Wireless LAN equipment sales hit new high in 3Q11

BOSTON, USA: Global WLAN equipment revenue grew 10 per cent sequentially in 3Q11, to $881 million, eclipsing the previous high set in 2Q11, finds market research firm Infonetics Research.

Cisco's WLAN equipment revenue share (excluding WiFi phones) held steady at 48 per cent share in 3Q11.

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"The wireless LAN equipment market is growing unabated, driven by broad-based demand for wireless network connectivity. There was a brief pause in the market at the height of the recession, however, sales quickly recovered, and are doing much better than many other equipment markets. Mostly immune to economic concerns, 2011 wireless LAN gear is on track to grow 21 per cent to $3.2 billion, a near-repeat performance of 2010," expects Matthias Machowinski, directing analyst for enterprise networks and video at Infonetics Research.

Aruba, the top-ranked WLAN specialist and number-two player in the WLAN equipment market, increased its revenue market share by one point in 3Q11.

HP and Motorola continue their heated battle for third position, with HP edging ahead by a bit in 3Q11.

Total annual access point (AP) shipments have more than doubled over the last five years, and 802.11n AP shipments are now out-shipping legacy APs by a 2:1 margin.

The number of enterprise single-mode WiFi phones sold worldwide grew 13 per cent sequentially in 3Q11.