Mobile VoIP traffic predicted to rise

Mobile VoIP traffic is predicted to rapidly increase over the next five years, according to a new report.

Juniper Research has revealed that the number of VoIP minutes carried by mobile networks is set to rise from 15 billion minutes in 2010 to 470.6 billion in 2015.

Traffic is expected to rise in all areas but particularly in developed markets, such as Europe and the US, following the expansion of 3G and 4G networks.

Anthony Cox, senior analyst at Juniper Research, claimed the switch to mobile VoIP solutions will hit mobile operators hard.

"Wi-Fi mobile VoIP is potentially the most damaging of all VoIP traffic as it bypasses the mobile networks altogether. We forecast that mobile VoIP over Wi-Fi will cost operators $5 billion (£3.3 billion) globally by 2015," he said.

The report also expects mobile phone companies to form partnerships with VoIP providers and provide their customers with the service.