Comms managers turn to wireless

Comms professionals are placing their confidence in technologies like Wi-Fi, GPRS and Bluetooth, according to research from the Communications Management Association (CMA).

But concerns over vendor interoperability and security still need to be addressed for the market to blossom, said the 419 ICT professionals interviewed in the user group's Communications Market UK report.

Some 62 per cent of the survey's respondents said web services will be the key enabler for IT usage in the enterprise, but wireless technologies also figure highly.

Fifty-two per cent of corporates use GPRS, 35 per cent Wi-Fi and 42 per cent Bluetooth, with Wi-Fi usage increasing 21 per cent year on year, driven mainly by an increase in flexible working and the extension of traditional local area networks.

"[Capital expenditure] has risen and a confidence is returning to the market," said a CMA spokesman.

Manufacturing, travel and transport sectors are the major users of wireless, the study revealed.

But there is still market uncertainty around 3G, with 61 per cent of ICT professionals having no immediate plans for the technology.

The CMA report also indicated that broadband was reaching maturity in the enterprise. Broadband usage rose by 31 per cent last year, with 66 per cent of firms using ADSL and 20 per cent evaluating adoption.

But 65 per cent of companies believe greater utilisation of fibre is essential for 'Broadband Britain', and 73 per cent maintained that previous regulator Oftel failed to open up the last mile to competition.

CMA members were also uncertain of new regulator Ofcom's powers, but 71 per cent said they would prefer UK regulation to EU directives.