Price declines to make mobile VoIP solutions more affordable?

A predicted decline in the price of long-term evolution (LTE) mobile broadband could make it more affordable for businesses to use voice over internet protocol (VoIP) solutions on their phones.

Tariff Consultancy has released a new report that suggests the cost of connecting to such hi-tech internet links will fall over the years to come.

Indeed, it is predicting a 60 per cent decrease in charges between now and the end of 2016.

It studied prices for the technology from about 30 providers – spread across Europe, Asia and North America – before reaching its conclusions.

"Although it is clear that LTE subscribers and revenues will grow substantially over the next five years, LTE mobile broadband services will start to adopt the same mass market characteristics of existing fixed broadband," explained Margrit Sessions, managing director of the research body.

Eurostat recently revealed 47 per cent of European Union businesses are now using broadband services, up from 27 per cent in 2010, which could allow more to run VoIP solutions efficiently.