VoLTE (Voice over LTE)
| Realising revenue potential with Voice over LTE |
What is VoLTE?
VoLTE stands for ‘Voice over Long Term Evolution‘. Utilising IMS technology, it is a digital packet voice service delivered over IP via an LTE access network.
Voice calls over LTE are recognised as the industry-agreed progression of voice services across mobile networks, deploying LTE radio access technology.
Who is VoLTE valuable for?
- Operators
- OEMs
- Network vendors
- Partners
- Consumers
What are the benefits of VoLTE?
The implementation of VoLTE offers many benefits, both in terms of cost and operation. VoLTE:
- Provides more efficient use of spectrum than traditional Voice
- Meets the rising demand for ‘Richer’, more reliable services
- Eliminates the need to have Voice on one network and data on another
- Unlocks new revenue potential, utilising IMS as the common service platform
- Can be deployed in parallel with video calls over LTE and RCS multimedia services, including video share, multimedia messaging, chat and file transfer
- Increases handset battery life by 40 per cent (compared with VoIP)
- Delivers an unusually crisp calling experience
- Provides rapid call establishment time
What is the GSMA doing to help with VoLTE deployment?
Our goal is to achieve a consistent, industry-wide approach to delivering services for LTE. They will embody the following principles:
- Promote scale. For VoLTE/video calls over LTE implementation to work, this needs to be based on a single technology and not undermined by fragmentation or diversity. It must work throughout a community of 6 billion+ connections (and growing) and across all networks and devices.
- Reduce complexity. A common implementation, adhered to by all, would allow messages and media to be delivered in the best way. Providing consumers with the best quality experience. However, lack of common deployments between networks can detract from the overall quality of the voice/messaging service (e.g. end-to-end HD voice).
- Enable Interconnect and Roaming. Seamless roaming can be optimised in the all-IP world. That is if all parties adhere to a single, common implementation of interfaces between every device and network.
These three principles will underpin how Voice, SMS and RCS will work in the future. They will define the interfaces for end-to-end calling structures, which facilitate interconnect and roaming.
Discover more about Voice over LTE
For more information regarding VoLTE, explore our invaluable resources, Technical support.
“With the support of the GSMA and the Ministry of Science, ICT and future planning, The Republic of Korea were recognised as not only the first country to have launched interconnected VoLTE but also the first country to have migrated its subscriber base to be fully VoLTE interconnected between three operators.”
Sang Heon Lee, SVP, SK Telecom/Sung II Jang, General Manager/Team Leader, SK Telecom
Sung Won Yan, General Manager, KT
Kyung Joong Park, General Manager/Team Leader, LG Uplus
Additional Resources
GSMA Foundry 5G New Calling whitepaper 2023
Tuesday 10 Oct 2023 | 5G | 5G New Calling | Resources | VoLTE |
The communication services landscape is on the brink of significant and revolutionary change. Emerging onto the scene is "5G New Calling" (5GNC), a 5G network capability that will leverage the IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS). Discover more.
Deploying Enriched Communications – the cost of indecision and inaction for operators
Wednesday 22 Jul 2015 | HD Voice | Qos IP Interconnect | Resources | VoLTE |
Operators who still have not committed to launch Enriched Communications using IP-based services may not be aware of the scale of the impact of this indecision on their business. This slide pack highlights nine key issues that could ...
A burning platform – the need for action
Wednesday 22 Jul 2015 | HD Voice | Qos IP Interconnect | RCS | Resources | VoLTE |
The crowded nature of IP Communication Services market with low barriers to entry for alternative communication suppliers is creating a problem for operators. This slide pack gives some qualitative and quantitative data as an overview ...
Building the case for an IP-communications future – GSMAi Report – Download Now!
Thursday 26 Feb 2015 | IP Communications | Resources | VoLTE |
GSMA Intelligence is today publishing a report on the case for operator-provided IP-communications, and the future of Voice over LTE, Video over LTE, and Rich Communication Services (RCS). Mobile communication has evolved ...
FCM.01 – VoLTE Service Description and Implementation Guide (Version 2.0)
Friday 17 Oct 2014 | Resources | VoLTE |
Voice over Long Term Evolution (VoLTE) is the industry recognised solution for providing a rich multimedia HD Voice service over the LTE access technology. VoLTE utilises IMS technology and provides a common platform in which to ...
China Unicom – Openness and Cooperation: Achieving a win-win for Telco and OTT
Monday 28 Jul 2014 | RCS | Resources | VoLTE |
Despite suffering significant losses in their core voice and messaging revenues in recent years, operators now recognise OTT service providers are here to stay. Agile OTT players have progressed quickly by delivering in-demand services ...
Ericsson Mobility Report
Thursday 5 Jun 2014 | Resources | VoLTE |
On the pulse of the Networked Society - Ericsson has performed in-depth data traffic measurements since the early days of mobile broadband from a large base of live networks covering all regions of the world. The aim of this report ...
VoLTE or VoIP over LTE – Who is the ultimate winner?
Thursday 27 Mar 2014 | Resources | VoLTE |
There are multiple options available today for mobile applications. This includes Over-The-Top (OTT) applications, services that are generally offered by third party (non-operator) developers that can be downloaded from popular app ...
FCM.01 – VoLTE Service Description and Implementation Guide (Version 1.1)
Thursday 5 Dec 2013 | Resources | VoLTE |
Find out about what a VoLTE deployment entails (for single network interconnect and roaming deployments) and gain insight from existing trials, commercial deployments and live operations. The guide builds on existing GSMA Product ...
Validating VoLTE: A definitive guide to successful deployments
Sunday 25 Aug 2013 | Resources | VoLTE |
This book outlines a VoLTE (Voice over Long Term Evolution) test plan that ensures a correct, stable, and effective VoLTE deployment. These scenarios cover major functional and characterization requirements of a VoLTE network. Each ...
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Thursday 19 March, 2015 | Digest | Latest News | Volte Digest
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Tuesday 20 January, 2015 | Digest | Volte Digest
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AT&T and Verizon Wireless get themselves connected
Monday 24 November, 2014 | Digest | Latest News | RCS Digest | Volte Digest
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