Since wireless network infrastructure adoption is increasing around the world, demand for Wi-Fi equipment is growing rapidly. According to recent ABI Research Wi-Fi equipment market data, worldwide Wi-Fi access point shipments exceeded 18 million in the second quarter of 2010. These shipments include wireless routers, access points and gateways in both consumer and enterprise markets.

Worldwide Wi-Fi access point shipments in the second quarter of 2010 grew 6 percent compared to the first quarter. Total shipment volumes were strong in both enterprise and consumer market segments.

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“In both consumer and enterprise sectors, demand for 802.11n product is growing rapidly. In the second quarter, 802.11n products were the key drivers of Wi-Fi equipment market growth,” said Research Director Philip Solis.

A total of 5.9 million of 802.11n devices were shipped in the second quarter. This represents a 15 percent increase over the first quarter. Due to increase interest in upgrading from 802.11a/g to 802.11n technology, the deployment of 802.11n products is expected to accelerate even further in coming years.

At present, D-Link leads in the consumer access point market with a 19 percent share. After D-Link, Netgear and Linksys are positioned second and third for access points in SOHO/consumer markets. In the enterprise market segment, Cisco maintains the largest market share. Aruba networks is the second-largest player, with market shares of 54 percent and 13 percent, respectively.

Revenue increased 5 percent in the second quarter, while the average selling prices of Wi-Fi access points dropped approximately 1 percent. Research associate Khin Sandi Lynn notes, “Due to increasing competition between manufacturers aiming to provide better and more cost-effective solutions, the average selling price of these devices is expected to fall still further.”

ABI Research’s “Wi-Fi Equipment Market Data,” which is updated quarterly, profiles shipments and revenue trends categorized by form factor, protocol, region and vertical end-use market. Both enterprise and SOHO/consumer vendor shipments are analyzed where data is available.