802.11ac-enabled device shipments to soar by 2015

The continued quest for connectivity in a multitude of devices has now been joined by an additional requirement, an insatiable appetite for speed. 802.11ac is a new Wi-Fi technology standard developed to provide Gigabit speeds. In-Stat forecasts that the impact of this new standard will be equally as fast, as it will push shipments of 802.11ac-enabled devices from 0 in 2011 to nearly 1 billion by 2015.

Frank Dickson, Vice President of Research, says:

The goal of 802.11ac is to provide data speeds much faster than 802.11n, with speeds of around 1Gbps. The timing for 802.11ac approval is to have a draft standard created by 2011 and have the first 802.11ac products out by the end of 2012. The technology behind 802.11ac has not been finalized. However, it will likely involve bonding four or even eight channels together and some tweaks to the modulation scheme.

Some of the research findings include:

• Mobile devices with Wi-Fi will still dominate shipments. In 2015, shipments of mobile phones with embedded Wi-Fi are projected to approach 800 million.
• By 2015, In-Stat projects that 100% of mobile hotspot shipments will be 802.11ac-enabled.
• E-readers Wi-Fi attach rates will increase from 3% in 2009 to 90% by 2015.
• In 2012, Wi-Fi automotive shipments will reach nearly 20 million.

Source: In-Stat