Abstract
In 2006, approximately 213 million Wi-Fi chipsets shipped, representing a 32%
growth rate over 2005 Wi-Fi chipset shipments.
Market segments that drove growth in 2006 included the following:
- Mobile PCs (37% of total Wi-Fi chipset shipments)
- Home/SOHO Wireless Routers, Gateways, APs (18%)
- Portable CE (17%)
- External Clients (12%)
- Stationary CE (10%)
Although dual-mode cellular/Wi-Fi handsets represented only 3% of total
shipments for 2006, In-Stat believes that this category will be the break-out
market segment in 2007, and by 2009, will account for 20% of the total market.
In-Stat believes that during the forecast period from 2007 through 2011,
portable connectivity applications will drive Wi-Fi chipsets, with shipments
growing because of the large growth of the mobile PC segment, the portable CE
segment, and the dual-mode handset segment.
The dominant technology in 2006 was 802.11g, although 802.11a/g made a surge
with Intel' s inclusion of an 802.11a/g solution within its Centrino Duo
release in early 2006. Although Intel included an optional Draft n solution as
part of its Centrino Duo and Pro release in 2Q07, In-Stat believes that
802.11g will continue to dominate the Wi-Fi chipset market in 2007 and 2008,
with 802.11n not reigning supreme until 2009.
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