The telecommunications relay service market is likely to register significant gains in coming years owing to favorable government initiatives, growing demand for traditional teletypewriters, and high demand for voice carry over service. Higher prevalence of communication or speech disorders, specifically in older adults will also propel the demand for telecommunications relay service.
TRS or telecommunications relay service allows persons with speech or hearing disabilities to place as well receive telephone calls. Title IV of the Americans with Disabilities Act, states that, each state, including Puerto Rico, the District of Columbia as well as all of the U.S. territories should provide free relay services.
Communications assistants are well-trained to be inconspicuous. The responsibility of an assistant is to relay the conversation in the same manner as it is received. It is noted that all relay calls are strictly confidential.
The telecommunications relay service market is bifurcated in terms of service, technology, end-use, and regional landscape.
In terms of service, the overall telecommunications relay service market is segmented into VRS (video relay service), internet protocol relay service, IP captioned telephone service, captioned telephone service, voice carry over, and text-to-voice. Among these, the text-to-voice segment is slated to grow at a CAGR of more than 6.0% over the projected time period. This anticipated growth is ascribed to the growing demand for traditional teletypewriters.
This type of service is a conventional TRS service utilizing a TTY to call the CA. Text-to-voice is generally the most common type of service. A TTY user usually calls a telecommunications relay service and types the specific number of the caller whom he/she wishes to call. The CA then places a voice call to the other party by voicing what the user using the TTY is typing as well as typing back what the person on the other line is saying.
The voice carry over segment is expected to grow at a CAGR of 5.0% through the slated timeframe. The segmental growth is attributed to the high demand from individuals with difficulties in speaking. This service allows individuals having hearing disability, who also wants to use his or her own voice to talk directly to the concerned party and in return receive responses in the text form from the CA.
Here, no typing is needed by the calling party. Voice carry over service is mainly useful for elderly people who have lost their hearing but can speak.
From a regional frame of reference, the Latin America telecommunications relay service market will witness a CAGR of around 6.0% over the forecast time period due to favorable government initiatives.
Meanwhile, Middle East & Africa is expected to grow at a CAGR of more than 5.0% over the projected time period.