Strong WiFi growth in India

Mon, 05 Feb 2007 19:01:34 -0500

Interesting things are happening in India on the WiFi front, as a just-published 60-page report, titled "The Future for Wi-Fi in India: Opportunities and Challenges," shows. The report was prepared by Tonse Telecom and the Wi-Fi Alliance, and it offers an in-depth look at the emerging WiFi market in India. It is especially useful in discussing innovative companies and institutions which are involved in promoting the technology. Frank Hanzlik, the Wi-Fi Alliance managing director, said that India is emerging as a very important and exciting market for their members, both in-country and worldwide.

The study's major findings:

The WLAN network gear sector will exceed $275 million by 2011-12 (not including embedded chips), up from the current $23.1 million with the growth in the broadband wireless access.
By 2012, the combined WiFi market (consisting of WLAN networking
gear, systems integration, professional services--but not including embedded devices and laptops) is expected to exceed $744 million (CAGR of 61.4 percent).
Previously unconnected rural and urban areas can now have broadband connectivity based on hybrid WiFi and WiMAX deployments.
Dual-mode WiFi-cellular handsets are expected to bring higher throughput Internet connectivity to numerous Indian citizens who do not own computers.

Sridhar T. Pai, CEO of Tonse Telecom, says there is tremendous enthusiasm in India for WiFi technology. Hanzlik believes the Wi-Fi Alliance programs, including interoperability and security testing, will be key enablers of WiFi adoption in India, much as they have been in other markets worldwide.

For more on WiFi growth on the subcontinent:
- download the paper at the Wi-Fi Alliance website

Alvarion selects Freescale

Tue, 20 Sep 2005 20:01:36 -0400

Israeli WiMax pioneer Alvarion has selected Freescale's advanced PowerQUICC III processor for a WiMax base station designed to support both fixed and mobile broadband connectivity. Alvarion is offering WiMax solutions based on both the 802.16-2004 and 802.16e standards. WiMax is currently used for last-mile broadband access and backhaul for carrier infrastructure, enterprises, and WiFi hot spots. The technology will support personal broadband connectivity in the future, especially as its mobile version comes in during the second half of 2006.

Alvarion is already working on developing mobile WiMax solutions. Another Israeli company, Roncom, has won important contracts with leading Korean carriers to help deploy WiBro, the Korean version of WiMax.

For more on Alvarion's move
- see this Globes' report