European operators should embrace – not fight - VoIP

Vonage’s announcement that it has teamed up with UK Wi-Fi service provider The Cloud to offer free VoIP calls is the first major move in this direction, which will force mobile operators to follow suit.

VoIP, transmitting voice conversations over a data network using Internet Protocol, is slowly emerging as a viable technology option, seen by many as a disruptive technology that will have a fundamental impact on the telecoms landscape. But is VoIP an opportunity or a threat? This report will tell you.

VoIP is now challenging established technologies with the introduction of products and services that meet the needs of modern business and technology savvy consumers. Consequently, service providers in Europe are aggressively looking for ways to offer VoIP to consumers. VoIP subscriber and revenue forecasts are included in this report to help you identify the most promising European markets.

In the enterprise and SMB markets, IP-based and hosted IP telephony services are gaining in importance and are replacing TDM based products, ultimately leading to a complete take over. On the vendor side, traditional PBX vendors are being forced to develop products that are based on IP technology. This report will tell you which individual European markets will see the highest growth in PBX and hosting IP telephony lines and revenues until 2011.

In the consumer market, ISPs are beginning to challenge incumbent and Tier 2 fixed-line service providers by promoting VoIP as a secondary line that includes added benefits such as free calling and cheap rate calls to numerous destinations both inland and abroad.

VoWLAN and Wi-Fi communications products and services are also starting to appear in the enterprise and consumer markets. This is forcing Tier 1 handset vendors to develop new products to meet the demand created by the implementation of the above technologies. Other companies such as ATStarcom, D-Link, E28 and many more with a background in the IP sector are also developing products and services including cellular handsets for VoWLAN and Wi-Fi networks.

Fixed-line and mobile operators are equally affected by VoIP and face numerous threats that are forcing them to re-evaluate their business plans. ISPs have started offering inexpensive VoIP call services, which is eroding at the revenue of traditional operators. This erosion is occurring simultaneously as that experienced as a result of fixed-mobile substitution. This report evaluates measures that can be adopted by operators to counter these threats and exploit the potential opportunities on offer.

This report will provide you with answers to the following questions as they apply to your industry:

• Which European countries offer the greatest opportunity for VoIP service adoption and hardware?
• What impact will VoIP have on telco and mobile business models?
• What strategies are open to these players?
• Can VoIP be profitable for telecoms service providers?
• What can be learned from European VoIP deployments?
• How will VoIP evolve and what will the future landscape look like?
• What is the regulatory and market outlook for naked DSL in Europe?

This 130-page report analyses the emergence of VoIP in the European enterprise, business and consumer sectors. Detailed country by country forecasts are provided and discussed in terms of geographical and technological markets. The report also provides strategies and recommendations that are applicable to fixed and mobile operators, handset vendors, hotspot owners and ISPs.

This report argues that VoIP is going to become a major force affecting all aspects of business and consumer telephony. It discusses measures that companies need to implement in order to remain competitive.

Why you should buy this report

Mobile and fixed-line operators: Gain an understanding of the directions that the market is evolving and how it relates to the needs of subscribers. Read about case studies in successful market deployment of VoIP and the reasons behind them

Handset makers: Gain an insight into the requirements of mobile operator and enterprise customers as to the type of terminals they would want to deploy in the future. See examples of devices being introduced to the market

ISPs: Learn what services and business models are needed to challenge fixed-line and mobile operators. Find out about convergence issues that will impact on your business.

VoWLAN and Wi-Fi industry participants: Find out what products and services are being developed and what fixed-line and mobile operators are doing to counteract the threats posed by disruptive technologies.

Investment companies: Learn what are the requirements for a successful deployment of services, the development of VoIP, VoWLAN and Wi-Fi services and products, and gain an insight into investment opportunities and emerging companies in this space.

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