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VoIP subscriptions in Europe have increased at a greater rate than in the US since 2006, research has claimed.

Europe's VoIP service growth is believed to have been benefited from greater market competition, according to TeleoGraphy.

While US subscription numbers to VoIP have reached 11.8 million by the second quarter of 2007, demand from incumbent service providers is far greater in Europe, which is predicted to host a VoIP market twice the size of the US by 2011.

TeleoGeography analyst Stephan Beckert noted that VoIP has emerged as a mainstream service in the US, "causing traditional service providers some headaches".

"In Europe, VoIP could fundamentally change the structure of the fixed-line market," he added.

Figures from Internet World Stats reveal that 39.8 per cent of the European population have internet access compared with 14.8 per cent of the rest of the world.

A 206.2 per cent growth in internet usage has been recorded in Europe so far this decade.