ARTICLE JUNE 2001

The road to complete Internet Access

To most people, access to the Internet is via home or workplace PCs. This will change in coming years. With the shift in consumer mentality and the appearance of what some call the digital generation, the challenges of easy and cost-effective Internet access open up a new range of issues that must be addressed before the expectations of this 'mind set' can be fulfilled. This includes the demand for wireless access devices as an alternative to PCs, as well as prices and regulatory considerations that are so closely linked to this market.

Whatever fads and trends are projected as being the "next big thing", it is clear that eventually convergence in technology and demand by consumers will make portable Internet access a requirement in everyday life. The area of contention at present is how this portable market will compare to the already established PC access sector. With more intensive use of both home and work PCs for Internet access, portable devices, such as 3rd generation mobiles and PDAs, must be both practicable and affordable before the uptake will occur. Even then the PC market will continue to be important.

What also counts a lot for the user, at home or "on the move", is user-friendly interfaces and access paths: "Bluetooth" for the home environment, together with wireless microwave local loops, will certainly contribute a lot in the acceptance rating of these new communication means.

Whether it will be portable devices or PCs, the enabling technology behind Internet access is an area that MEDEA+ has identified as key to its aim of accelerating the move to a European Information Society. Research into advanced semiconductor devices and partnerships between manufacturers of Internet access devices and electronics manufacturers are areas that must be organised and encouraged. MEDEA+ is facilitating this process for the microelectronics industry throughout Europe.

The value of making European companies more competitive is apparent when you study the forecasts for the Internet access market. According to Cahners In-Stat Group total sales of Internet access appliances will jump from $219million in 2000 to $1.3 billion in 2005. For semiconductor manufacturers this will be reflected in sales of microprocessors for the Internet access market from $18 million in 2000 to $91 million in 2005. Flash and DRAM sales are also expected to grow by 5% and 27% respectively. The advantages of competitive technology and working practices for European companies in these global markets are obvious, as are the organisational capabilities of MEDEA+.