"Wireless Sensor Networks 2011-2021" shows WSN will grow rapidly from $0.45 billion in 2011 to $2bn in 202. These figures refer to WSN defined as wireless mesh networks, self-healing and self-organising that will eventually enable automatic monitoring of forest fires, avalanches, hurricanes, failure of country wide utility equipment, traffic, hospitals and  more over wide areas, something previously impossible.

It has already started already with more humble 'killer' apps such as automating meter readings in buildings, and manufacture and process control automation.

Market for non-mesh wireless sensor systems in general is far larger and some proposed standards apply to both. For example, in addition to the above, the market alone for Real Time Locating Systems at $0.38bn in 2011 rises to $1.6bn in 2021.

  ANTENNA SYSTEMS

Improving the performance of wireless devices and communication networks at Antenna Systems 201which taking place in mid September at Nashville, Tenesee throws an interesting focus on that essential component for wireless, namely new (above) antenna designs that are enabling important advancements in performance and functionality for wireless devices and communication networks currently.

• High-end phased array antennas developed for the military now edge into commercial use forapplications such as automotive radar for adaptive cruise control, collision avoidance systems and civilian communications.
•  Sophisticated laser equipment allows wireless device manufacturers to design their antenna directly into the device’s plastic housing, reducing time to market and creating new designs not feasible previously.
• Advancements in 'active' antenna systems can improve performance for many wireless devices overcoming various signal interferences and are now prime for application to a broader array of mobile devices.
•  Large scale adoption of Smart Grids will revolutionise the use of wireless meters for utilities and home. Designing embedded and under-glass antennas to enable the meters is a business with which device makers and network operators are having come to terms.
•  Proliferation of tablets means the next generation will including LTE/4G cellular radio functionality for higher data rates as well as WLAN, Bluetooth and GPS.
• Operators of 4G networks face a mobile data “tsunami” from the proliferation of smart phones, tablets and asset tracking devices increasing exponentially. Cost per bit of data transmitted will become a critical factor in business success for service providers and new approaches to antenna technology will make a difference to the bottom line.
• 4G network planning and performance improvement finds service providers and device makers working with the complexities of LTE and WiMax air traffic, where data eclipses voice activity. Evaluating advanced wireless networks performance is sufficiently complex to require a new breed of tools and methods for planning, testing and optimisation.
   

NCR TELECOM AND TECH BUSINESS GROWTH
NCR has become a ServiceEdge Partner for Aruba Networks'  LAN (WLAN) solutions,  enabling it to help telecom companies and system integrators on a global basis to meet demand for Aruba's ubiquitous wireless access solutions.

ServiceEdge is an 'invitation-only' partner programme from Aruba Networks for systems integrators and professional services organisations that have made significant investments in Aruba training, certifications, lab equipment and have a proven track record of successfully managing large, complex deployments, partnering seamlessly with value-added resellers inside their accounts.

With enterprise Wireless LAN market exhibiting 22% year-on-year growth, according to the May 2011 Enterprise WLAN quarterly report from Dell'Oro Group, extending NCR's wireless capability is central to its aggressive growth strategy for telecom & technology business, as enterprises  look for a single, strategic partner to manage wireless network needs, reducing administration costs and IT complexity.

Market demand for knowledgeable WLAN engineers, project managers, installers and related professionals grows rapidly, driven by an increased use of wireless laptop, tablet and smartphone devices and 802.11n networks.

NCR claims it has already provisioned over 100,000 Wi-Fi hotspots globally on behalf of telecom companies, OEMs and integrators, delivering high performance, security and availability levels. Around 13,000 NCR service professionals manage nearly 12m service actions yearly worldwide and it is a strategic service provider to the world top-20 OEMs,  over 40 telecom companies (8 of  global top 10).
 

ISSUES OF SECURITY
Ruckus, reports Network Computing, has a technology  BeamFlex. Every WLAN player has a feature called "beam forming" which varies the energy at the transmit antennas in ways that are meant to optimise and shape output signals for the benefit of each wireless client. Lab studies show that some WLAN makers don’t always get it right.

Ruckus’ BeamFlex uses adaptive antenna technology to take the notion of beam forming to a whole other place and its website www.ruckuswireless.com tutorials on beam forming and technical wireless topics are explained in a very understandable form.

Now the company has launched its new FlexConnect feature set that simplifies provisioning secureaccess for the growing multitude of mobile devices likely to hit any corporate wireless network. 

Though WPA2 and 802.1x have become staples of the laptop-centric WLAN, getting a variety of device types configured at the supplicant level can be onerous and time-consuming. FlexConnect answers the challenge for Ruckus environments in a couple of different ways.

One FlexConnect tools called Zero IT is a framework for getting clients configured with proper supplicant settings. This is where Extensible Authentication Protocol (EAP) type, credentials, servers and certificates, and certain Active Directory parameters, are set in what otherwise can take several steps to accomplish manually.

Part of FlexConnect, Dynamic PSK creates per-user encryption keys that provide an alternative to RADIUS-based WPA encryption methodologies (offered by more Wi-Fi vendors as a convenient answer to traditional client security methods.)

A tool called SpeedFlex also makes troubleshooting smart devices easier running a battery of tests from each client when trouble is afoot. Current Ruckus customers with ZoneDirector controller-based networks will enjoy the functionality of FlexConnect.