High quality of data exchange, including voice, in wireless networks implies, first of all, stability and high speed of information transfer. Work to improve the quality of mobile networks is ongoing and it should be noted that over the past few years a lot of success has been achieved in this area. Newer and more advanced communication standards are becoming available, for example, Long Term Evolution or LTE for short. This standard is also known as 4G.
According to the specification, the maximum speed that 3G networks can provide is 42 Mb/s, but in reality it rarely exceeds 2-3 Mb/s, while the fourth generation network already allows data transfer at speeds of about 20 Mb/s, a clear example what is the Moscow LTE network Megafon. LTE/4G is also good because it is fully compatible with 3G based on UMTS/HSPA and CDMA, which allows its implementation without significant infrastructure reconstruction. But LTE also has its drawbacks, of which perhaps the main one is the lack of support for telephone voice communications.
VoLTE – what is it and how does it work?
To make calls, the user can switch to 3G, but this is not an option. Instead of returning to outdated standards, it is better to use a new technology called VoLTE. But what is VoLTE? The closest analogy to this new standard is Skype. In VoLTE, as in Skype, voice is transmitted not over switch channels, but over the Internet. In short, VoLTE is a voice transmission technology over an LTE network that allows you to make calls at high speed, while taking advantage of all the benefits that the fourth generation network provides.
But that's not all. Previously, when making a voice call, the operator transferred the subscriber from LTE mode to 2G or 3G using the widely used Circuit-Switched Fallback (CSFB) technology.
When the user ended the call, their phone automatically switched to LTE. This time-tested method, however, has a whole series shortcomings. In particular, the use of CSFB created unnecessary load on the mobile network, and also increased the connection time between the user and the subscriber, although neither the caller nor the recipient of the call, as a rule, noticed this. With LTE everything is much faster and simpler, because now calls are made within the network itself.
Advantages and disadvantages of the standard
Although on at the moment VoLTE technology is still in its development stage, its advantages are quite obvious. These include:
- Higher connection speeds achieved by eliminating the need to switch your mobile device to GSM or 3G when making a call.
- Higher voice quality. The data transmission speed in 2G and 3G networks is limited, which does not allow the transmission of voice modulation components in full. The throughput of LTE is much higher, more voice data is transmitted through such a network, and the use of HD Voice codecs gives volume to the sound and reduces the amount of noise.
- With VoLTE, simultaneous transmission of voice and other data is possible. In 2G and 3G networks, when making calls, the transmission of Internet traffic was usually temporarily suspended. This is due to the fact that with the simultaneous transmission of voice and other data, the quality of communication sharply decreased, while the load on the network, on the contrary, increased. VoLTE does not have these restrictions.
- Increasing the capacity of cellular networks. The use of VoLTE technology allows you to increase the number of simultaneously using communications subscribers up to three times compared to 3G without significantly increasing the load on the network.
- Free calls. Since voice is transmitted in packet mode when using VoLTE, only Internet traffic is consumed. If the user is connected to unlimited tariff, all calls he makes can be considered practically free.
- Save battery power. The VoLTE standard provides a special DRX mode, which ensures reception of a base station signal with short interruptions. During such breaks, the device's radio is turned off, therefore, battery consumption is reduced.
These were the main advantages of VoLTE. On the other hand, it has its own number of disadvantages, due to which users often abandon the new technology. At the moment, the main disadvantages include:
- Increased demands on hardware resources mobile phone. The VoLTE operating algorithm must be implemented at the processor level; if the requirements do not meet, the load on the mobile device may increase.
- Limited number of phone models supporting VoLTE. The new technology is supported only by the latest models of mobile devices.
- To ensure the stated sound quality, VoLTE must be used by both the caller and the recipient of the call.
- Difficulties in transition to a new standard by operators mobile communications. Take advantage benefits of VoLTE It will be possible only after all operators decide to make the standard the main one.
