SAN JOSE, Calif.-The wireless LAN industry is poised for massive growth, with 2002 shipments set to be up 73 percent and revenue increased 26 percent, according to new research from Gartner Dataquest Inc.
Gartner predicts growth in the sector will continue into next year, with worldwide WLAN shipment totaling 26.5 million units, up from 15.5 million units in 2002. Revenues for 2003 are predicted at $2.8 billion, up from $2.1 billion in 2002.
Gartner further said it expects the WLAN boom to last through 2007, with the penetration rates surpassing 90 percent by then, especially as the market is pared down through competition. “By 2005, apart from mobile PC vendors offering bundled or integrated wireless LAN, we do not expect there to be more than six or seven significant adapter vendors,” said Andy Rolfe, principal analyst for Garner Dataquest’s worldwide telecommunications and networking group.
