The wireless LAN, being touted as one of the larger growth markets in the networking industry, is estimated to grow by 168% over the next five years. The number is a bit lower than some experts have been predicting.

The recent study, conducted by Synergy Research Group, indicates that wireless LAN equipment sales will reach $1.3 million by the end of 2001 and hit around $3.5 billion annually by the end of 2005.

One can't complain too much about a near tripling in sales over a five-year period.

"Wireless LAN equipment continued to display its immunity to the present and unfavorable global economic conditions," said Aaron Vance, WLAN industry analyst at the Synergy Research Group.

"Furthermore, the strength of this market is especially significant when one considers the forthcoming arrival of the much-anticipated 802.11a wireless devices, along with the ratification of the 802.11g wireless standard by the IEEE."

WLAN market leaders for the third quarter were Cisco, Agere, Linksys, Buffalo (Melco) and D-Link.