- VoLTE is not supported by all operators or in all regions due to the lack of appropriate equipment on the towers.
- Vulnerabilities in VoLTE technology.
- The standard may not be available in intranet and international roaming.
How to enable VoLTE on your phone
The use of the new standard is possible subject to two main conditions. Firstly, your operator must support it, and secondly, the standard must be supported by itself mobile device. Everything is more or less clear with the operator; to find out whether it supports the new standard or not, just call the support service. Now let's see what VoLTE is in a phone. This is an option that can be enabled manually or automatically in the mobile settings. If your phone does not have this option, VoLTE is not supported either by the firmware or the device.
Currently, VoLTE is supported by more than thirty smartphone models from leading manufacturers. Among them are iPhone, LG, Vertex Saturn, Samsung Galaxy, Sony Xperia and ZTE. How to enable/disable VoLTE? It all depends on the device model. On the iPhone, for example, the VoLTE standard is enabled in the settings Cellular – Data Options – Enable LTE – Voice and Data.
To enable the option in Samsung Galaxy, you need to follow the chain Settings – Connections – Mobile networks – VoLTE calls. In LG smartphones you need to go to Settings, and then follow the path Networks – Advanced – Mobile networks – VoLTE. VoLTE is disabled in the same place where it was enabled.
Development prospects
Despite the many challenges and obstacles faced in the implementation of VoLTE, the future of the new technology seems very promising, especially considering that the advent of 5G networks is just around the corner. The main obstacle to the development of the standard - the lack of an appropriate legal framework in Russian legislation - has already been successfully eliminated, and now the matter is up to the leading mobile operators, as well as the users themselves.
However, one should not expect rapid spread of VoLTE, especially in the regions. There are still too few devices in the hands of cellular network subscribers that can work with this technology; secondly, there is still no complete and final agreement between operators regarding the transition to a single standard. The victory of VoLTE can only be expected if uniform principles are created and adopted by all operators, and also provided that the standard manages to withstand competition with services providing OTT voice services.
Note. To use VoLTE, the device must have a dedicated system software from your operator, and the subscription (including SIM card) must support VoLTE service for your device model. To find out if your device, software, subscription, and SIM card support VoLTE service, contact your network operator.
Android™ 8.0
Enable VoLTE
- Find and tap Settings > Network and Internet > Mobile network > Network type > LTE or 4G (preferred)/3G/GSM.
- Enable VoLTE Enable VoLTE
Android™ 5.0, 5.1, 6.0, 7.0, 7.1 or 7.1.1
Enable VoLTE
- Make sure your Xperia™ device model and subscription support VoLTE.
- Find and tap Settings > More > Mobile network > Network type > LTE or 4G (preferred)/3G/GSM.
- Tap the switch next to Enable VoLTE to enable VoLTE. If item Enable VoLTE missing, contact your network operator.
05.03.2019
The promotion has expired
In 2018, MTS began actively promoting throughout Russia new technology VoLTE communications. With its help, you connect with the subscriber almost instantly and at the same time hear the person as clearly as if he were next to you. How VoLTE works, which smartphones support this technology - we will tell you in our material.
A few words about LTE
In order to understand what VoLTE is, you must first understand how LTE technology works. Long-Term Evolution is a modern standard for data transmission on the Internet, which is several times faster than a 3G connection. It is with its help that you can watch videos in HD quality without delays, download and upload large files.
Compare: download speeds on LTE networks can reach up to 300 Mbit/s, and upload speeds up to 170 Mbit/s. At the same time, the average wired Internet speed fluctuates around only 100 Mbit/s.
But for a long time, LTE had a significant limitation. This technology is designed only for data transmission, not voice. That is, if you are on an LTE network and receive incoming call, your gadget automatically switches to 2G/3G. This causes connection delay. In addition, the data transfer speed that started on the LTE network is reduced. The solution to such problems was VoLTE technology.
