According to a new report from Infonetics Research, carriers invested $1.73 billion worldwide on packet-based phone equipment in 2004. The packet network investments are seen by Infonetics as the beginning of a migration to next-generation voice networks. By 2008, Infonetics forecasts, carrier investment in packet-based equipment is expected to grow to $5.8 billion.

Though there is momentum towards next-generation packet-based networks and away from the existing legacy networks, survey respondents indicated that it would take them at least five years to complete the switchover.

VoIP penetration within carriers was also noted to be on the rise. An average of one-half of survey respondents indicated that next-generation voice equipment would be deployed in their central offices by 2006.

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