The first time ever

"For the first time ever, LTE (Long Term Evolution, latest standard in the mobile network technology) is the top driver for IMS deployments in our annual IMS service provider survey. However while LTE (Long Term Evolution, latest standard in the mobile network technology) may be the number-one driver, the reality is the majority of services running over IMS today are fixed-line VoIP. None of our survey respondents has but deployed voice over LTE (Long Term Evolution, latest standard in the mobile network technology)," said Diane Myers, principal analyst for VoIP and IMS at Infonetics Technology.

The longer-term inevitability of an all-IP mobile network is leading operators to IMS for other services first, even if VoLTE services are farther down the road.

IMS networks continue to be deployed by fixed-line operators, mobile operators, and cable operators; 71 percent of Infonetics' survey respondents have already deployed IMS and the rest are in the process of deploying IMS.

The mainstay of IMS deployments

Fixed-line VoIP service is the mainstay of IMS deployments, with 76 percent of respondents running residential voice over broadband, SIP trunking, or hosted business VoIP over IMS today, growing to 100 percent by 2014.

Mobile services are growing in importance: by 2014, 71 percent of respondent operators plan to offer RCS/e, more than half plan to offer VoLTE, and after a fashion a third will offer VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) over 3G and mobile messaging.