ABI: IEEE 802.11n Wi-Fi Consumer Access Point Shipments to Grow to 88M in 2013
August 5, 2008 // Published as a news service by IHS
Shipments of consumer-oriented IEEE 802.11n Wi-Fi access points are expected to see a dramatic increase over the next five years, according to ABI Research, rising from 6 million in 2008 to 88 million in 2013.
This rapid growth, however, won't reach full velocity from a standing start, analysts said.
"[IEEE's] 802.11n will become the default Wi-Fi technology of choice as equipment vendors include it in their new products," said ABI Research vice president Stan Schatt.
"The real market growth will kick in when sufficient numbers of consumers have [IEEE] 802.11n capabilities embedded in their new laptop and desktop computers. We anticipate the greatest adoption to take place in the 2009-2010 timeframe."
A similar pattern is expected in the rate at which companies replace their laptops. "You can achieve [IEEE] 802.11n connectivity with adapter cards, but most IT managers don't like them because they can get lost or damaged," Schatt said.
Most enterprises work to a roughly three-year laptop replacement cycle, Schatt said, but that cycle may be slightly longer in the current economic climate.
Successful vendors will be those with well-established channels selling to the early-adopting vertical sectors of education, health care, retail and manufacturing, analysts said.
"While some larger organizations remain initially wary because 'n' is still a draft, with ratification of the final standard expected next year, companies with work groups that need [IEEE] 802.11n's extra speed, range and robustness may push ahead in a piecemeal fashion," Schatt said.
By the end of 2013, the enterprise component of IEEE 802.11n equipment sales will represent about 16% of the total market. Schatt said many vendors seem pleasantly surprised by the speed of enterprise adoption that is taking place already, which he attributes to the reassurance provided by the Wi-Fi Alliance's interoperability testing certification.
Source: ABI Research.