Public Wireless Networks to Grow Fast over Next Five Years: Study

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Friday, July 11, 2003

Public Wireless Networks to Grow Fast over Next Five Years: Study

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Public wireless computer networks or Wi-Fi hotspots will see fast growth over the next five years, with the number of hotspots worldwide increasing to over 200,000 locations from about 28,000 in 2003, according to a study released Thursday.

The study, by US technology research firm Allied Business Intelligence, predicted that revenues generated by Wi-Fi hotspots will rise to 3.1 billion US dollars in 2008 from 59 million dollars this year.

The study also found that while North America has the largest number of hotspots currently, with 12,400, the Asia-Pacific regionis expected to overtake North America by 2008.

Wi-Fi hotspots recently won endorsement from a number of major corporations, including Intel, making airports, hotels, coffee shops and even McDonald's restaurants into locations where a notebook computer user can connect to the Internet, without plugging a cord into a telephone line jack.

"In order for this industry to continue its growth, it has to more clearly communicate the technology's benefits to end-users, in order to generate wide scale adoption," said Tim Shelton, ABI'sDirector of Wireless Research.

Shelton believes selling Wi-Fi services combined with cellular and other operator offerings could help stimulate consumer interest in hotspots. "There are some terrific opportunities for operators to start bundling services, offering consumers a more data intensive usage model, as well as a more compelling package of benefits and value," Shelton said.

The ABI study examines only commercial Wi-Fi hotspots. The figures on Wi-Fi hotspots in its report exclude free, publicly accessible locations such as in parks and on college campuses.

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