Getting Returns from WLANs: Targeting Niche Opportunities

SUMMARY

Introduction

This report analyzes the opportunities for vendors in targeting the three primary markets thatexist for wireless local area networks (WLANs), namely the consumer, enterprise and public WLANmarkets. The report provides revenue growth forecasts and effective go-to-market strategies, as wellas Datamonitors perspectives on the pertinent developments and trends across the industry.

Scope

• Outlines important technology-related developments in 2004, assessing their impact on themarkets current and future dynamics.
• Analyzes the factors influencing market conditions and examines the various offerings from WLANvendors.
• Assesses the opportunities in niche WLAN markets and provides Datamonitors opinion on effectivego-to-market strategies.
• Forecasts revenue growth in the consumer, enterprise and public WLAN markets, analyzingvariations by region.

Report Highlights

With considerable scope for further penetration of 802.11 technology, Datamonitor forecasts theglobal WLAN market to continue its revenue growth through to 2006. However, the consumer and publicWLAN markets both face differing pressures, which suggests that the overall WLAN market will see itsfirst year of revenue decline in 2007.

At the end of 2003, there were approximately 31,700 hotspots in operation globally and thisnumber will grow at a CAGR of 47% to approaching 146,100 by year-end 2007. With the number of newhotspots reaching its peak in 2004, Datamonitor forecasts that the opportunity for network equipmentmanufacturers will peak this year.

The enterprise opportunity has been broadening beyond its traditional focus on specific verticalmarkets to encompass horizontal solutions, and with concerns surrounding factors such as securityweakening, there are positive signs for the build-out of WLANs within the enterprise.

Reasons to Purchase

• Quantification of the revenue opportunities for both WLAN equipment vendors and third partyintegrators and consulting companies to 2007.
• Provides a framework for conceptualizing WLAN opportunities thereby improving vendorsgo-to-market approach.
• Assessment of pertinent market issues, such as the emerging trends in WLAN management, willenable vendors to improve their solution positioning.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

CHAPTER 1 executive summary

• 1.1 Getting returns from wireless LANs
• 1.2 Market context
• 1.3 Customer focus
• 1.4 The future decoded

CHAPTER 2 INTRODUCTION

• 2.1 What is this report about?
• 2.2 Who is the target reader?
• 2.3 How to use this report
• 2.4 Forecasts and assumptions
• 2.5 Scope of the report

CHAPTER 3 MARKET CONTEXT

• 3.1 Introduction
• 3.2 Key findings
• 3.3 Wireless LAN markets
• 3.4 Wireless LAN technology and market developments
• 3.5 Factors influencing market conditions
• 3.6 Vendor offerings

CHAPTER 4 CUSTOMER FOCUS

• 4.1 Introduction
• 4.2 Key findings
• 4.3 Identifying the enterprise WLAN opportunity
• 4.4 Public WLAN locations
• 4.5 Improving the go-to-market approach

CHAPTER 5 THE FUTURE DECODED

• 5.1 Introduction
• 5.2 Key findings
• 5.3 WLAN infrastructure opportunities
• 5.4 The enterprise opportunity
• 5.5 The public wireless LAN opportunity
• 5.6 The consumer opportunity
• 5.7 Summary

CHAPTER 6 APPENDIX

• 6.1 Definitions
• 6.2 Research methodology
• 6.3 Further readings
• 6.4 SPP writing team
• 6.5 How to contact experts in your industry
• List of Tables
• Table 1: Revenues from enterprise WLAN infrastructure in EMEA by vertical market to 2007 ($millions)
• Table 2: Revenues from enterprise WLAN infrastructure in North America by vertical market to2007 ($ millions)
• Table 3: Enterprise WLAN infrastructure revenues in EMEA by size band to 2007 ($ millions)
• Table 4: Enterprise WLAN infrastructure revenues in North America by size band to 2007 ($millions)
• Table 5: Global revenues from WLAN infrastructure to 2007 by sub-market ($ millions)
• Table 6: Global revenues from enterprise WLAN infrastructure by region to 2007 ($ millions)
• Table 7: Western European revenues from enterprise WLAN infrastructure by region to 2007 ($millions)
• Table 8: Global revenues from enterprise WLAN infrastructure by type to 2007 ($ millions)
• Table 9: Global revenue opportunities from the deployment of enterprise WLANs to 2007 ($millions)
• Table 10: Proportion of large and medium enterprises in EMEA with WLANs installed to 2007
• Table 11: Proportion of large and medium enterprises in North America with WLANs installed to2007
• Table 12: Number of PWLAN locations by region to 2007
• Table 13: Market for network infrastructure installed on PWLAN locations to 2007 ($ millions)
• Table 14: Global revenues from consumer WLAN equipment by region to 2007 ($ millions)
• Table 15: Shipments of WLAN-enabled laptops in Western Europe by geography to 2007 (millions)
• List of Figures
• Figure 1: Size of wireless LAN markets in 2003
• Figure 2: Enterprise WLAN infrastructure revenues in EMEA by size band to 2007 ($ millions)
• Figure 3: Global revenues from WLAN infrastructure to 2007 by sub-market ($ millions)
• Figure 4: Size of wireless LAN markets in 2003
• Figure 5: Wireless LAN markets
• Figure 6: Market share of chipset shipments by type to 2007
• Figure 7: Enterprise WLAN infrastructure revenues in EMEA by size band to 2007 ($ millions)
• Figure 8: Enterprise WLAN infrastructure revenues in North America by size band to 2007 ($millions)
• Figure 9: Global revenues from WLAN infrastructure to 2007 by sub-market ($ millions)
• Figure 10: Global revenues from enterprise WLAN infrastructure by region to 2007 ($ millions)
• Figure 11: Western European revenues from enterprise WLAN infrastructure by region to 2007 ($millions)
• Figure 12: Global revenues from enterprise WLAN infrastructure by type to 2007 ($ millions)
• Figure 13: Global revenue opportunities from the deployment of enterprise WLANs to 2007 ($millions)
• Figure 14: Proportion of large and medium enterprises in EMEA with WLANs installed to 2007
• Figure 15: Proportion of large and medium enterprises in North America with WLANs installed to2007
• Figure 16: Number of PWLAN locations by region to 2007
• Figure 17: Market for network infrastructure installed on PWLAN locations to 2007 ($ millions)
• Figure 18: Global revenues from consumer WLAN equipment by region to 2007 ($ millions)
• Figure 19: Datamonitors market expertise and research and analysis methodology