"The UCaaS market today is comprised of pure-plays, network operators, cable MSOs, ISPs, system integrators, and traditional premises-based vendors. With a multitude of options, things can be confusing for businesses trying to find the right provider and service to fit their needs," said Diane Myers, senior research director of VoIP, UC, and IMS for IHS Markit and author of the fourth quarter 2016 Analyst Insight report. "Today, as our report and the data indicate, the leader is BroadSoft, comprising the larger share of installed base seats running over its platform."

In November 2016, BroadSoft announced it surpassed 15 million cloud UC lines deployed globally, - an industry leading milestone three times greater than the next nearest competitor. At the same time, BroadSoft market share for new cloud UC line shipments is double that of the next closest competitor, a key trend as BroadSoft expects the market for new cloud PBX/unified communications will surpass on-premise PBX/UC equipment shipments by 2020.

According to the IHS report, BroadSoft see UCaaS as also moving upmarket to large enterprises, and towards multi-tenant cloud solutions that now dominate cloud telephony/UC deployments. As businesses move away from premises-based PBX and UC vendors in favor of cloud alternatives, BroadSoft believes that it is strongly positioned to capitalize on this movement through the recent launch of BroadSoft Business - a comprehensive, fully integrated portfolio of cloud PBX, unified communications, team collaboration and contact center applications, delivered in the cloud from an authorized partner.

"Amongst a host of competitors, including the top third party platforms, internal platforms and traditional vendors, BroadSoft has emerged, based on this IHS report, as the global cloud unified communications leader," said Taher Behbehani, chief digital and marketing officer, BroadSoft. "As a multi-tenant UCaaS solution that can deliver cost and scalability benefits to services providers and businesses alike, BroadSoft Business positions us for even greater growth going forward."

"BroadSoft's success is the result of not only its early work in this market, but its focus on securing tier 1 operators as customers of the platform worldwide, along with smaller, nimble competitive providers," adds Myers. "This diversification and global scope has given BroadSoft a unique position in the market. Additionally, it is making the pivot to mobile through high profile mobile UC/business VoLTE launches with Verizon and Rogers in 2016, which keeps it relevant in a changing market."