While our world becomes ever more digital, the humble phone call across borders is not only surviving but thriving, with over 5 trillion minutes of connection logged in just the last five years.
Key Takeaways
- Global international voice traffic totaled 1.15 trillion minutes in 2022, up 4.2% from 2021.
- International voice minutes grew by 3.8% year-over-year in Q4 2023, reaching 295 billion minutes.
- From 2018 to 2022, cumulative international voice traffic increased by 22%, totaling over 5 trillion minutes.
- Year-over-year growth in international voice traffic was 2.1% in Asia-Pacific region for 2023.
- Europe generated 28% of global international voice traffic in 2022, totaling 322 billion minutes.
- Middle East international voice traffic grew 8.5% YoY to 95 billion minutes in 2023.
- US to India route carried 75 billion international voice minutes in 2022.
- UK to Pakistan international voice corridor saw 45 billion minutes in 2023.
- China to US voice traffic totaled 60 billion minutes annually in 2022.
- Tata Communications held 15% market share in international voice traffic in 2022.
- BT Global Services carried 8% of global international voice minutes in 2023.
- PCCW Global's share in Asia-Pacific voice traffic was 12% in 2022.
- VoIP adoption in international voice traffic rose from 15% in 2019 to 28% in 2023.
- 5G-enabled international voice calls increased 45% YoY in 2023.
- Decline in PSTN international voice usage by 18% from 2020-2023.
International voice traffic grew in 2023, led by mobile usage and increasing VoIP adoption.
Global Volume and Growth
- Global international voice traffic totaled 1.15 trillion minutes in 2022, up 4.2% from 2021.
- International voice minutes grew by 3.8% year-over-year in Q4 2023, reaching 295 billion minutes.
- From 2018 to 2022, cumulative international voice traffic increased by 22%, totaling over 5 trillion minutes.
- Mobile international voice traffic accounted for 68% of total international voice minutes in 2023.
- Fixed-line international calls declined by 12% in 2022, while mobile grew by 7%.
- International voice traffic revenue reached $45 billion in 2022 globally.
- Average international call duration was 3.2 minutes in 2023, up from 2.9 in 2020.
- Peak international voice traffic hour saw 150 million concurrent minutes in 2022.
- International voice traffic from VoIP sources rose to 25% of total in 2023.
- Global international outbound voice minutes per capita stood at 145 minutes in 2022.
- International voice traffic rebounded 15% post-COVID in 2022 from 2020 lows.
- Wholesale international voice traffic minutes hit 850 billion in 2023.
Global Volume and Growth Interpretation
Despite the death of distance being wildly overhyped, the world keeps talking—mostly on mobiles, with impressive brevity and for staggering sums of money.
Major Traffic Routes
- US to India route carried 75 billion international voice minutes in 2022.
- UK to Pakistan international voice corridor saw 45 billion minutes in 2023.
- China to US voice traffic totaled 60 billion minutes annually in 2022.
- India to US route grew 12% to 90 billion minutes in 2023.
- Saudi Arabia to Pakistan voice minutes reached 35 billion in 2022.
- Germany to Turkey international calls: 28 billion minutes in 2023.
- US to Mexico voice traffic: 120 billion minutes, 80% mobile in 2022.
- UK to India corridor: 55 billion minutes in 2023.
- Russia to Ukraine pre-2022 peak: 20 billion minutes monthly.
- Philippines to US remittance voice calls: 40 billion minutes in 2022.
- UAE to India voice traffic: 50 billion minutes in 2023.
- Canada to India: 25 billion minutes annually in 2022.
- Italy to Romania: 22 billion minutes in 2023.
- France to Algeria: 30 billion minutes in 2022.
- Australia to China: 18 billion minutes in 2023.
- Spain to Morocco: 15 billion minutes annually.
- Netherlands to Turkey: 12 billion minutes in 2022.
- Singapore to India: 10 billion minutes in 2023.
Major Traffic Routes Interpretation
While the data is a staggering ledger of global connectivity—stretching from the frantic pulse of remittance calls to the quiet hum of familial bonds—it's also a stark ledger of distance, proving that no matter how many billions of minutes we share, the people we love are never quite close enough.
Operator Market Shares
- Tata Communications held 15% market share in international voice traffic in 2022.
- BT Global Services carried 8% of global international voice minutes in 2023.
- PCCW Global's share in Asia-Pacific voice traffic was 12% in 2022.
- Colt Technology Services international voice market share: 5% in Europe 2023.
