Infonetics: SIP Trunking Explodes Amid Cloud Demand

Vendors and channel partners are increasingly pitching cloud telephony and unified communications (UC) services alongside SIP trunking as more multi-site businesses seek out hybrid solutions, according to a report from Infonetics Research.

SIP trunks jumped 83 percent in 2012 from the previous year, as multi-site businesses adopt SIP trunking for cost savings and flexibility, according to the research.

Even so, managed IP PBX services, which focus on dedicated enterprise systems, remain the largest business VoIP services segment, and sales grew 9 percent in 2012.

“The market for VoIP services has moved well beyond the early adopter stage to mainstream status in many developed countries,” said Diane Myers, principal analyst for VoIP, UC and IMS at Infonetics Research. “New geographic regions are opening up, and SIP trunking and hosted UC continue to heat things up, fueling growth.”

The global VoIP services market, including residential and business VoIP services, totaled $63 billion in 2012, up 9 percent from 2011, the firm found. And, due to continued demand for enterprise cloud-based services, hosted VoIP and UC services revenue grew 17 percent in 2012 from 2011, the most of any segment.

The combined business and residential VoIP services market is forecast by Infonetics to grow to $82.7 billion in 2017.

NTT retains its leadership as the world’s largest residential VoIP service provider in 2012, with 7.6 percent of global subscribers, followed by Comcast and France Télécom; all three providers continue to add new residential VoIP subscribers in their respective regions, according to Myers.