Worldwide home network penetration is expected to increase to 33.2 percent by 2018 from 24.8 percent in 2013, said ABI Research.
The growth driver will be the continued spread of broadband services and demand for multiscreen video services. Aspects such as server-powered broadband routers with integrated Wi-Fi access points and usage of fixed broadband connections to offload expensive mobile data packages are slower to move to emerging markets. In some cases, this is driven primarily by low service ARPU while in others it is simply limited fixed broadband infrastructure.
“Wi-Fi remains the most important networking technology, but despite an ever growing number of connected devices in consumer households, the demand for next generation wireless technologies will likely occur via normal upgrade cycles rather than technology driven purchases,” said ABI Research Senior Analyst Michael Inouye.
Wired networking technologies continue to play an integral role in service provider deployments of whole home DVR installations and extending the network beyond the reach of the router or gateway.
MoCA remains the most integrated wired networking technology, albeit still confined to the service provider market. In this regard HomePlug has had more of an impact in the retail market, notably with integrated hybrid products such as wireless range extenders.
While standards based hybrid solutions like nVoy are still relatively new, this market could grow significantly, particularly if companies like Amazon, Google, Microsoft, Sony, and Apple continue to invest in original programming and launch premium video services.
With the launch of new premium video services these companies could look to hybrid networking solutions to offer consumers the most flexible and robust solution available – by embracing other technologies companies could also open the door to other products and services like Smart Home applications.
picture source: digitaltrends
