology developments, and focuses on the prospects of 802.11n. The report discusses emerging Wi-Fi applications and examines developments in fixed-mobile convergence. In addition to consumer and SOHO market segments, the report covers horizontal enterprise segments, vertical segments, public hotspot segment and campus⁄metropolitan segment. The report quantifies the market and provides detailed market forecasts.

This report explores the status and outlook for global Wi-Fi markets. Topics covered in this report include the following:

• 1. Market trends: Discussion of global and regional trends with respect to Wi-Fi, and examination of marketplace developments
• 2. Technology trends: Analysis of underlying technologies and their market impact
• 3. Emerging applications: Wi-Fi is moving beyond Internet access to enable a variety of applications, and Wi-Fi capability is being incorporated in a range of consumer electronic devices
• 4. Market forecasts: Forecasts broken down by technologies and regions

The information presented in this report stems from extensive primary and secondary research, including numerous in-depth interviews, discussions with Wi-Fi experts at industry forums; and detailed analysis of market trends and developments. In addition, the authors performed analysis and modeling using up-to-date data supplemented by information collected by TELECOM TRENDS INTERNATIONAL for other studies on wireless markets.

In particular, the research tools used in this report included the following:

• Primary research, including interviews
• Secondary research
• Trend tracking
• Forecasting

TELECOM TRENDS INTERNATIONAL conducted a series of interviews with key players across the Wi-Fi value chain.

TELECOM TRENDS INTERNATIONAL reviewed numerous technical white papers, industry financial statements, trade publications, information on company websites, and literature produced by trade associations as well as by companies offering products or services in this space. These sources supplemented information gathered through primary research.

Since TELECOM TRENDS INTERNATIONAL continuously tracks trends in the Wi-Fi markets, the report is able to put in context the uptake of Wi-Fi shipments taking into consideration the status of current-generation technologies across regions, next-generation deployments, and other industry developments.

Table of Contents

Acronyms

1. Executive Summary

2. Scope and Methodology

• 2.1 Scope
• 2.2 Additional Related Information
• 2.3 Methodology
  • 2.3.1 Interviews
  • 2.3.2 Additional Primary and Secondary Research
  • 2.3.3 Trend Tracking
• 2.4 Target Audience

3. Major Wi-Fi Standards

• 3.1 Topologies and Devices
  • 3.1.1 Wi-Fi Topologies
  • 3.1.2 Wi-Fi Client Devices
• 3.2 Standardization and Certification
  • 3.2.1 Role of IEEE
  • 3.2.2 Role of Wi-Fi Alliance
• 3.3 802.11 Family of Standards
  • 3.3.1 Throughput, Range, and Modulation
  • 3.3.2 802.11 Specification
  • 3.3.3 802.11b Specification
  • 3.3.4 802.11a Specification
  • 3.3.5 802.11g Specification
  • 3.3.6 802.11n Specification
    • 3.3.6.1 Draft Specification
    • 3.3.6.2 MIMO
    • 3.3.6.3 Draft 802.11n Products
• 3.4 Conclusion
  • 3.4.1 Interference Issues
  • 3.4.2 Technology Adoption

4. Wi-Fi Architectures and Network Management

• 4.1 Wi-Fi Architectures
  • 4.1.1 Distributed Architecture
  • 4.1.2 Centralized Architecture
  • 4.1.3 Centralized Vs. Distributed Architectures
  • 4.1.4 Wireline-Wireless Integration
  • 4.1.5 All-Wireless Networks
• 4.2 Coverage and Performance Issues
  • 4.2.1 Network Coverage
  • 4.2.2 Network Latency and Throughput
  • 4.2.3 Processing Power
  • 4.2.4 Hand-Offs and Roaming
  • 4.2.5 Performance Evaluation
• 4.3 Network Management
  • 4.3.1 Centralized Vs. Distributed Systems
  • 4.3.2 CAPWAP Protocol Specification
• 4.4 Conclusion

5. Wireless Mesh Networks

• 5.1 Mesh Network Characteristics
• 5.2 Mesh Network Architecture and Design
• 5.3 Mesh Network Vendors
• 5.4 802.11s Task Group
• 5.5 Conclusion

6. Wi-Fi Security

• 6.1 Wired Equivalent Privacy (WEP)
• 6.2 Wi-Fi Protected Access (WPA)
• 6.3 WPA2
• 6.4 802.11i
• 6.5 802.11r
• 6.6 Conclusion

7. Wi-Fi Applications

• 7.1 Wi-Fi Consumer Devices
• 7.2 Wi-Fi Mobile Computing
• 7.3 Wi-Fi PDAs
• 7.4 Wi-Fi Multimedia Certification
• 7.5 Voice-over-Wi-Fi
• 7.6 Gaming
• 7.7 Home Networking
• 7.8 Telematics and Location
• 7.9 Conclusion

8. Fixed-Mobile Convergence

• 8.1 Introduction
• 8.2 Wi-Fi/WiMAX Solutions
• 8.3 Wi-Fi/Cellular Solutions
• 8.4 Unlicensed Mobile Access
• 8.5 IP Multimedia Subsystem
• 8.6 Conclusion

