WLAN revenue boost forecast

China's revenue from sales of wireless local area network (WLAN) equipment are expected to grow by at least 33% a year between now and 2008, state media reported. Citing market research from US firm In-Stat/MDR, Xinhua said earnings from WLAN equipment were forecast to hit almost US$160 million by 2008, up from US$54 million this year. The report said that while foreign manufacturers still hold the lion's share of the market, decreasing costs for both WLAN equipment and notebook computers would drive demand sharply upwards. Notebook computer sales are expected to increase by 30% in 2004, the report said, with a growing proportion of those will be shipped with WLAN capability built-in.