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VoLTE Overview Voice Over LTE VoLTE
VoLTE Overview Voice Over LTE VoLTE
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VoLTE Overview
VoLTE Stands for Voice over LTE or 4G Network , For Easy understanding , Its Ordinary
voice calls which is carried over Data Network , This Works like normal cellular call &
Charged on same rate with No Extra Money required Since , This call is carried over IP
Network powered by 4G , It gives lot of Flexibility for Mobile Operator to Enhance this Voice
Calls here . For Example , If user is using High End Smartphone , Better Codecs will provide
HD Voice Quality & Faster call setup time . Let’s understand how this works
For understanding VoLTE , We need to back into History where VoLTE was not launched
as there was 4G network along with 2G / 3G Network
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VoLTE Overview
4G came prior to VoLTE , 4G started getting commercial launched in 2009 and 2010 while
VoLTE came very late in 2014 .Since , 4G is an all-IP technology and therefore cannot
transport Circuit Switch services such as Voice Call . You can see on screen that so many
data Packets are moving between Internet & User using 4G Network . Let’s see how Voice
works in this scenario ( I will recommend you to see this YouTube Video for Animations used
in illustration of Concepts )
Since 4G can’t carry voice traffic , This is big problem for everyone . Circuit Switch Fall
Back which is also known as CSFB helped Operators here , While 4G or LTE Network is
used for Internet and Data Connectivity , User is thrown to underlying 3G or 2G Networks
for voice calls . Existing 2G/3G mobile systems use “Circuit Switching” to carry voice traffic.
Circuit Switching or CS is basically a dedicated, end-to-end, channel or circuit is established
to carry the voice traffic for the entire duration of a transmission . While user is able to
use Circuit Switch for voice services but there are many problems with this technology as
user needs to Switch between 4G & 3G Network for every voice call . This also requires lot
of Battery in handset and also Generates lots of Signaling traffic for Mobile Operator which
is Bad for Network . Now , Every one started working on Better solution & they come up with
VoLTE as solution to these problems
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VoLTE Overview
As LTE have given us All IP to IP Based Network , We need to have some technology to
carry voice traffic using IP packets over data connection. For this , VoLTE solution is
discovered . We also call this as Packet Switched Network as all traffic goes in form of
Stream of IP Packets & It doesn’t require dedicated or Reserved Path .
Better battery life : Since your phone is not changing networks between 4G & 3G or 2G for voice
calls . Users saves couple of Amps & battery life with VoLTE
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VoLTE Overview
GPRS / Edge : This is normal 2G Network with minimal support of Low Speed Data Services , This is
very very old technology and It will be shutted across Entire Globe in coming years
3G : This is 3G Network with Better Data Speeds and also provides voice support
H / H+ : This is Super fast 3G network which is still in use Now a days
4G or LTE Network : This is latest Technology which is having Bright future … This will play significant
role for next 5-6 until 5G Launch Happens
VoLTE Launch : Voice over LTE was available to End users in 2014 & SingTel Singapore
became 1st Operator to Launch Commercial VoLTE Services . With VoLTE Networks ,
SingTel users were able to make or receive Voice calls on 4G Networks
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VoLTE Overview
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VoLTE Overview
Now a days , Most of upcoming Smartphones are already supporting VoLTE , This also
depends upon your Operator if particular handset is allowed for VoLTE
This is complicated task & requires close coordination among Handset Manufacturer and
Mobile Operator .
Apple iOS
How to enable VoLTE on iPhone : Go to Settings > Mobile Data > Mobile Data Options >
Enable LTE
1st Option is OFF : This means , Both LTE / VoLTE are disabled
2nd Option is Voice and Data : This means , Both LTE & VoLTE are enabled , All Calls will be
handled on 4G radio only
3rd Option is Data Only : This means , Both only LTE is supported but VoLTE is not enabled . This
is as Good as VoLTE disabled where user will use CSFB Technology to make or receive calls on 3G
radio
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VoLTE Overview
Android Device
How to enable VoLTE on Android : Under Mobile Network Settings , First Select “LTE” in
Preferred network type . Then Select “Enhanced 4G LTE Mode” which is nothing but
VoLTE Switch . Please enable this in order to start using VoLTE Services
VoLTE is not supported in all handset by default . Usually , Every Mobile Operator perform
testing of handset and then Handset Manufacturer such as Xiaomi , Apple , Samsung etc..
Enables VoLTE Support in Software Build shipped along with Handset . This Software build
& Operator will decide whether VoLTE will work for you or Not
Here , We are going to cover the mandatory things required for VoLTE
Good 4G Coverage is mandatory where user can make or Receive Calls fluently . Good coverage will
ensure that user will be getting required bandwidth or Radio Speeds for entire duration of call
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VoLTE Overview
Provisioning of VoLTE Services : You Mobile Operator needs to Activate or Provision VoLTE
Services in Profile of User stored in HSS . Few Operator Provision VoLTE by Default to all users ,
Other Operator provision VoLTE Services on basis of Handset Make / Model used by User selectively
If Everything is done as mentioned above , User will be able to use VoLTE Service
Here , We will see options available with User to make outgoing call on Network
2G : In the 2G legacy networks, voice calls are made practically only on circuits for each call on CS
domain
3G : 3G Networks are similar to 2G Networks , No Major Change
CSFB : Used in Operators where 4G have been launched without support of VoLTE Services
VoLTE : Voice Over LTE
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VoLTE Overview
SRVCC Extension : This is enhancement to VoLTE to allow handover of Ongoing call from LTE to
2G / 3G in case there are coverage Holes in 4G Network such Lifts , Basement etc..