9. Market Segments

• 9.1 SOHO/Residential Market
• 9.2 Enterprise Markets
  • 9.2.1 Horizontal Segment
  • 9.2.2 Vertical Segment
  • 9.2.3 Campus/Metropolitan Segment
    • 9.2.3.1 Public Policy Debate
    • 9.2.3.2 Technical Challenges
  • 9.2.4 Public Wi-Fi Hotspots
    • 9.2.4.1 Hotspot Growth
    • 9.2.4.2 Business Model
    • 9.2.4.3 Usage Trends
• 9.3 Competing Technologies
  • 9.3.1 Cellular Technologies
  • 9.3.2 Wireline Technologies
• 9.4 Conclusion

10. Global Wi-Fi Market Forecasts

• 10.1 Wi-Fi Equipment Market
  • 10.1.1 Wi-Fi Equipment Revenue
  • 10.1.2 Wi-Fi Equipment Shipments
• 10.2 Wi-Fi Equipment Revenue - Consumer and Enterprise Markets
• 10.3 Wi-Fi Equipment Shipments - Consumer and Enterprise Markets
• 10.4 Wi-Fi Revenue by 802.11 Specifications
• 10.5 Wi-Fi Shipments by 802.11 Specifications
• 10.6 Wi-Fi Revenue by Equipment Types
• 10.7 Wi-Fi Shipments by Equipment Types
• 10.8 Wi-Fi Revenue by Regions
• 10.9 Wi-Fi Shipments by Regions
• 10.10 Conclusion

11. Vendor Positioning and Profiles

• 11.1 Vendor Positioning
• 11.2 Vendor Profiles
  • 11.2.1 3Com Corporation
  • 11.2.2 Aruba Networks
  • 11.2.3 Belkin International, Inc.
  • 11.2.4 Buffalo, Inc
  • 11.2.5 Cisco Systems, Inc
  • 11.2.6 Colubris Networks, Inc.
  • 11.2.7 D-Link Systems, Inc.
  • 11.2.8 Enterasys Networks, Inc.
  • 11.2.9 Extreme Networks, Inc.
  • 11.2.10 Foundry Networks, Inc.
  • 11.2.11 Linksys
  • 11.2.12 Meru Networks
  • 11.2.13 Netgear, Inc
  • 11.2.14 Proxim Wireless Corporation
  • 11.2.15 Siemens Enterprise Communications
  • 11.2.16 SMC Networks
  • 11.2.17 Socket Mobile Inc.
  • 11.2.18 SonicWALL, Inc.
  • 11.2.19 Symbol Technologies
  • 11.2.20 Trapeze Networks
  • 11.2.21 Tropos Networks
• 11.3 Conclusion

12. Conclusions and Recommendations

• 12.1 Conclusions
  • 12.1.1 Wi-Fi Adoption
  • 12.1.2 Penetration and Growth
  • 12.1.3 Architectural Developments
  • 12.1.4 Performance Factors
  • 12.1.5 Economics of Wi-Fi
• 12.2 Recommendations
  • 12.2.1 General Recommendations
  • 12.2.2 Recommendations for Consumers
  • 12.2.3 Recommendations for Horizontal Enterprise Users
  • 12.2.4 Recommendations for Operators
  • 12.2.5 Recommendations for Municipalities
  • 12.2.6 Recommendations for Vertical Markets
  • 12.2.7 Recommendations for Equipment Vendors
  • 12.2.8 Recommendations for Public Hotspot Providers

Appendices

• Appendix 1: IEEE 802.11 Working Group Standards
• Appendix 2 - Wi-Fi Handset Vendors
• Appendix 3 - WMM Certification

