International Wholesale Voice Carrier Market size was over USD 44.4 billion in 2024 and is estimated to reach USD 196.5 billion by the end of 2037, expanding at a CAGR of 13.2% during the forecast timeline, 2025-2037. In 2025, the industry size of international wholesale voice carrier is evaluated at USD 50.2 billion.
Increasing internet penetration for voice communication has generated significant growth in this industry. With the growing demand for data services, the need for high-quality voice communication has inflated. This has further propelled the requirement for carrier services such as VoIP in emerging landscapes.
The shift towards IP-based networks has driven innovation in the market. These technologies offer affordability, scalability, and improved quality, propelling the demand for wholesale voice services. Many telecommunication companies are now taking the initiative to offer competitive pricing over operations. For instance, in July 2020, Tofane acquired NOS International Carrier Services to achieve more economic operations in growing its business globally. The acquisition accelerated the development of iBASIS’ carve-out model, providing faster international marketing with competitive and predictable pricing. In addition, this allows future-proofing network upgrades, and profitability while mitigating cost and risks.
Growth Drivers
Challenges
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Base Year |
2024 |
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Forecast Year |
2025-2037 |
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CAGR |
13.2% |
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Base Year Market Size (2024) |
USD 44.4billion |
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Forecast Year Market Size (2037) |
USD 196.5 billion |
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Regional Scope |
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Technology (Traditional switching, VoIP)
In terms of technology, the traditional switching segment is set to capture international wholesale voice carrier market share of around 70.2% by the end of 2037. As legacy voice transmission solutions remain dominant despite the shift towards VoIP, the demand for traditional switching keeps heightening. The increment in voice termination services for international calls made for businesses is keeping the need for this segment steady. Regions with less-developed networking systems still rely on these technologies for high-volume traffic. However, the recent transformations have influenced consumers to adopt the latest technologies such as VoIP due to their affordability. Thus, companies are now focusing on making traditional switching more efficient and consistent for premium traffic routes.
Service (Voice Termination, Interconnect Billing, Fraud Management)
Based on service, the fraud management segment is expected to garner significant opportunities in the international wholesale voice carrier market. The increasing incidences of breaches while the purchase and sale of high-volume voice traffic across borders have pushed companies to incorporate security measures. Features such as real-time monitoring, analytics, traffic profiling, and authentication are driving growth in this segment. Companies are now teaming up with other leaders to leverage their services. For instance, in April 2024, GLF partnered with i3Forum to upgrade the Code of Conduct for detecting and preventing fraud in the international voice market. The partnership aims to introduce a new principle for reducing IRSF incentives to fight these issues in the wholesale industry.
Our in-depth analysis of the global market includes the following segments:
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Technology |
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Service |
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Transmission Network |
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Pricing Model |
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APAC Market Statistics
Asia Pacific international wholesale voice carrier market is poised to capture revenue share of around 32.8% by the end of 2037. The growth in this region is driven by the growing demand for global connectivity due to growing economies. Developing countries such as Japan, South Korea, China, and India are witnessing immense developments in their telecom industry. This is further inspiring foreign companies to invest in introducing new technologies for international communication. For instance, in August 2019, LG Uplus collaborated with Syniverse to establish a 5G roaming network between Korea and Finland. According to the agreement, the mobile operators of LG Uplus in Korea can access Elisa’s 5G services while traveling in Finland.
India is predicted to encounter significant growth in the market due to its large population and critical geographical positioning. The leading companies of this country including Tata Communications are taking this advantage to elevate their reach in this industry. They are also introducing new technologies to solidify their position in the global landscape. For instance, in February 2024, Tata Communications collaborated with Microsoft to enhance voice calling on Microsoft Teams, improving the user experience of global enterprises. The team will further allow users to make or receive seamless international PSTN voice calls on teams by enabling the GlobalRapide platform.
China is strengthening its operator network to escalate its progress in the market. Being an economic powerhouse, it has become a source of voice traffic and a transit hub for international calls. The country is world’s one of the largest outbound voice sources to regions such as North America, Southeast Asia, and Europe. The country’s technological development and massive mobile usage have also propelled international voice traffic. This is further creating a large consumer base for the global leaders of this industry. The country gradually explored the wholesale sector to offer more cost-effective options for domestic and foreign users.
North America Market Analysis
The North America landscape in the international wholesale voice carrier market is growing due to technological advancements in this region. The industry enabled seamless international communication by creating a reliable framework for pricing and routing. The advanced telecom infrastructure of this region has inspired service providers to avail high-quality carrier networks for cost-effective voice traffic transmissions. Many tech companies are now contributing to the evolving the industry through integrating advanced technology. For instance, in January 2024, Microsoft acquired AT&T to introduce Azure for Operators to digitalize the networking system. The company further aims to build elastic carrier-grade networks through AI and ML.
The U.S. is emerging to be one of the fastest-growing countries in the market by utilizing its advanced telecom infrastructure. Companies are now leveraging their voice traffic services by integrating industry expertise and assets. For instance, in November 2024, iQSTEL forged close ties with SwissLink Carrier AG to consolidate its international telecommunication portfolio. The strategic investment is expected to increase operational efficiencies, saving around USD 2 million each year according to its plan of becoming a global telecom powerhouse.
Canada is also paving its path of remarkable growth in the market due to the increasing demand for global voice traffic. The country is fostering opportunities for domestic companies to expand their network overseas. For instance, in February 2023, Iristel introduced its international telecommunication services in Kenya. The company aims to capture a large consumer base of over 50 million potential users by offering unified communication systems such as Webex and Microsoft Teams Calling.
The dynamics of the global international wholesale voice carrier market are changing due to the shift toward digitalization. The industry leaders are now introducing advanced calling solutions such as VoIP services to compete with other alternative communication platforms including WhatsApp. Integration of AI and machine learning has become a trend for key players in the sector. For instance, in March 2024, AT&T collaborated with Microsoft to launch AT&T Cloud Voice with Microsoft Teams Phone Mobile. The collaboration will provide a unified communication solution for mobile operators across the globe while introducing a new genre of 5G and AI in networking. Such key players include:
Author Credits: Abhishek Verma
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