According to Ruckus Wireless, as the demand for wi-fi connectivity increases the market will experience specific developments during 2012. Wi-fi capacity will become just as important an issue as wi-fi coverage in 2012 and service providers will have to deploy wi-fi networks with the bandwidth to cope with highly populated and dense environments, such as the crowds of spectators expected at the 2012 Olympic Games in London.
This will become apparent as more wireless operators offload data traffic onto wi-fi networks and wi-fi hotspots become universally accessible thanks to the adoption of the 802.11u standard, which will allow users to roam seamlessly between hotspots without the need for constant authentication. It is estimated that service providers will spend up to $1 billion worldwide on wi-fi network expansion to support the need for greater capacity.
As sales of smartphones and tablets with wi-fi capabilities continue to increase at a rapid rate it is estimated that the average number of wi-fi enabled devices per person will reach three in 2012. Tablets have been adopted by consumers and businesses alike and they are optimised for entertainment consumption and corporate use.
In addition to the above, Ruckus Wireless predicts that the number of wi-fi connections will equal or surpass all other type of network connectivity in 2012, that wi-fi range and speeds will double by the end of 2012, and the adoption of 802.11u will become rampant in 2012 bringing carriers into the enterprise market.
Based on the accelerating activity of the past six months, the industry can expect to see rapid expansion of wi-fi networks worldwide that will open up new markets and enable broadband users to enjoy the truly reliable and high-bandwidth experience they've been waiting for.
