Cable could become obsolete as wireless takes off
29 August 2001
News
The business case for cable-based networks in certain market sectors will be rendered redundant in two years, by when wireless networks will come to dominate the market as a more useful, convenient and cheaper way of installing and maintaining intranets.
"This will also impact on the mobile environment, where employees will be able to use their company's networks for mobile communications, be it via a laptop or cellphone," says Dave Shepherdson, CEO of SPS South Africa, the value-added networking distributor. "I foresee the demand for wireless networking being similar to the take-off of cellular telephony in South Africa."
His predictions are supported by two recent international reports. A survey conducted by Digi International at Las Vegas' Networld and Interop trade show found that 67% of mid-to-senior IT networking and management decision-makers intend to adopt wireless connecting devices in industrial automation and retail environments. SPS represents Digi products in South Africa.
The move to wireless was also noted in a March 2001 report by Gartner Group, which predicted that spending on wireless technologies, while currently subordinate to cable, will grow faster in absolute terms, at an annual rate of 21,3%.
Although cost is currently regarded as a barrier to entry, Shepherdson says this is inaccurate as device prices are dropping, and when the savings incurred through not physically having to cable buildings are factored in, wireless networks will soon be lower-cost than cable.
"Unless a company wants to use a bandwidth-intensive application such as videoconferencing, wireless is ideal for all other business applications, be they static, graphic or text-based," Shepherdson says, pointing out that wireless already provides a throughput of 11,3 Mb to the desktop.
"The potential in retail alone is huge, with cash registers, barcode scanners, credit card readers, ordering forms and data query facilities all being made mobile and instantly accessible. When combined with existing thin client technology, there can be little doubt that wireless networking is set to be the next great revolution in digital communication," Shepherdson concludes.
For further information contact Dave Shepherdson, SPS, (011) 315 6892, [email protected]
Further reading:
Hitachi reinvents asset management solution
News
Hitachi Energy, in collaboration with Microsoft, is accelerating the digital transformation of essential infrastructure - from electricity networks and transportation corridors to heavy industrial operations - by reinventing how critical assets are managed and maintained.
Read more...
Mycronic releases mixed Q4 results
News
Mycronic reported mixed Q4 results for the year ended January to December 2025, while delivering record full year order intake and net sales.
Read more...
AGOA: Businesses should diversify or face significant exposure
News
Cross-border payments platform Verto has called on South African and African businesses to accelerate their transition toward a “post-AGOA” trade strategy following President Donald Trump’s signing of a one-year extension to the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA).
Read more...
European components distribution growing
News
European electronic components distribution returned to growth in the fourth quarter of 2025, according to newly released figures from DMASS Europe.
Read more...
Silicon Labs reports strong growth
News
Silicon Labs has reported robust financial results for the fourth quarter and full year 2025, with significant YoY revenue gains and shifting market dynamics.
Read more...
Siemens acquires Canopus AI
ASIC Design Services
News
The acquisition extends Siemens’ comprehensive EDA software portfolio with computational metrology and inspection to help chipmakers solve critical technical challenges in semiconductor manufacturing.
Read more...
Micron breaks ground on new wafer fabs
News
Micron Technology has advanced two major semiconductor manufacturing initiatives that together reflect the company’s strategic response to sustained global demand for memory solutions.
Read more...
Texas Instruments announces planned acquisition of Silicon Labs
News
Texas Instruments Incorporated and Silicon Laboratories recently announced a definitive agreement under which Texas Instruments will acquire Silicon Labs, combining two leaders in semiconductor technology.
Read more...
AI-fueled supercycle doubles memory market revenue
News
The ongoing surge in artificial intelligence is set to propel both the memory and wafer foundry sectors to unprecedented revenue levels by 2026, according to TrendForce.
Read more...
Research agreement for EUV tech
News
Gelest, Inc., a Mitsubishi Chemical Group company, recently announced a research agreement with IBM to test Gelest precursor materials for dry resist EUV lithography.
Read more...
printer friendly version