This IDC study presents the latest forecast from 2005 through 2009 for the Western European wireless LAN market. This study is segmented into WLAN clients ? PCI, PC cards, USB, non-PC applications, embedded WLAN connections, and other NICs ? and WLAN infrastructure (in-building access points, building-to-building access points, wireless switches/controllers, and wireless routers/gateways). A further segmentation is made into total revenue for residential, hotspot, and enterprise equipment for the total Western European market. Moreover, country forecasts are available for 16 Western European countries for WLAN clients and infrastructure.

Technologies covered in IDC's definition of WLAN are 802.11b, 802.11a, 802.11g, 802.11n, and dual-band solutions.

The Western European WLAN market will continue to move in two directions: consumer-oriented products and enterprise/public-oriented products. "In 2004 the consumer market experienced enormous growth and at the end of last year it accounted for 60% of the total WLAN revenue," says Evelien Wiggers, senior research analyst IDC European Telecommunications and Networking. "While consumers sales will continue to take an important share of the total revenue, enterprise sales will gradually gain share throughout the forecast period."