According to new analysis from Frost & Sullivan, vendors of network monitoring systems and protocol analysers can anticipate significant growth as the wireless networking industry migrates from 2G to 2.5G and finally to 3G technology. "With the movement of networks toward 3G, companies with expertise in protocol analysis of asynchronous transfer mode (ATM), Internet protocol (IP), and others are in an advantageous position to capitalise on the 3G protocol analyser market opportunity and increase market share", says F&S programme manager Jessy Cavazos.

'World Wireless Monitoring & Protocol Analyzer Markets' estimates that the wireless network monitoring and protocol analyser market - excluding the load and functional protocol analyser market - generated revenue of US$269mn in 2003 and forecasts that this would reach US$349.6mn in 2007.

F&S states that across the world there is an increasing need for more real-time monitoring and troubleshooting, which in turn, calls for continuous monitoring and analysis of key performance indicators (KPIs) and key quality indicators (KQIs). As the need for processing and handling of vast amounts of data increases, products that have distributed processing capabilities are expected to be successful in both monitoring as well as protocol analysis. "The sheer complexity of the protocols due to the gradual evolution to 3G and the greater need for data-focused protocol analysers and monitoring systems are likely to compel operators and equipment providers to buy 3G-specific protocol analyzers", comments Cavazos. However, F&S argues that the reduction of capital expenditure by many network equipment manufacturers (NEMs) and service providers and carriers (SP&Cs) could adversely affect the network monitoring and protocol analysers revenues, and states that end-users need to be fully convinced of the benefits and return on investment of these solutions.

F&S also believes that network monitoring systems are evolving beyond traditional monitoring and troubleshooting functions to include service and customer assurance systems. This is largely due to the increasing competition among operators and service providers to deliver enhanced quality of service (QoS) and data applications to customers. "As vendors realise the importance of meeting this need among service providers, they are attempting to include network and service assurance as a function of monitoring solutions", suggests Cavazos. "Network monitoring and protocol analysers play a pivotal role, with the former used for QoS after deployment and the latter used to pinpoint errors in the lab and during the installation and deployment phase".
John Williamson