VoLTE in a smartphone
VoLTE (from English Voice over LTE - voice over LTE) converts voice into a data stream, due to which you can make and receive calls over a high-speed IP channel. At the same time, the gadget does not waste time switching between communication systems, so the connection occurs in 1–1.5 seconds. This technology has several significant advantages:
- High-quality sound transmission due to support for a set of HD Voice codecs. If during regular telephony the sound is transmitted at a frequency of up to 3400 Hz, then when calling via VoLTE the sound range increases to 7000 Hz or more. That is, you hear human speech without interference or distortion.
- Simultaneous calls and data processing. Using VoLTE, you can simultaneously talk on the phone, view Instagram, download a movie, navigate the area using a navigator, and so on.
- Increased mobile network capacity. One base station via VoLTE can serve 3 times more subscribers than via 3G. This means that you are not afraid of communication interruptions due to telephone line overload.
Which smartphones support VoLTE?
VoLTE technology works on many modern gadgets from Apple, Samsung, Sony, Huawei and others. Full list you can look at the models.
How to set up VoLTE on a smartphone
VoLTE calling is easy to set up. As a rule, the gadget turns on this mode automatically after updating the software. If this does not happen, you can activate this option in the smartphone settings.
For smartphones running Android OS:Select the “SIM cards and mobile networks", find the command "VoLTE HD Call" and switch it to active mode.
This section may have a different name on different smartphone models.
For smartphones running iOS:Go to the “Settings” menu, select the “Cellular” section, then “Data Options”, find the “Enable LTE” command and switch it to active mode. If Voice & Data is disabled, enable it to enable VoLTE.
If you want to use VoLTE technology and for calls to landline numbers, you need to dial the number in the format: +7-area code-phone number. When dialing a number in a short format, the advantages of the technology are lost: such a call will be transferred to the 2G/3G network at your location. Additionally, dialing the area code is not very convenient, but in this case you will definitely get through to where you need to be when traveling around Russia and the world.
How much does it cost?
The same amount as regular calls via 2G/3G networks according to the tariff you purchased. MTS does not provide any additional tariffs.
What to do if your smartphone does not support VoLTE?
This does not mean that you need to urgently run to the nearest salon cellular communication for a new mobile phone. All you need to do is download the proprietary MTS Connect application and you can make calls from anywhere in the world, saving on roaming charges. It doesn’t matter whether your interlocutor has a similar application installed.
We also present to your attention a selection of publications about VoLTE technology.
With the development of digital technologies, the need for high-speed wireless connection is constantly increasing. In order to organize such a connection in cellular networks, the LTE (Long Term Evolution) communication standard was developed. It is compatible with previous generations of 3G networks based on UMTS/HSPA and CDMA, so it can be implemented without radically reworking the infrastructure. But a significant disadvantage of LTE is the inability to use switched (telephone) voice communications. To make calls on LTE networks, the phone must switch to 3G to establish a voice connection, or support VoLTE technology.
VoLTE is a technology for transmitting voice over LTE networks(decoding Voice over LTE and translated as “voice over LTE”). It allows you to make traditional phone calls on these networks without resorting to switching communication technology (the so-called FallBack). At the moment, the technology is in the stage of development and active implementation. When operators implement full VoLTE support for all subscribers, it will allow for higher quality voice communications, as it has clear advantages over 3G and, especially, GSM.
Unfortunately, the VoLTE protocol is not without several disadvantages. The main one is the increased load on the smartphone. To avoid it, you need to implement an operating algorithm at the chipset level. For this reason, the technology is not supported by many existing devices. It is implemented in iPhone starting from 5s, Sony flagships, LG, Samsung, Google Nexus. Regarding Chinese manufacturers– here we need to clarify.
Another disadvantage of VoLTE is the need for all operators to switch to using it. Connecting an LTE subscriber with 2G and 3G users is a technically complex procedure. Therefore, normal operation of the technology is possible only if all operators implement it, and 4G becomes the dominant generation of networks.
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