Overall WLAN market revenues are expected to surpass $7 billion by 2014, according to a newly released market forecast report by Dell’Oro Group. The enterprise segment and the small office, home office segments will account for a majority of that growth, with enterprise revenues expected to expand more than 100 percent over 2009.
“The proliferation of Wi-Fi enabled devices and users’ desire for constant access are fundamentally changing how network administrators accommodate the devices,” said Loren Shalinsky, Senior Analyst of Wireless LAN research at Dell’Oro Group. IT departments actively seek ways to allow these mobile users to connect to the network, regardless of which client device is used, increasing the requirements for wireless networks. Previously, IT departments often only allowed corporate owned or approved devices to connect. “The increase in the number of Wi-Fi enabled devices will contribute to growth in all three WLAN market segments, as mobile users want access to the same information, regardless of where they are located. US Government spending, through programs like the Smart Grid Investment grants, the Broadband Investment Program, and the E-rate program also will contribute to WLAN growth,” added Shalinsky.
