The worldwide public branch exchange (PBX) and key telephone system (KTS) market experienced vigorous growth last year, driven by sales of IP PBXs, according to Infonetics Research.
In its Enterprise Telephony quarterly worldwide market share and forecast report, Infonetics found that revenues from the PBX/KTS market reached US$6.1 billion, an 11 percent jump over 2003's level of US$5.5 billion.
PBX/KTS lines shipped were up 19 percent over 2003, reaching 26.6 million units worldwide last year.
Infonetics expected the growth trend to continue, with revenues reaching US$9.1 billion by 2008, a five-year compound annual growth rate of 10 percent.
IP PBXs accounted for much of the growth. Some 54 percent of the line shipments were hybrid PBXs, systems that combine traditional functionality with IP features. Infonetics expected the hybrid PBX share to rise to 70 percent of all PBX shipments by 2008.
Infonetics predicts sales of pure IP PBXs will increase, accounting for 20 percent of line shipments by 2008.
Infonetics directing analyst for enterprise voice and data Matthias Machowinski said 2004 was a great year for PBXs.
"Not only is the overall market growing at larger than expected rates, but the IP PBX segment is growing ferociously, with 50 percent-plus growth between 2003 and 2004," he said in a statement.
"Successful vendors are recognising the shifts in the market and have moved their products from TDM into the IP realm. The TDM segment, which one year ago still accounted for half the market, is now less than a third."
Nortel was the 2004 market leader in total PBX/KYS system lines shipped, while Alcatel consolidated its position as the dominant supplier of hybrid and pure IP PBX/KTS systems.
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