WLAN equipment market up 14pc in 3Q10

BOSTON, USA: Worldwide wireless LAN equipment revenue grew 14 percent sequentially in 3Q10 to $680 million, continuing a trend of positive growth from the market low set in 1Q09. Moreover, worldwide WLAN revenue is up 12 percent from this time a year ago (3Q09), finds Infonetics Research.

Matthias Machowinski, directing analyst for enterprise networks and video at Infonetics Research, said: “Revenue from wireless LAN equipment is up year-over-year (3Q09 to 3Q10) in every major region of the world, but North America and EMEA stand out with strong double-digit sequential and year-over-year growth."

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The analyst firm also finds that single mode WiFi phone shipments are up 20 percent sequentially and passed the 100,000-mark, as PBX sales recovered and existing customers put in additional orders.

"North America is doing well in many equipment markets this quarter, and EMEA is back on track after stalling in 2Q10. Once we tally fourth quarter results early next year, we expect the overall WLAN market will have grown about 17 percent in 2010 over 2009,” predicts Machowinski.

It also finds that shipments of 802.11n access points (APs) now make up 44 percent of all AP shipment, up five percentage points from the previous quarter, and up 16 points from 12 months ago.

Cisco increased its revenue share of the worldwide WLAN equipment market (excluding WiFi phones) to 51 percent, up four percentage points from the previous quarter.

Aruba, the top-ranked WLAN specialist, stays in second place and HP joins the top three thanks to the 3Com acquisition.