Consumer VoIP Connections Keep Growing

The use of virtual PBX services in business today is becoming more common, as more and more discover the benefits of a hosted telephony system that can route external calls through a network of internal phone lines using a software-based technology. Aside from eliminating the need to legacy PBX hardware to create a sophisticated and professional phone system, virtual PBX also works with voice over IP (VoIP) services, which are Internet-based and much cheaper than landline connections.

The popularity of VoIP is reaching businesses and consumers worldwide. No longer limited to the use of Skype, many consumers are now turning to VoIP for all of their telephony needs and are doing away with traditional phones. According to Telecompaper’s quarterly report on the Dutch fixed telephony market, for example, Dutch consumer VoIP connections grew to 5.1 million in 2013. This reflects the growing trend toward IP-based services in and out of the business world. The VoIP lines increase was largely prompted by a growing number of connections over FTTH/B networks, which increased 5.1 percent on a quarterly basis. Specifically, cable VoIP increased by 0.8 percent, and DSL VoIP lines increased by 0.5 percent during the fourth quarter.

What’s more, it appears that—at least for the Dutch industry—this continued increase in fixed VoIP services has actually kept the whole Dutch fixed telephony market afloat, so to speak. As Telecompaper observed in its report, the 6.8 percent decrease in PSTN/ISDN lines and 2.5 percent drop in WLR lines was offset by the quarterly growth of overall VoIP connections, leading to a 0.2 percent growth (roughly 12,000 lines added) for the whole fixed telephony market, ending 2013 with 6.25 million lines.

As other forms of telephony dwindle in usage, VoIP shows signs of forging ahead with no signs of stopping. With more and more consumers opting for VoIP services over traditional fare, the telephony market is shifting—not just for the Dutch, but worldwide.

Edited by Rory J. Thompson