Here , We can see options available with User to make outgoing call on Network
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VoLTE Overview
Business Critical
Even in 2018 , Voice is still accounting for appx 50% of Total revenue coming for Mobile
Operator . Providing better Voice Experience is now mandatory for all Operators in order to
Survive . VoLTE is best way to cater Voice call requirements
Simplification
With VoLTE , Now Both Voice & data are riding on same LTE Network which means we
don’t need separate network for Voice such as 3G / 2G .. This helps in reducing Operational
Cost Reduction
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VoLTE Overview
VoLTE is booming technology , Let’s understand few Challenges which are impacting
VoLTE Penetration among End Users
Not all Operator Supports VoLTE : Out of Total 850 Operators across Globe , LTE is supported by
530 Operators & VoLTE is launched by 127 Operators
Not all Handset Supports VoLTE : Handset was Bottleneck 2 Years Back , Now a days , All
Smartphones are supporting VoLTE
Increased Complexity : VoLTE increases complexity multifold as there are many new Nodes which
generates ton of Signaling traffic
LTE Coverage is mandatory for VoLTE : VoLTE Requires Good Strength LTE to be mandatory
available which should provide both Outdoor and Indoor Coverage
No Inter-Operator Connectivity : Even after VoLTE Launch , Operators are still connected to each
other via traditional Non-SIP PSTN Networks
Every Operator needs to Test Every Device : Device is big mystery for VoLTE Support , There is lot
of dependency on Device Validation prior to Launch by Every Operator
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VoLTE Overview
SRVCC
Have you ever wondered , What will happen when User makes 4G Voice Call & moves into
Low coverage areas where 3G Network is available but 4G Network is not available ..The
call will drop or continue ?
Example : You move into Lift of Building or Goes into Basement or Travel by Metro where
Radio condition changes rapidly . In these cases , LTE may not be available . Here we use
the Technology by Name of SRVCC to ensure Voice call continues and handed over to 3G
Network without dropping the call . Name of this technique is single radio voice call continuity
and this is developed on later stage as enhancement . In order to support SRVCC , All the
Network Elements should be connected to each Other .. Packet Core Serving Data , Voice
Core Serving Voice & IMS Network handling VoLTE must be connected with each other .
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VoLTE Overview
VoLTE Architecture
This is bearer … ‘Bearer’ in the dictionary means “Carrier” or “Porter” which carries
something from a point to another point. Under the context of communication technology, I
would define the ‘Bearer’ as a ‘pipe line’ connecting two or more points in the communication
system in which data traffic follow through.
The LTE Network allows users to gets Signal on Handset helps in Latching . IMS Network
be helping user to Make or receive VoLTE Calls . Refer Diagram .. There is Police Inspector
sitting in between . His Name is PCRF & his role is to provide relevant priority to traffic , For
example , VoLTE Traffic will be given higher priority & Generic Internet traffic is Normal
Priority .
For VoLTE , The first thing happens here is Registration on Mobile operator Network to
confirm our presence of Mobile Handset .. This is just like Putting Attendance in Register
before starting anything serious . This happens with help of SIP Bearer which is always
active between IMS Network & User Handset . Post Registration , User can make and
receive MO / MT Calls
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VoLTE Overview
In this IMS World , All Elements communicate with each other on SIP Protocol for everything
While , This seems to be Quite difficult to see in 1st Look .. Well , I am going to simplify this
for you
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VoLTE Overview
I have some how tried to simplify the IMS Architecture shown in previous slide . This is all
IP to IP Network which relies on SIP Protocol for voice calls
4G Network Integration
Voice calls made by user are carried on 4G Network and handed over to IMS or VoLTE
Network
PSTN Integration
Communication with PSTN Networks happens via Media Gateway which is having specialty
to carry Voice Call Traffic Over IP Traffic
IMS Network
IMS Network contains Two critical components .. 1st One is SIP Server Infrastructure which
typically contains Three SIP Servers by Name of P-CSCF , I-CSCF & S-CSCF . These SIP
servers are going to register User with SIP Server which is Part of Control Plane & Signaling
Plane . These SIP Server will setup Media Part or Payload of Voice Call with Media
Gateway shown in Right hand side which is further connected to PSTN . SIP Server is
responsible for Session set-up, session tear-down, session control
There is another component by the name of TAS Servers … which is Telephony App
Server (TAS) . Till now , We discussed IMS Core which is great for handling SIP but this
requires App Servers to provide various supplementary services . For example , Voice calls
in Mobile network requires Telephony App Server (TAS) . We need similar App servers for
other Multimedia services such as Video , Gaming etc.. TAS is Telephony App Server used
for Telephony Service such as Call waiting, Call hold, Call pick up , Call forwarding, Call
transfer , Call blocking services, Malicious Caller Identification , Lawful interception ,
Announcements, Digit collection , Conference call services etc..
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