• FIGURE 1: GLOBAL WI-FI REVENUE - ENTERPRISE AND CONSUMER MARKETS, 2006-2012
• FIGURE 2: STAR TOPOLOGY
• FIGURE 3: WI-FI MESH NETWORK CONFIGURATION
• FIGURE 4: LAPTOP/NOTEBOOK SHIPMENTS, 2006-2012
• FIGURE 5: WI-FI/CELLULAR PHONE SHIPMENTS -2006-2012
• FIGURE 6: NETWORK CONFIGURATION FOR DUAL-MODE WI-FI/CELLULAR SYSTEM
• FIGURE 7: GLOBAL WI-FI EQUIPMENT REVENUE, 2006-2012
• FIGURE 8: GLOBAL WI-FI EQUIPMENT SHIPMENTS, 2006-2012
• FIGURE 9: WI-FI EQUIPMENT REVENUE GROWTH RATES - CONSUMER AND ENTERPRISE MARKETS, 2006-2012
• FIGURE 10: WI-FI EQUIPMENT REVENUE - CONSUMER AND ENTERPRISE MARKETS, 2006-2012
• FIGURE 11: WI-FI EQUIPMENT SHIPMENTS GROWTH RATES - CONSUMER AND ENTERPRISE MARKETS, 2006-2012
• FIGURE 12: WI-FI EQUIPMENT SHIPMENTS - CONSUMER AND ENTERPRISE MARKETS, 2006-2012
• FIGURE 13: GLOBAL REVENUE BY 802.11 SPECIFICATIONS, 2006-2012
• FIGURE 14: INDEPENDENT APS REVENUE BY 802.11 SPECIFICATIONS, 2006-2012
• FIGURE 15: DEPENDENT APS REVENUE BY 802.11 SPECIFICATIONS, 2006-2012
• FIGURE 16: CONTROLLERS/SWITCHES REVENUE BY 802.11 SPECIFICATIONS, 2006-2012
• FIGURE 17: ADAPTERS REVENUE BY 802.11 SPECIFICATIONS, 2006-2012
• FIGURE 18: TOTAL SHIPMENTS BY 802.11 SPECIFICATIONS, 2006-2012
• FIGURE 19: INDEPENDENT APS SHIPMENTS BY 802.11 SPECIFICATIONS, 2006-2012
• FIGURE 20: DEPENDENT APS SHIPMENTS BY 802.11 SPECIFICATIONS, 2006-2012
• FIGURE 21: CONTROLLERS/SWITCHES SHIPMENTS BY 802.11 SPECIFICATIONS, 2006-2012
• FIGURE 22: ADAPTERS SHIPMENTS BY 802.11 SPECIFICATIONS, 2006-2012
• FIGURE 23: WI-FI REVENUE GROWTH RATES - EQUIPMENT TYPE, 2006-2012
• FIGURE 24: WI-FI REVENUE BY EQUIPMENT TYPE, 2006-2012
• FIGURE 25: 802.11B/G REVENUE BY EQUIPMENT TYPE, 2006-2012
• FIGURE 26: 802.11A/B/G REVENUE BY EQUIPMENT TYPE, 2006-2012
• FIGURE 27: 802.11N/PRE-N (2.4 GHZ) REVENUE BY EQUIPMENT TYPE, 2006-2012
• FIGURE 28: DUAL-BAND 802.11N REVENUE BY EQUIPMENT TYPE, 2006-2012
• FIGURE 29: WI-FI SHIPMENTS BY EQUIPMENT TYPE, 2006-2012
• FIGURE 30: 802.11B/G SHIPMENTS BY EQUIPMENT TYPE, 2006-2012
• FIGURE 31: 802.11A/B/G SHIPMENTS BY EQUIPMENT TYPE, 2006-2012
• FIGURE 32: 802.11N (2.4 GHZ) SHIPMENTS BY EQUIPMENT TYPE, 2006-2012
• FIGURE 33: DUAL-BAND 802.11N SHIPMENTS BY EQUIPMENT TYPE, 2006-2012
• FIGURE 34: GLOBAL REVENUE BY REGION, 2006-2012
• FIGURE 35: NORTH AMERICAN REVENUE BY EQUIPMENT TYPE, 2006-2012
• FIGURE 36: SOUTH AMERICAN REVENUE BY EQUIPMENT TYPE, 2006-2012
• FIGURE 37: EUROPEAN REVENUE BY EQUIPMENT TYPE, 2006-2012
• FIGURE 38: AFRICAN AND MIDDLE EASTERN REVENUE BY EQUIPMENT TYPE, 2006-2012
• FIGURE 39: ASIA-PACIFIC REVENUE BY EQUIPMENT TYPE, 2006-2012
• FIGURE 40: GLOBAL SHIPMENTS BY REGION, 2006-2012
• FIGURE 41: NORTH AMERICAN SHIPMENTS BY EQUIPMENT TYPE, 2006-2012
• FIGURE 42: SOUTH AMERICAN REVENUE BY EQUIPMENT TYPE, 2006-2012
• FIGURE 43: EUROPEAN REVENUE BY EQUIPMENT TYPE, 2006-2012
• FIGURE 44: AFRICAN AND MIDDLE EASTERN REVENUE BY EQUIPMENT TYPE, 2006-2012
• FIGURE 45: ASIA-PACIFIC REVENUE BY EQUIPMENT TYPE, 2006-2012
• FIGURE 46: ENTERPRISE WI-FI VENDORS - GLOBAL REVENUE AND MARKET SHARE, 2006
• FIGURE 47: CONSUMER WI-FI VENDORS - GLOBAL REVENUE AND MARKET SHARE, 2006

• TABLE 1: 802.11 STANDARDS - RELEASE DATES AND MODULATION SCHEMES
• TABLE 2: 802.11 STANDARDS - DATA RATES AND THROUGHPUT COMPARISON
• TABLE 3: 802.11 STANDARDS - RANGE COMPARISON
• TABLE 4: GLOBAL PUBLIC HOTSPOT GROWTH - 2004-2006
• TABLE 5: CELLULAR TECHNOLOGIES' DATA RATES
• TABLE 6: WI-FI AND OTHER HOME NETWORKING TECHNOLOGIES

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