Korea wires up for success

Calls from VoIP hardware to South Korea are expected to dramatically reduce in cost over the next few years, according to research from the International Data Corporation (IDC).

The report believes that there will be growth in the VoIP service market of 37.2 per cent over the next five years, with growth still accelerating, according to Korea IT Times.

A key driver of the growth has been the fact that VoIP is not bound to any specific hardwired item, allowing the telephone number, and the VoIP user, to remain mobile.

Kim Young-wook, a researcher at IDC Korea, said: "Since number portability took effect many telecommunication companies ... have strived to expand the service market for homes and this has led to a significant growth in the VoIP service market."

"Such growth will continue on while the home phone market radically drops off," he said.

As VoIP access increases in Korea, economic drivers such as increasing competition and greater investment will work together to drive down the cost of VoIP for users in the country.

The market could be in for a major growth over the next few years, if IDC's analysis is correct.