The
VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) sector will continue to
grow over 2008 despite the global downturn, according to
new research by business and financial analyst Grant
Thornton.
The firm predicts that as telcos and IT companies battle it out,
the market will reap £13.5 billion worth of global revenue by 2010.
It adds that migration from fixed line to mobile and VoIP services
will increase exponentially over the coming years and result in a
raft of consolidation in the sector through 2008, signalling the
death knell of traditional telephony.
Sarika Patel, head of technology at Grant Thornton, claims that
the doubling of the VoIP customer subscriber base in 2006, and
four-fold in the last two years, is merely one reason why the VoIP
worldwide customer base will top 250 million subscribers in two
years.
Patel stated that the key drivers for VoIP uptake over the past
12 months have been improving technology solutions and enhanced
ability for ISPs to cater for VoIP calls in the uptake in the
technology. She commented, "VoIP is no longer next generation
telephony, it is here now, and 2008 should see strategic
acquisitions of independent software developers and ISPs by large
telcos looking to consolidate their VoIP offerings."
However, Patel also warned that there were still concerns
regarding VoIP that needed immediate action in order to cement VoIP
as the next generation of voice and video communication, in
particular security.
She added, “Security remains a major concern. VoIP is more
secure than it ever was, but eavesdropping, viruses and fraud are
still a threat. Currently, software
encryption products are available, but it is inevitable that
encryption will be integrated directly into VoIP systems in the
near future. If this is successfully managed and brought to market,
VoIP will garner the confidence of business and uptake will
jump."
For Grant Thornton, other concerns include quality of service
issues, reliability, scalability and the development of sensible
industry regulation.