VoLTE rollouts are supported by Huawei and Nokia Networks
Two major telecom service providers last week announced the launch of commercial voice-over-LTE services. China Mobile in partnership with Huawei, and Vodafone Italy with partner Nokia Networks, are rolling out the high-definition voice feature.
As part of a five-year deal with Vodafone Italy, Nokia Networks said it will implement its virtual, cloud-based Telecommunications Application Server to support VoLTE, which is designed to provide better call quality, faster call set-up and optimized performance. Nokia also will provide a host of managed services to enable VoLTE, including network planning, IP multimedia subsystem server functions, IP switching and cloud management.
Massimo Ortelli, head of Vodafone South’s customer business team, said the move “further validates Vodafone Italy’s faith in Nokia Networks’ capabilities to evolve its service proposition in line with customer expectations.”
“After having conducted New Zealand’s first VoLTE call with Vodafone, we have now reached another important milestone by commercializing cloud-based VoLTE – a landmark that paves the path for crystal-clear, HD voice services to significantly boost the service experience for subscribers,” Ortelli added. “Vodafone plans to use our VoLTE TAS cloud product to migrate its legacy fixed VoIP subscriber base.”
Across the globe in China, the country’s – and the world’s – largest operator China Mobile partnered with equipment manufacturer Huawei, also a China-based interest, on a number of network upgrades including VoLTE functionality.
China Mobile followed a prescribed bidding process that resulted in Huawei winning the largest share of VoLTE projects. According to the carrier, Huawei’s technology stood out based on “easy deployment and fast commercialization. The close cooperation of the two parties in technical innovation and network deployment aims to greatly accelerate commercial development of VoLTE across the entire industry.”
For more on the China Mobile/Huawei VoLTE partnership, click here.
