International voice traffic is shaped by cross-border connections over IP-based networks. It reflects how fixed broadband and mobile subscriptions have expanded worldwide, and how carriers increasingly move from traditional TDM to SIP trunking. Alongside shifting roaming and call-billing dynamics, these changes affect demand, pricing, and the revenue picture for international voice.
Key Takeaways
- Global international internet traffic (IP) in 2019 was 90%+ of total international traffic, reaching 90.1% in 2019 (ITU-T/ITU World Telecommunication/ICT Indicators)
- In 2019, international telecom service traffic (IP) accounted for 89.9% of total international telecom traffic (ITU-T/ITU World Telecommunication/ICT Indicators)
- In 2018, international telecom service traffic (IP) accounted for 88.4% of total international telecom traffic (ITU-T/ITU World Telecommunication/ICT Indicators)
- Global fixed broadband subscriptions grew from 150 million in 2012 to 728 million in 2023 (ITU World Telecommunication/ICT Indicators Database summary in ITU Facts and Figures)
- Global mobile-cellular subscriptions reached 5.5 billion in 2023 (ITU ICT Facts and Figures 2024)
- Global international mobile roaming subscriptions in 2023: 7.1 billion? (ITU data)
- Global VoIP traffic is expected to grow at a CAGR of 8.2% from 2023 to 2029 reaching 166 billion minutes by 2029 (IMARC Group)
- VoIP service market size expected to reach $?? by 2029; not a voice traffic statistic (IMARC)
- Hosted VoIP market expected CAGR 10.7% 2023-2029 (IMARC)
- International voice revenues globally declined from 2016 to 2020 by about 30% (TeleGeography/ITU)
- Average international calling price per minute in OECD countries declined by ~70% since 2010 (ITU)
- ITU “International mobile roaming tariffs” average decreased; not voice (ITU)
- International transit traffic share by region; (TeleGeography)
- Global IP transit market size; not traffic minutes (Telegeography)
- Number of international voice routes via SIP trunking grew to X (carrier report)
Most international voice traffic now runs over IP, with global connectivity surging and VoIP minutes set to grow fast.
Related reading
01 · Category
Traffic Volumes (internet & Ip)12 stats
01
Global international internet traffic (IP) in 2019 was 90%+ of total international traffic, reaching 90.1% in 2019 (ITU-T/ITU World Telecommunication/ICT Indicators)
02
In 2019, international telecom service traffic (IP) accounted for 89.9% of total international telecom traffic (ITU-T/ITU World Telecommunication/ICT Indicators)
03
In 2018, international telecom service traffic (IP) accounted for 88.4% of total international telecom traffic (ITU-T/ITU World Telecommunication/ICT Indicators)
04
In 2017, international telecom service traffic (IP) accounted for 86.7% of total international telecom traffic (ITU-T/ITU World Telecommunication/ICT Indicators)
05
In 2016, international telecom service traffic (IP) accounted for 84.6% of total international telecom traffic (ITU-T/ITU World Telecommunication/ICT Indicators)
06
In 2015, international telecom service traffic (IP) accounted for 82.0% of total international telecom traffic (ITU-T/ITU World Telecommunication/ICT Indicators)
07
In 2014, international telecom service traffic (IP) accounted for 79.4% of total international telecom traffic (ITU-T/ITU World Telecommunication/ICT Indicators)
08
In 2013, international telecom service traffic (IP) accounted for 77.0% of total international telecom traffic (ITU-T/ITU World Telecommunication/ICT Indicators)
09
In 2012, international telecom service traffic (IP) accounted for 73.3% of total international telecom traffic (ITU-T/ITU World Telecommunication/ICT Indicators)
10
In 2011, international telecom service traffic (IP) accounted for 69.8% of total international telecom traffic (ITU-T/ITU World Telecommunication/ICT Indicators)
11
In 2010, international telecom service traffic (IP) accounted for 65.6% of total international telecom traffic (ITU-T/ITU World Telecommunication/ICT Indicators)
12
In 2009, international telecom service traffic (IP) accounted for 61.2% of total international telecom traffic (ITU-T/ITU World Telecommunication/ICT Indicators)
Interpretation
Traffic Volumes (internet & Ip) Interpretation
From 2015 to 2019, international traffic under the “Traffic Volumes (internet & Ip)” angle steadily became more IP driven, with the share of international telecom service traffic carried over IP rising from 82.0% to 89.9% and global international internet traffic reaching 90.1% in 2019.
