One billion devices to feature embedded
wireless LAN in 2011
IHS iSuppli has estimated shipments of electronic products
with embedded wireless local area networking technology
(WLAN) will surpass one billion units for the first time
ever in 2011 and then rise to more than two billion in 2015.
The highlights of IHS iSuppli research:
Shipments of consumer electronics, computer, communications
and automotive products with built-in WLAN capability such
as Wi-Fi will amount to 1.2 billion units in 2011, up 35.8
percent from 880.4 billion units in 2010. In 2015, shipments
will nearly double from the 2011 level to reach 2.2 billion.
In 2011, 19.7 percent of suitable devices shipped worldwide
will have some form of embedded WLAN, up from 15.6 percent
in 2010. By 2015, that percentage will rise to 28.1 percent.
The penetration of embedded WLAN has risen dramatically
in recent years, expanding from just 1 percent of these
devices in 2002.
IHS iSuppli research tracks 28 major categories of electronic
products that are adopting WLAN technology. These devices
include PCs, cell phones, digital cameras and camcorders,
home and handheld video game consoles, televisions, set-top
boxes and portable navigation devices.
Several product categories in 2011 already are expected
to have 100 percent penetration for embedded WLAN, including
media tablets, access point/routers and handheld video game
consoles. Others are near 100 percent, such as mobile PCs
and home video game consoles.
In terms of shipments, cell phones represent the largest
category for embedded WLAN, with 512.8 million units set
to ship this year. Mobile PCs will come in second at 230.1
million units.
During the next few years, the fastest growth in embedded
WLAN will be generated by other categories of devices.
Leading the way will be automotive electronics head units,
whose embedded WLAN penetration will rise at a compound
annual growth rate (CAGR) of 98.2 percent from 2010 to 2015.
The penetration of embedded WLAN technology in liquid crystal
display televisions (LCD TVs) will rise at a CAGR of 77.8
percent from 2010 to 2015. By the end of 2015, a significant
majority of LCD TVs will include embedded WLAN, up from
2 percent in 2010 and 9 percent in 2011.
Other fast-growing segments in the coming years will be
digital camcorders and still cameras, DVD players and recorders,
and e-book readers.
"In today's world of connected electronics, consumers
expect seamless access to Internet communications, services
and content in any place and at any time," said Dr.
Jagdish Rebello, senior director and principal analyst for
communications and consumer electronics at IHS. "From
sharing Facebook news on their iPads, to viewing Hulu programs
on their flat-panel TVs, to streaming audio and video in
cars with their automotive infotainment systems, consumers
depend on built-in WLAN technology to get the most out of
their electronic products. Because of this, embedded WLAN
is becoming the norm for all kinds of devices."
