WLAN still networking's golden child

But growth slows in Q2 as the transition to 802.11n devices winds down

The wireless LAN market remains the fastest-growing network equipment segment despite growth slowing in Q2, according to Infonetics Research.

Compared with the frenetic growth seen last year, WLAN sales swelled by a more muted 14 per cent year on year in the second quarter to $1.12bn as the market comes to the tail-end of its transition to 802.11n devices.

Growth in the same quarter last year stood at 30 per cent.

Although Q2 saw the first shipments of enterprise-class 802.11ac access points, the new standard will have only a minor impact in 2013, Infonetics directing analyst Matthias Machowinski said.

Still, WLAN growth rates are still outstripping other networking segments, including enterprise routing, which Infonetics says grew six per cent year on year in Q2.

After years in the doldrums, outdoor access point shipments are back on a strong growth trajectory, booming 22 per cent, the market watcher said.

Perennial WLAN market leaders Cisco and Aruba both gained revenue share during the quarter, it added.

Some 90 per cent of access points shipped in the quarter were based on the 802.11n standard, according to Infonetics.