Wireless LAN just a flash in the pan

Wireless local area network (LAN) technology is inferior to its wired up cousin.

Wai Sing Lee, analyst for Frost & Sullivan who issued the report, said: "Wireless LAN technology will not be able to match or surpass the speeds of fixed cable LANs, which questions the continued viability of the technology itself."

Lee believes wireless LAN technology will fall short and users will opt for faster and established wired networks (wireline LANs).

Alan Smith, sales manager at KMH voice and data network installation and provision firm, agreed with Lee's statement: "Current technology for wireless mobile doesn't provide a high bandwidth service. Future wireless will deliver portability and provide a wireless path for inter-building bridging applications."

Lee said participants' survival in this market will depend on providing overall networking systems that encompass all areas, from hardware to security.

Marc Wilkinson, deputy CTO at Riversoft, said the report was focusing on the wrong area: "It's security rather than speed that's going to be an issue. Wireless LANs can operate at 11megabits per second, the same speed as ordinary Ethernet, which is enough for most if not all end users."

Wilkinson added: "Security is the big hole in wireless technology. Most people ignore it's impact and find the solution put in place is much more complex than anticipated, pushing the administration costs up so slowing the technology's uptake."