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Service Provider Featured Article
January 03, 2008
More Growth Ahead for VoIP and Video Over IP
By Rich Tehrani, President and Editor-in-Chief
Founded in 1996, iBasis has had a front-row seat for just about the entire growth run of VoIP
to date. However, iBasis has been more than a spectator; iBasis has become one of the largest carriers of international voice traffic in the world and a leading provider of prepaid calling services and mobile data services for mobile operators. The company’s customers include many of the world’s largest carriers, fastest-growing consumer VoIP providers, and leading mobile operators who outsource their international voice traffic to iBasis to reduce their cost of transport and service support.
to date. However, iBasis has been more than a spectator; iBasis has become one of the largest carriers of international voice traffic in the world and a leading provider of prepaid calling services and mobile data services for mobile operators. The company’s customers include many of the world’s largest carriers, fastest-growing consumer VoIP providers, and leading mobile operators who outsource their international voice traffic to iBasis to reduce their cost of transport and service support.
Alan R. Bugos is vice president of Advanced Technology and Engineering at iBasis. I had the opportunity to catch up with Alan to discuss some of the trends currently at work in the industry and to get his insight on the marketplace.
RT: What trends are you noticing in the communications market?
AB: More demand and use of streaming or real-time video over the Internet, the need for high-quality and higher-bandwidth IP access, and more IP interconnect points, i.e., WiFi (News - Alert) hotspots.
access, and more IP interconnect points, i.e., WiFi (News - Alert) hotspots.RT: Did 2007 finish the way your company expected?
AB: Yes, to a certain degree, we still see margin compression in the VoIP services industry.
in the VoIP services industry.RT: Is 2008 going to be a better year than 2007?
AB: Yes, we believe there will be a marked improvement in business for this year.
RT: What technologies have altered the market the most?
AB: I think peer-to-peer technologies, applications and services have had the biggest impact on the market, and that more people are using them to communicate.
AB: They are competing for international minutes in the telecom space.
AB: They will become contenders for peer-to-peer communications and will help drive customers to use IP communications technologies.
RT: Do you have predictions about the 700 MHz auction?
AB: No predictions but it will be interesting to see what happens.
RT: What are the brightest spots in your business going forward?
AB: Brightest spot is that more networks are moving to IP networks and using IP technologies.
AB: The benefits of peering networks and technologies.
RT: What unique perspectives will you offer?
AB: Practical uses and applications of peering networks and technologies.
RT: What is the most exciting market change we can expect in communications in technology in 2008 and beyond?
AB: More use and demand for Video over IP.
RT: Please make one surprising prediction for 2008.
AB: Google comes out with a big voice or VoIP strategy.
Rich Tehrani is President and Group Editor in Chief at TMC (News - Alert). In addition he is the Chairman of the world’s best attended IP Communications event, Internet Telephony Conference & EXPO.
Mark your calendars! Internet Telephony Conference & EXPO — the first major IP communications event of the year — is just days away. It’s not too late to register for the event, which takes place in Miami Beach, FL, January 23–25, 2008. The EXPO will feature three valuable days of exhibits, conferences and networking that you won’t want to miss. So what are you waiting for? Sign up now!