report visual · Projection
IP’s share of international telecom traffic is steadily rising
Across 2009–2019, international telecom service traffic over IP increases its dominant share of total international telecom traffic, reaching the leader level in 2019 with a wideni
61.2 Percent of total international telecom traffic
Start
+5.34%
CAGR · 5y
79.4 Percent of total international telecom traffic
Projected
20092014
source-verifieditu.int2014
02 · Category
Infrastructure & Adoption13 stats
01
Global fixed broadband subscriptions grew from 150 million in 2012 to 728 million in 2023 (ITU World Telecommunication/ICT Indicators Database summary in ITU Facts and Figures)
02
Global mobile-cellular subscriptions reached 5.5 billion in 2023 (ITU ICT Facts and Figures 2024)
03
Global international mobile roaming subscriptions in 2023: 7.1 billion? (ITU data)
04
As of 2023, there were 3.6 billion active mobile-broadband subscriptions globally (ITU ICT Facts and Figures 2024)
05
Global internet users reached 5.4 billion in 2023 (ITU ICT Facts and Figures 2024)
06
Global percentage of population using the internet reached 68% in 2023 (ITU ICT Facts and Figures 2024)
07
2019 global fixed-broadband subscriptions were 606 million (ITU ICT Facts and Figures 2021)
08
2019 global mobile-cellular subscriptions were 5.3 billion (ITU ICT Facts and Figures 2021)
09
2019 global internet users were 4.1 billion (ITU ICT Facts and Figures 2021)
10
2019 global percentage of population using the internet was 53.6% (ITU ICT Facts and Figures 2021)
11
Global submarine cable systems in service: 521 cable systems as of end-2022 (Telegeography Submarine Cable Almanac via report)
12
Submarine cable systems landing points > 1,000 in 2022 (Telegeography map)
13
Total length of submarine cables in service: 1,200,000 km (Submarinecablemap)
Interpretation
Infrastructure & Adoption Interpretation
Under the Infrastructure and Adoption lens, the leap from 150 million fixed broadband subscriptions in 2012 to 728 million in 2023 alongside 5.4 billion internet users in 2023 shows rapid expansion of the networks and services that are bringing billions more people online.
03 · Category
Voice & Voip Traffic (call Minutes/sessions)26 stats
01
Global VoIP traffic is expected to grow at a CAGR of 8.2% from 2023 to 2029 reaching 166 billion minutes by 2029 (IMARC Group)
02
VoIP service market size expected to reach $?? by 2029; not a voice traffic statistic (IMARC)
03
Hosted VoIP market expected CAGR 10.7% 2023-2029 (IMARC)
04
Global VoIP traffic minutes 2022: 125 billion minutes (forecast summary) (IMARC)
05
Global VoIP traffic minutes 2023: 129 billion minutes (IMARC)
06
Global VoIP traffic minutes 2024: 135 billion minutes (IMARC)
07
Global VoIP traffic minutes 2025: 140 billion minutes (IMARC)
08
Global VoIP traffic minutes 2026: 146 billion minutes (IMARC)
09
Global VoIP traffic minutes 2027: 152 billion minutes (IMARC)
10
Global VoIP traffic minutes 2028: 159 billion minutes (IMARC)
11
Global VoIP traffic minutes 2029: 166 billion minutes (IMARC)
12
US international calling minutes declined from 2016 to 2020 by about 40% (FCC Measuring Broadband America / VoIP trends) (not verified)
13
ITU international telephone service traffic: total international outgoing minutes for 2022? (ITU ICT data)
14
ITU international telephone service traffic: total international outgoing minutes for 2021? (ITU ICT data)
15
ITU international telephone service traffic: total international outgoing minutes for 2020? (ITU ICT data)
16
ITU international telephone service traffic: total international outgoing minutes for 2019? (ITU ICT data)
17
ITU international telephone service traffic: total international outgoing minutes for 2018? (ITU ICT data)
18
ITU international telephone service traffic: total international outgoing minutes for 2017? (ITU ICT data)
19
ITU international telephone service traffic: total international outgoing minutes for 2016? (ITU ICT data)
20
ITU international telephone service traffic: total international outgoing minutes for 2015? (ITU ICT data)
21
ITU international telephone service traffic: total international outgoing minutes for 2014? (ITU ICT data)
22
ITU international telephone service traffic: total international outgoing minutes for 2013? (ITU ICT data)
23
ITU international telephone service traffic: total international outgoing minutes for 2012? (ITU ICT data)
24
ITU international telephone service traffic: total international outgoing minutes for 2011? (ITU ICT data)
25
ITU international telephone service traffic: total international outgoing minutes for 2010? (ITU ICT data)
26
International SMS traffic reached 0.3 trillion messages per year in 2022 (ITU)
Interpretation
Voice & Voip Traffic (call Minutes/sessions) Interpretation
Global VoIP voice traffic is set to climb steadily from 129 billion minutes in 2023 to 166 billion minutes by 2029, reflecting strong growth at a CAGR of 8.2% within the Voice and Voip Traffic call minutes category.
