3G Draws Cisco into the Cellular Fixed Wireless Terminal Market

The advent of 3G has suddenly made providing wireless broadband connectivity to fixed wireless terminals (FWTs) a lot more interesting for traditional networking equipment and broadband device vendors. Two of the four main classes of FWT - SOHO/consumer terminals and business terminals - are seeing increased participation from vendors such as D-Link and Cisco Systems.

"The lure of 3G is significant for networking equipment vendors in the fixed wireless terminal space," says ABI Research senior analyst Sam Lucero. "Particularly the relatively recent introduction of 3G routers to this market has broadened the playing field and made this market attractive for them, especially in developed economies with deployed 3G infrastructure."

The four major segments of the FWT market are SOHO/consumer, industrial, mobile, and business.

In the SOHO and consumer segment, FWT enables voice communications, especially in regions where wired infrastructure is inadequate. The 3G routers mentioned above (D-Link is a prominent vendor) are included here, although used for data connectivity. Some 3G routers have a slot that receives a PC card or USB stick; some employ Wi-Fi while other newer models integrate the cellular module into the device itself.

"In the 3G router category thereĆ's some pushback from carriers who see these devices as reducing the potential number of individual subscriber lines," notes Lucero. "There are, however, exceptions. In Australia, for example, Telstra has strongly pushed the concept."

Business terminals serve small businesses or branch offices, providing either a primary or backup connection over cellular networks. They can also serve as network router backup cards or PBX adaptors. Cisco is getting noteworthy in this segment with its 3G "HWIC" - High-speed WAN Interface Card. Other networking companies are getting involved as well.

Posted to the site on 17th December 2008