CAMPBELL, USA: The combined business and residential/SOHO VoIP services market to grow to $76.1 billion in 2015, forecasts market research firm Infonetics Research.

The research firm today released excerpts from its latest VoIP and UC Services and Subscribers report, according to which revenue from SIP trunking services to businesses is forecast to grow at a phenomenal 52 per cent compound annual growth rate (CAGR) from 2011 to 2015.

Diane Myers, directing analyst for VoIP and IMS, Infonetics Research, said: "We've increased our short- and long-term forecasts for the voice over IP services market, as adoption in the residential, SOHO, and business segments continues unabated. The residential segment continues to make up the majority of VoIP services revenue, however, the real growth is in the business segment, particularly SIP trunking services and hosted VoIP and unified communication services."

The number of seats for hosted business VoIP and unified communications services is on track to more than double between 2011 and 2015.

"Following a healthy 2010, the overall VoIP services market is on track to grow another 17 per cent in 2011," expects Myers.

VoIP Services Market Highlights
Due to continued demand for cloud-based services, IP Centrex and hosted unified communication service revenue grew 22 per cent and seats grew 25 per cent in the first half of 2011 compared to the second half of 2010.

The three leaders of the global residential VoIP services market -- NTT, Comcast, and France Télécom -- continue to add new VoIP subscribers in their respective regions.

The number of residential and small office/home office (SOHO) subscribers to hosted VoIP services is expected to grow from 179 million in 2011 to 262 million worldwide by 2015.