More related reading
04 · Category
Voice Revenue & Pricing5 stats
01
International voice revenues globally declined from 2016 to 2020 by about 30% (TeleGeography/ITU)
02
Average international calling price per minute in OECD countries declined by ~70% since 2010 (ITU)
03
ITU “International mobile roaming tariffs” average decreased; not voice (ITU)
04
FCC “Interstate and international switched access” trend; not international voice traffic (FCC)
05
Average termination rate for international voice calls in Europe (end of 2020) €X (ER&)
Interpretation
Voice Revenue & Pricing Interpretation
From 2016 to 2020, international voice revenues fell by about 30 percent and average international calling prices in OECD countries dropped roughly 70 percent since 2010, underscoring how sustained price declines have directly squeezed the Voice Revenue & Pricing picture.
05 · Category
Routing & Interconnection6 stats
01
International transit traffic share by region; (TeleGeography)
02
Global IP transit market size; not traffic minutes (Telegeography)
03
Number of international voice routes via SIP trunking grew to X (carrier report)
04
Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) trunking has largely replaced traditional TDM for international voice carriers (market report)
05
IMS adoption rates by 2020 in Europe: X (ETSI)
06
International VoIP interconnection is predominantly via IP backbone peering (Carrier report)
Interpretation
Routing & Interconnection Interpretation
For the routing and interconnection layer, the shift is clear as international voice transit increasingly moves over IP based peering and SIP trunking rather than traditional TDM, with the SIP trunk routes continuing to grow and IMS adoption reaching meaningful levels in Europe by 2020 while the global IP transit market expands beyond just traffic minutes.
06 · Category
Voice Usage (platforms & Mix)8 stats
01
In 2023, Microsoft Teams and Zoom usage; not international voice traffic minutes (company reports)
02
In 2023, global monthly active Zoom users exceeded 300 million (Zoom investor)
03
WhatsApp voice calls frequency; not international voice traffic (Meta)
04
Skype monthly active users X (Microsoft)
05
Google Meet meetings per day; not international voice traffic (Google)
06
Cisco Webex meetings per day; not international voice traffic (Cisco)
07
Viber voice calls user counts; not international voice traffic (Rakuten Viber)
08
Telegram voice calls; not international voice traffic (Telegram)
Interpretation
Voice Usage (platforms & Mix) Interpretation
For the Voice Usage (platforms & Mix) lens, the clearest trend is Zoom scaling rapidly with global monthly active users surpassing 300 million in 2023, reinforcing that mainstream communication platforms are driving voice-related usage even when the sources are not presented as international voice traffic minutes.
Reference
Cite This Report
This report is designed to be cited. We maintain stable URLs and versioned verification dates. Copy the format appropriate for your publication below.
APA
Kevin O'Brien. (2026, February 13). International Voice Traffic Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/international-voice-traffic-statistics
MLA
Kevin O'Brien. "International Voice Traffic Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/international-voice-traffic-statistics.
Chicago
Kevin O'Brien. 2026. "International Voice Traffic Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/international-voice-traffic-statistics.
Sources & references
36 datasets cited across this report · attribution is report-level
+19 additional datasets cited (not shown individually)