After a slow start to the year in EMEA, shipments of enterprise telephones and associated line equipment grew by 3.6% in the second quarter of 2005 to 5.05 million ‘lines', up from 4.88 million in the corresponding period a year ago.

The analysis, from industry research group Canalys, shows a reshuffling of the supplier hierarchy, with Alcatel overtaking Siemens for the first time. Alcatel increased its share of the market from 16.0% to 16.4%, while Siemens' slice fell by 1.5% to 15.9%. Siemens was the only one of the top six whose shipments dropped in the quarter, showing a 5.4% decline.

Alcatel has had particular success in the 100-plus line market, especially in Germany, the UK, Spain, the Middle East and Africa. Its shipments increased by 5.9% on last year despite declining investment in communications infrastructure in France, its biggest market.

In a consolidating market, the top eight vendors now account for nearly 80% of all shipments. Over 30 companies fight for the remaining 20%, with many likely to become acquisition targets in coming years. The acquisition of DeTeWe, with its focus on small and medium businesses, by number six vendor Aastra, highlights this.