Mobility is changing the way in which we live and work. Companies and consumers are motivated by new opportunities that make it possible to browse the Internet and to get access to company servers as required - anywhere and anytime.

WLAN (Wireless Local Area Network) is increasingly being deployed for corporate and home networking. Although little quantitative research is available, RTX Telecom has tried to segment WLAN endusers based on the results of qualitative research. Please note that these figures are estimates only.

What are the drivers for getting WLAN

Mobility is changing the way in which we live and work. Companies and consumers are motivated by new opportunities that make it possible to browse the Internet and to get access to company servers as required - anywhere and anytime.

Another motivating factor for the business community is the reduced costs involved in cabling, as no networking cables are required. As regards the consumer market, wireless networking is easier to install than wired LAN cabling. Speed also influences the consumer market, as many users prefer rapid access when browsing the Internet.

What are the hindrances to WLAN access?

Companies and consumers are afraid of unwelcome intruders gaining access to the network either by hacking or by listening in on communications. Financial aspects and ease of use are also crucial considerations.

Business travellers

Business travellers typically send and receive their e-mail or browse the Internet from hot spot access points such as cafés, hotels, customer companies, etc. Whether travelling at home or abroad, they use laptops or PC notebooks.

Workers on the move

Many employees work in large buildings, where their activities are not necessarily restricted to one office. Doctors and nurses working in hospitals, for example, need remote access to medical records or laboratory reports as they move from one ward to another. Many factory workers have similar requirements in situations where their workplace is not restricted to one area alone.

Collective buildings

Schools and blocks of flats also provide the ideal location for WLAN solutions. Sharing ADSL lines not only provides savings, but also allows access from different points within the same building. The telecommunications solutions of the future will provide even further savings by utilising DSL/VoIP. However, while customers will be satisfied, telecom providers will lose up to 30% of their revenue.

Single remote access

Users in this category are typically IT enthusiasts or employees with special needs. The latest technology is not only attractive to this group, but in some cases quite simply a necessity, as it is the key to providing the opportunity to work from home.

Family networking

DSL/CATV has meant that more and more families are taking out broadband Internet subscriptions. And with multiple PCs in the home, there are even more requirements for shared printers, etc.

Networking companies

According to Microsoft "All employees will have WLAN access" in 2% of intender companies.