Singapore is projected to be the third largest wireless local area network (WLAN) subscriber market in the Asia-Pacific, with 25,000 subscribers expected by the end of 2003, according to a study by IDC.
While asymmetric digital subscriber line (ADSL) continues to be the dominant broadband access technology in the Asia Pacific through 2007, IDC noted that the region is seeing growing interest and deployment of other broadband access technologies including metro Ethernet and public WLAN services.
“Service providers are gearing up to expand wireless network services, aiming to foster WLAN as strong revenue generator for them,” said IDC. Across the AP region, public WLAN hotspot service coverage areas expanded in 2002 and IDC believes there will be a surge in numbers in 2003.
In a separate study, the Infocomm Development of Authority (IDA) of Singapore reported that one in eight Singapore residents would like to have WLAN access installed at public places. Among this group, 76 per cent indicated the need for wireless LAN access at caf