Analyst Recent Announcements Show 802.11n Is Now In Mainstream

February 26, 2008

Major 802.11n deployments such as last week's announcement by Duke University that it has chosen the standard for a huge new WiFi installation help bolster the case that 820.11n has graduated from an emerging standard to one that has arrived.

That's according to a research note emailed this morning by Mike Jude, a senior analyst with Nemertes Research.

Citing addtitional installations at the University of Miami, Concordia University, and hotel management company Lodgian, Jude writes these developments "signal (s) the end to any remaining doubts about 802.11n viability.

"As Nemertes has noted in previous analysis, Cisco's 2007 move to capture 802.11n early has galvanized the WiFi market," Jude writes. "Many vendors have moved to push 802.11n products to customers. In addition to Cisco, these include: Aruba, Ruckus, Xirrus, Trapeze, and Meru."

Jude then includes his views on the Impact of these 802.11n adaptions on Enterprises, Vendors and Investors.

Enterprises: 802.11n can no longer be considered an emerging standard. Any new WiFi deployments or retrofits need to be 802.11n-compatible. Increasingly, other WiFi flavors will be unavailable.
Vendors: The war is over. If you don't have viable 802.11n offerings now, you may have a serious competitive liability.
Investors: Vendors of 802.11n solutions will do better competitively. Any investments in WiFi vendors without such solutions must be examined closely.

Forgive the reference to longago Beatles' hit (hey they all were long ago), but hey, Jude, I think you've got a point.