Mobile operators 'must embrace VoIP'

24/05/2010

Delaying the adoption of voice over internet protocol (VoIP), which could reduce business telecoms costs, is not an option anymore for mobile operators because customers want it now, it has been suggested.

A recent report published by telecoms industry analyst Ovum found that mobile operators need to embrace VoIP to neutralise the threat posed by internet call providers, who could take over the market, providing even lower calls for business telecoms customers.

Steven Hartley, principal analyst at Ovum, said that because "there is clearly demand" for VoIP from mobile users, it is a "waste of time, money and effort" for operators to try and suppress its emergence.

In order to compete in the VoIP market, mobile network operators cannot afford to wait for the deployment of the beyond-3G networks, he said.

Some mobile network providers have partnered up with existing VoIP providers already to "monetise the relationship, while also serving demand".

There will be 288 million mobile VoIP users by the end of 2013, according to an estimate published earlier this year by market research firm In-Stat.

Posted by Tom Barnett