Enhancing Voice Services during Roaming with VoLTE:
Benefits and Performance Insights
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VoLTE Technology Unveiled: Exploring the Benefits and Insights of Maximizing Voice Quality in Roaming.
Currently, there is a noticeable trend in the telecommunications market where 3G technology is being phased out and replaced by Voice over LTE (VoLTE) both in home networks and during roaming. The migration of voice services to 4G LTE facilitates phase-out strategies for legacy technologies, freeing up spectrum bands for more spectrum-efficient 4G and 5G technologies.
This is also an important step towards all-IP based communication, as LTE technology will transmit voice and data services completely over IP.
From a voice services perspective, what are the actual benefits of these new services for the end customer when roaming?
To answer this question, SEGRON conducted extensive tests on the European networks using its GSE (Global Service Enabler) platform to measure the key voice related KPIs in the roaming case, and to compare the results of legacy network technology such as 2G & 3G with those of a modern VoLTE network. The main KPIs considered were call setup time, voice quality and the calling line identity (CLI) availability. These indicators are crucial for service utilization and the quality of experience (QoE) for mobile customers. We found that VoLTE significantly enhances the mobile voice experience<. the improvement is primarily evident in shorter connection setup times and increased mean opinion score (mos) for voice quality. additionally, presence of cli leading to a significant quality experience end customers better service utilization.
Call Setup Time:
As stated, the VoLTE network is based on an all IP IMS (IP-Multimedia Subsystem) network, which leads to significant improvements in Call Setup Time. On average, VoLTE achieves a connection setup time of 1.7 seconds, while 2G/3G networks take an average of 7.2 seconds, making the latter four times slower than VoLTE!
Voice Quality:
VoLTE deployments focus on using high-definition voice codes such as EVS (Enhanced Voice Services) to enhance voice quality. In contrast, many 2G/3G voice network designs rely on lower rate narrow band voice even AMR 5.9 kbps. This difference is immediately noticeable in the Voice Quality. VoLTE consistently achieves a higher Mean Opinion Score (MOS) of 4.2 (out of 5), while 2G/3G networks have an average MOS of 3.8. These results clearly indicate that VoLTE provides significantly better voice quality due to its higher MOS rating!
CLI Availability
Most operators implement VoLTE based on S8 Home Routing (S8HR), which ensures that each call is anchored in the home network. This implementation brings significant improvements, particularly in terms of Calling Line Identity (CLI) visibility. In the worst-case scenario, CLI was only visible in 80% of the calls made on 2G/3G networks. However, with VoLTE, 100% CLI visibility is achieved, meaning that the CLI is present for every call. This difference in CLI availability has a major impact on service usage for end clients. A missing CLI often results in unanswered calls, incorrect display of corporate phone numbers, or password inquiries for voicemail queries. Consequently, this leads to the discovery that the usage in the roaming case deviates from the usual usage in the domestic country!
Especially during this implementation and transition phase, proactive monitoring of VoLTE roaming performance and customer experience is a must for every network operator to verify and ensure related KPIs and QoE.
Without frequent monitoring VoLTE roaming performance, mobile operators might misleadingly feel that voice services are running well as they still have the option of a Circuit Switched Fall Back (CSFB). However, our findings indicate that relying on CSFB leads to compromised voice quality and longer setup times. Therefore, by implementing proactive monitoring practices, operators can uphold high-quality voice services that align with customer expectations.
Supercharge your VoLTE roaming performance with the cutting-edge Global Service Enabler (GSE) platform offered by SEGRON. Our platform empowers you to launch a comprehensive VoLTE roaming performance campaign tailored to your specific networks. Gain valuable insights into the current state of VoLTE roaming quality and go beyond by measuring additional key performance indicators (KPIs) with a customer-centric approach using real, unrooted smartphones.
Get in touch, and let’s discuss how you can partner with SEGRON and use the GSE to proactively verify your VoLTE roaming performance and stay ahead of your competitors in terms of service functionality and quality!
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Michael Sedlacek
Michael has a long history in the telecoms industry and served many international projects as Senior Network Engineering Expert and Integration Consultant, which gave him profound insights and experience in mobile technology and its requirements before starting up SEGRON Test Automation Solutions.
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