The New Era of International Voice: BTS Stands Alone in Growth
While the market shrank, BTS gained share—proving that growth is still possible with the right strategy.
From Decline to Differentiation
International long-distance (ILD) voice traffic peaked in 2014 and has been shrinking ever since—dropping another 7.8% in 2023 alone (Telegeography, 2025). Free, internet-based communication apps have reshaped user behavior, especially among consumers.
But declaring ILD is in terminal decline misses the real story. Traffic may be down, but complexity is up—and that shift is redefining what success looks like. And in 2023, while every major global ILD carrier reported traffic losses, BTS stood out as the only one to grow.
Scaling Through Precision
So why is BTS growing in a shrinking market?
Contraction often reveals where true value lies. Voice demand persists—especially in regions where OTT apps haven’t fully penetrated, where regulatory complexity limits alternatives, or where quality of service still matters. Capturing that demand requires precision, speed, and intelligence.
In a hyper-competitive ILD world, being first to detect, first to solve, and first to adapt matters. Growth in this environment depends less on scale than on operational focus. Three factors drive success:
- Speed: Automation to detect and respond before issues escalate
- Trust: Market intelligence that enables prevention, not just reaction
- Intelligence: Agile, data-driven decision-making at every layer
From Moving Minutes to Managing Intelligence
Managing voice today means managing billions of data points. The sheer number of variables in global voice traffic has exploded: dynamic pricing, fraud prevention, real-time routing, and evolving regulatory landscapes all require instant decision-making at scale.
Technology like S1 Platform’s AI-powered, real-time optimization engine is critical to managing not just calls, but the quality, efficiency, and security of every connection.
Where competitors are still optimizing routes, BTS is optimizing decisions building a success based not just on moving traffic, but on making traffic smarter.
Reframing Voice, Delivering Value
As complexity grows, generalist approaches fall short. ILD success now requires a tight coordination between commercial and technical teams—an edge that has shaped BTS vision from the start.
Specialization brings the systems, insight, and responsiveness needed to turn complexity into an advantage. For operators and carriers looking to reposition voice as a high-value, strategic service, the choice of partner can mean the difference between slow decline and sustainable growth.
The opportunity lies in managing voice not as a legacy burden, but as a strategic asset aligned with broader service portfolios. Doing this well requires more than traditional models—it demands advanced tools, expert support, and partners who understand voice at every level. With the right approach, a shifting landscape becomes a space for growth, differentiation, and long-term value.
BTS’ Growth is a Direct Result of this Philosophy
By aligning technological precision with market insight, we’ve built systems that anticipate issues early, respond quickly, and adapt to evolving customer needs.
Our model integrates real-time intelligence with commercial and operational decision-making—turning traffic data into actionable insight. This approach helps us optimize performance, safeguard margins, and maintain consistent quality in an increasingly volatile landscape.