WiFi deployment 3 times the pace of 3G

July 16, 2004

Public access WiFi systems are currently being deployed three times faster than - and at tenth of the cost of - 3G network base stations, claims specialist implementation company AlanDick.

"We're now installing many more WiFi hotspots than 3G base stations," said John Oliver, AlanDick's WiFi business development manager.

"We're installing 100s of public access WiFi Access Points a month for the four main Wireless Internet Access Service Providers (WISPs) in the UK," he said, adding that AlanDick is also doing its bit to cut costs by combining the site survey and site installation processes on the same visit.

Oliver's comments come in the wake of BT Openzone's commitment to have around 13,000 WiFi hotspots available worldwide to its subscribers by the end of the year, whilst its UK coverage rises steadily on the back of network expansion and roaming arrangements.

"Now that Nokia has committed to including WiFi facilities as standard in its upcoming Communicator 9500 mobile phone, and other WiFi-equipped GSM handsets are also reportedly in the pipeline, the prospects for WiFi have never looked better," said Oliver.

But will we ever see WiFi as a standard option in a 3G handset? Not in the immediate future, he cautions.

"Let me put it another way - whilst 3G handset form factors are now firmly out of the talking brick category, users will still have to wait for premium 3G or GSM handsets to support WiFi as a standard feature. In the meantime, they should think seriously about equipping themselves with a WiFi card for their notebook or PDA, and enjoy the benefits of low-cost wireless surfing," he explained.

And with branded WiFi PC and compact flash cards coming in at around the £50 mark, Oliver argues that it is cheaper and easier for notebook and PDA users to buy a card now, rather than pay a hefty premium for the facility on their next mobile phone.

"When you compare the costs of Web surfing and email access via WiFi to those of GPRS, the payback time for a WiFi card can be measured in a matter of months, after which time most business users are actually saving themselves money," he said.

Oliver also predicts that WiFi will become the road warrior's medium of choice for mobile data within the next 12 months.