- Verizon Business captured 10% of US outbound international voice in 2022.
- Orange Wholesale held 7% global share in 2023 international voice.
- Level 3 (Lumen) voice traffic share: 6% in North America 2022.
- Telefónica International Wholesale: 9% in Latin America voice 2023.
- Singtel Global Services: 11% APAC international voice share 2022.
- Deutsche Telekom Global Carrier: 4% Europe voice share 2023.
- BICS (Proximus) held 13% wholesale voice market in 2022.
- Telenor Global Services: 3% in Middle East voice traffic 2023.
- Etisalat International: 8% MEA region share 2022.
- Globe Telecom (Philippines) local international gateway share: 22% 2023.
- China Unicom Global: 14% China outbound voice 2022.
- Rogers Communications Canada intl voice: 7% national share 2023.
Operator Market Shares Interpretation
A mosaic of global chatter reveals that while Tata's 15% leads the pack, the fight for the world's ear is a fragmented symphony where even a 22% local stronghold by Globe Telecom is just one note in a complex and competitive score.
Regional Distribution
- Year-over-year growth in international voice traffic was 2.1% in Asia-Pacific region for 2023.
- Europe generated 28% of global international voice traffic in 2022, totaling 322 billion minutes.
- Middle East international voice traffic grew 8.5% YoY to 95 billion minutes in 2023.
- Africa accounted for 12% of inbound international voice minutes in 2022, or 138 billion minutes.
- Latin America international voice traffic volume was 180 billion minutes in 2023, up 3%.
- North America outbound international voice traffic reached 210 billion minutes in 2022.
- Asia-Pacific region saw international voice minutes of 520 billion in 2023, 45% of global total.
- CIS countries international voice traffic increased 6% to 45 billion minutes in 2022.
- Oceania international inbound voice traffic was 25 billion minutes in 2023.
- Sub-Saharan Africa mobile international voice traffic share was 75% of regional total in 2022.
- Western Europe fixed international voice traffic declined 10% to 120 billion minutes in 2023.
- South Asia international voice traffic peaked at 220 billion minutes in Q3 2022.
- Central America international voice minutes totaled 35 billion in 2023, up 4.5%.
- Eastern Europe international voice traffic grew 5.2% YoY to 85 billion minutes in 2022.
- Caribbean region international voice traffic was 18 billion minutes in 2023.
- North Africa outbound international calls reached 40 billion minutes in 2022.
- Southeast Asia international voice traffic share of global was 18% in 2023.
Regional Distribution Interpretation
While the Asia-Pacific region dominates the global conversation with a colossal 520 billion minutes, the real chatter reveals a plot twist: Europe quietly holds the script as the established lead, yet the Middle East's 8.5% surge and mobile-centric Sub-Saharan Africa show that the future of international voice is being written by the understudies, all while Western Europe's fixed-line tradition quietly exits stage left.
Technological and Economic Trends
- VoIP adoption in international voice traffic rose from 15% in 2019 to 28% in 2023.
- 5G-enabled international voice calls increased 45% YoY in 2023.
- Decline in PSTN international voice usage by 18% from 2020-2023.
- OTT voice apps captured 35% of international voice equivalent minutes in 2023.
- Average revenue per international voice minute fell to $0.038 in 2022 from $0.045 in 2020.
- Regulatory changes reduced international settlement rates by 20% in Africa 2022-2023.
- Migration to IP-based international voice networks reached 65% globally in 2023.
- Impact of WhatsApp calls on traditional voice traffic: -22% decline in 2022.
- International voice traffic forecast to grow at 2.5% CAGR to 2027.
- Economic inflation boosted voice traffic demand by 5% in emerging markets 2023.
- Post-pandemic travel resumption increased roaming voice traffic 30% in 2023.
- AI noise cancellation improved international call quality, boosting usage 8% in 2023.
- Blockchain-based voice settlement trials reduced costs 15% in pilots 2023.
- Satellite voice traffic for international remote areas grew 12% to 5 billion minutes 2023.
- Cybersecurity incidents disrupted 2% of international voice traffic in 2022.
- Green energy adoption in voice gateways cut carbon footprint 10% in 2023.
- International voice traffic during 2023 holidays surged 25% week-over-week.
Technological and Economic Trends Interpretation
The ghosts of copper-wire calls are being swiftly exorcised by a chorus of apps and algorithms, as the world's conversations, now cheaper and clearer but under constant digital siege, insist on flowing faster than ever.
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