Global - WiFi Hotspot - Market Overview

Synopsis

Archived report. This report was archived in 2008 and has not been updated since. Together with WiMAX, WiFi is set to continue to play a key role in new meshed wireless broadband developments. Service providers are exploring the unlicensed spectrum bands (eg the 2.4GHz spectrum) for applications such as high-speed wireless broadband, LAN and WLL services for data. This report considers and analyses one variant of the technology – IEEE 802.11. Detailed WiFi statistics are available from a separate report.

Table of Contents

• 1. Synopsis
• 2. WLAN/WiFi hotspots
  • 2.1 Security challenges
• 3. Early developments
  • 3.1 Not always smooth sailing
  • 3.2 iPass
  • 3.3 Collapse of WiFi start-up companies
• 4. Market analyses – 2007
  • 4.1 Public hotspots for consumers a waste of money
    • 4.1.1 Meshed networks
  • 4.2 Great niche market opportunities
  • 4.3 Build your own WiFi business
  • 4.4 Municipality WiFi (Muni WiFi)
    • 4.4.1 Muni-Wifi does some soul-searching
  • 4.5 Wireless Internet coverage on holidays
• 5. Other developments
  • 5.1 Compatible WiFi GSM handover
  • 5.2 WiFi phones allow for VoIP access
  • 5.3 Tomizone – sharing hotspots
  • 5.4 The Chinese WAPI standard
  • 5.5 WiFi parking meters
  • 5.6 Voice over WLAN (VoWLAN)
  • 5.7 Portable hotspots
  • 5.8 MIMO smart antenna
  • 5.9 Taxation of WiFi
• 6. Dual mode handsets
• 7. Industry consortia
  • 7.1 Wireless USB Promoter Group/WiMedia Alliance
  • 7.2 The WiFi Alliance
  • 7.3 Wireless Broadband Alliance (WBA)
  • 7.4 Digital Living Network Alliance
  • 7.5 WLAN Smart Card Consortium
  • 7.6 Zigbee
  • 7.7 UMA – transitioned to 3GPP
• 8. Technology – wireless – broadband
• 9. Related reports

• Exhibit 1 – Leading companies in WLAN equipment sector* – 2006
• Exhibit 2 – What the numbers mean at IEEE 801.11