Wireless sensor network IC shipments recover ground in 2010

The demand for wireless sensor networks is giving signs of significant growth following a period in which its adoption was affected by the economic downturn. In 2009, 802.15.4 chipset shipments were down almost 30 percent compared with the previous year. But according to the latest ABI research report on the WSN market, a robust uplift in shipments in 2010 will boost growth from a little more than 10 million chipsets in 2009 to 645 million in 2015, a CAGR of 99.6 percent.

Principal analyst for ABI research, Jonathan Collins says, "Because they are based on emerging technology, wireless sensor network adoption suffered during 2009 as pilots and early projects were scaled back or put on hold. However, 2010 has seen a significant rebound and strong shipment growth."

The economy, however, hasn't been the only factor affecting market growth, and it should be realized that different markets have seen varying adoption rates. There is a growing trend toward 802.15.4-based shipments compared with the proprietary solutions that have traditionally dominated the area.

Initiatives like ZigBee RF4CE for home entertainment systems have already begun to drive significant market growth, and while ZigBee is far from the only 802.15.4-based technology offering short range wireless connectivity, it is leading in the early adoption of "smart energy" and home automation. Other key markets for WSN adoption are home, building and industrial automation.