Q1 sees continued growth in wireless broadband and networking

The wireless broadband and networking market saw continued growth in the first quarter of 2011, according to an updated global tracker from IDC.

In its latest report, the analyst claims wireless local area network (WLAN) equipment, with the exception of network interface controllers (NICs), scored year-on-year growth of 20.7 per cent.

NICs are devices that enable wireless broadband access on desktop systems, such as USB dongles and PCI or miniature PCI Express cards.

Excluding these, the WLAN segment saw a fall of 5.5 per cent sequentially; however, IDC points out that the preceding quarter, the fourth of 2010, was particularly strong due to seasonal effects.

Performance was slightly stronger in retail sales, with networked consumer electronics helping the category to a 2.8 per cent sequential decline and annual growth of 21 per cent.

Rohit Mehra, director of enterprise communications infrastructure at IDC, says: "The continued strength in the WLAN market in the first quarter of 2011 was encouraging, with all regions and both the enterprise and retail-class market segments making a contribution."