Abstract
Executive Summary
Public Internet access via Wi-Fi has become very common place. Most laptop computers today come embedded with Wi-Fi. Other consumer electronic devices, such as cellphones and handheld gaming devices are also adding Wi-Fi as a product features. For this research, In-Stat treats municipal networks as a sub segment of the hotspot market.
Some of In-Stat' s key 2007 findings about hotspots are as follows:
- Of those respondents to our survey who have used a hotspot in the past, over half have used it for both work and personal reasons.
- Increased interest in using non-laptop devices at hotspots.
- One of the big drawbacks to muni-network services is that the network has limited coverage indoors, where people use hotspots the most.
- Generating revenue from hotspot access fees remains challenging as many users expect free access.
- In-Stat forecasts North American service revenues will start to decline in 2010 due to the deployment of WiMAX and the increased availability of free locations.
- Outside of North America, while revenues will not decline, revenue growth rates will slow due to same reasons as found in North America.
- Service providers need to do a better job marketing their services to businesses for corporate travelers.
- While revenue growth remains limited, the number of deployments will grow. This includes both free and fee-based locations. The municipal networks included in the forecasts are limited to those that provide public Internet access.
Figure 1 shows In-Stat' s forecast for worldwide hotspot deployments for 2006 through 2011. During that time, In-Stat forecasts the number of deployments will grow from around 150,000 in 2006 to well over 200,000 by the end of 2011.
HIGHLIGHTS
- Service providers are reporting an increased number of sessions originating from devices other than laptops.
- Users still expect free access.
- WiMAX, and the abundance of free access, will limit future revenue growth.
Table of Contents
- Executive Summary
- Introduction
- TAP Current Usage Results
- Municipal Network Services
- Non-Laptop Devices
- Forecasts
- Deployments
- Revenues
- Methodology
- Glossary
- List of Tables
- List of Figures
- Related In-Stat Reports
- Offices
List of Tables
- Table 1. Reasons for Using a Hotspot
- Table 2. Expectations for Future Hotspot Use
- Table 3. Worldwide Shipments for Dual-Mode Wi-Fi/Cellphones (in Millions), 2006-201
- Table 4. Worldwide Shipments for Handheld Gaming Devices with Wi-Fi (in Millions), 2006-2011
- Table 5. Worldwide Hotspot Deployments, 2006-2011
- Table 6. Worldwide Hotspot Deployments by Region, 2006-2011
- Table 7. Worldwide Hotspot Deployments by Venue, 2006-2011
- Table 8. Worldwide Airport Hotspot Deployments by Region, 2006-2011
- Table 9. Worldwide Cafe Hotspot Deployments by Region, 2006-2011
- Table 10. Worldwide Hotel Hotspot Deployments by Region, 2006-011
- Table 11. Worldwide Municipal Network Deployments by Region, 2006-2011
- Table 12. Worldwide Hotspot Subscriber Revenues (US$ in Millions), 2006-2011
List of Figures
- Figure 1. Worldwide Hotspot Deployments, 2006-2011
- Figure 2. TAP Wi-Fi Usage of Public Wi-Fi Hotspots
- Figure 3. Where Respondents Have Used/Plan to Use Hotspot
- Figure 4. Barriers to Using a Hotspot
- Figure 5. Venues Where Respondents Have Used Hotspots
- Figure 6. Devices Previously Used, or Planned to Use, to Connect to a Hotspot
- Figure 7. Usage of Free and Fee-Based Hotspots
- Figure 8. Employer Paid Hotspot Service Subscription
