The best performing region globally continues to be the Middle East and Africa, where the total volume of extensions sold rose by 9% in Q3 2005 compared to Q3 2004. Latin America also continues to do well with volumes up 8% and the Asia Pacific and Eastern European regions were both up by more than 3% compared to the same period of last year. This is a turnaround for the Asia Pacific region, which registered declines in the previous quarter. Western Europe was likewise up by more than 3%. Meanwhile, in another reversal of fortune, the North American market notched up just under 3% growth over Q3 2004 following recent declines.
This means that the Western European market, traditionally the largest of the global PBX marketplaces, is being rapidly caught up by the Asia Pacific region, with both regions now accounting for an equal 28% share of extensions shipped in the world. This is being fuelled by strong growth in the Chinese, Indian and Australian markets. The Asia Pacific market is still heavily dominated by the incumbent players NEC, NEC Infrontia, and Panasonic although other global players are now also making more headway in this region.
Overall, EMEA was up by 4%, with Siemens at the forefront after a good performance in Western Europe. Volumes exceeded 6,450,000 extensions, helped by an ongoing strong performance in the above 100 extensions market. Moreover, the below 100 extensions market, which has struggled in previous quarters, saw a return to growth in all EMEA regions. Even Eastern Europe, which saw volumes fall by 6% in Q2 2005 (compared to Q2 2004), recorded an increase of 1% in this quarter compared to Q3 2004. Western Europe also saw growth of 1%, while the Middle East and Africa region was up by 5%.
The number 1 spot for extensions shipped worldwide remains a tightly fought contest. Panasonic, Nortel and Avaya all account for 10% of extensions shipped in the global marketplace, with Panasonic once again taking pole position for the second time this year due to their prominence in the below 100 extensions market.
The IP Extensions Market
The IP extensions market has maintained high levels of growth in all regions in Q3 2005, including those where the IP market has become fairly established. North America, for example, witnessed a 35% increase in the volume of IP extensions shipped in comparison to Q3 2004. In Q2 2005, a higher growth rate was registered in the below 100 extensions market than in the above 100 extensions market for the first time. This trend has been seen again in Q3 2005, where the number of IP extensions shipped in the below 100 market segment grew by 56% compared to 46% above 100. Globally, IP extensions were up by 49% in Q3 2005 in comparison to Q3 2004. Cisco Systems shipped 40% of IP extensions worldwide and their number 3 position in the North American market also means that North America represents 52% of IP extensions shipped in the global marketplace. It remains therefore by far the biggest region for IP. The Western European market accounts for 24% of IP extensions shipped worldwide, while Asia Pacific represents 14%.
In terms of global regions, Latin America topped the growth chart, registering an increase of 103% in IP extensions, although the most growth in terms of volume came once again from Western Europe, which continues its technological catch-up, and registered a steady 72% increase in IP extensions shipped compared to Q3 2004. The Middle East and Africa notched up 71% growth, so it was a good quarter all round for IP in the EMEA region. Indeed, total EMEA volumes also increased by 71% compared to Q3 2004. The UK remains the largest market for IP extensions in EMEA, representing 27% of the total EMEA marketplace, while Germany accounts for 16%.