Press & PR

Consumer demand for VoIP has contributed to rising sales in broadband value-added (BVA) services, it has emerged.

Sales in consumer BVA services increased by 81 per cent in 2006, making $21.6 billion (?10.7 billion) over the year, vnunet.com reported.

BVA services, including VoIP, are estimated to have comprised 25 per cent of overall basic broadband access revenue last year, the analyst firm's report added.

Point Topic senior analyst John Bosnell commented that IP telephony, security, online gaming, home networks and music were among the top five contributing services in terms of value, the website reports.

With IP telephony and security accounting for 56 per cent of total consumer BVA services revenues last year, he added: "That shows how important it is for ISPs (internet service providers) to have a strong position in these areas."

According to i.t.vibe, the number of VoIP users is set to double over the next 12 months with a further 1.8 million people predicted to take up the service.