VoWiFi (Voice Over Wi-Fi)

Chronicle

2024: The global Wi-Fi telephony market grew 16% over the year to $10.3 billion

At the end of 2024, the costs in the global Voice Over Wi-Fi (VoWiFi) market reached $10.29 billion. This is 16% more compared to 2023, when expenses in the relevant area were estimated at $8.9 billion. This is stated in a study by Market Research Future, the results of which were published in mid-January 2025.

VoWiFi is a wireless voice technology. In other words, we are talking about IP telephony via Wi-Fi networks. One of the key drivers of the market in question is the increasing penetration of smartphones: users want to constantly stay in touch - regardless of the coverage of the cellular network. This fuels the demand for VoWiFi services, which allow you to make and receive voice calls using Wi-Fi as an alternative to regular cellular signals. The development of the VoWiFi segment is also facilitated by the introduction of cloud communication platforms.

The authors of the study cite the growing popularity of OTT (Over-The-Top) services as another stimulating factor - this is a method of delivering digital content through existing Internet connections. Many instant messengers make it possible to make voice and video calls via the Internet at no additional cost. The convenience and cost-effectiveness of such services have made them the preferred choice for many consumers, especially in regions with limited or expensive cellular coverage. However, some mobile operators are integrating VoWiFi into their offerings.

Government initiatives and regulatory support are also driving the expansion of the VoWiFi industry. Reliable and accessible communication infrastructure is critical for economic and social development. Therefore, the authorities of many countries around the world are focused on adopting policies and rules that contribute to the deployment and adoption of VoWiFi technology. Such initiatives include subsidizing the creation of VoWiFi infrastructure, allocating unlicensed spectrum for relevant services, and developing requirements that promote healthy competition and interoperability between mobile network operators and OTT service providers.

By the type of devices that are used to work with VoWiFi services, the market is segmented into smartphones, regular phones, Wi-Fi tablets and laptops. Among these segments, smartphones occupy the largest share due to their wide distribution and usability. 2.4 and 5 GHz bands are distinguished by frequency range: the first of them is the most common when using VoWiFi. Among the significant players in the industry are named:

• AlcatelLucent Enterprise;
• Samsung Electronics;
• Cisco Systems;
• Mavenir;
• Nokia Networks;
• Huawei Technologies;
• Qualcomm Technologies;
• VoiceCore;
• Ericsson;
• Ribbon Communications.

North America leads geographically with a share of more than 35% in total revenue in 2023: the dominance of the region is due to the presence of large telecommunications companies and the high level of adoption of smartphones and mobile data services. Europe is in second place, and the Asia-Pacific region closes the top three. At the same time, South America, the Middle East and Africa are showing rapid expansion of the VoWiFi segment.

Market Research Future analysts believe that in the future, the CAGR in the market under consideration will be 15.61%. As a result, by 2032, costs on a global scale could increase to $32.82 billion.^[1]

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