What is Voice Over LTE (VoLTE)? Benefits & Usage

Wondering what is VoLTE and how you can activate it on your latest phone? Or are you eager to use this technology on your favorite smartphone and want to know its true potential?

Voice over LTE is the innovative voice technology that enables you to make voice calls over the LTE/4G mobile network. It’s the technology that our phones and carriers use to transmit our voices during a call. Generally known as 4G Calling, when you make or receive a call, your phone stays on 4G.

All major UK carriers have voice-over capability on LTE advanced networks or what most of us know as 4G. Most likely, the service is available in your area. You could already be using it if your phone supports the technology. Setting VoLTE up on your phone is easy and worthwhile if you have a supporting carrier and phone.

Many of us think 4G is only about downloading, web browsing, and streaming, and in fact, it is primarily. But it can also help improve voice calls, which is known as VoLTE. Let’s dive a bit deeper into knowing everything about it and how you can benefit from the services offered by different network providers in the UK.

What is VoLTE

Voice over Long Term Evolution (Voice over LTE) is a technology where your carrier allows you to make a phone call over your LTE/4G connection instead of the legacy voice networks. For example, mobile operators use 1XRTT for voice calls and depend on LTE for data. That is the reason why users couldn’t use data and voice simultaneously.

Before, 4G was only used for surfing the internet. And when you made or received a phone call, the network would automatically switch to 2G or 3G. Also, you might recall a few seconds delay before the recipient’s phone actually rang. With the advent of VoLTE, that delay is gone.

Traditionally, on a 2G or 3G network, data and calls are separated and cannot work at the same time. Such that during a phone call on a 2G network, an incoming text message will only arrive after you finish the phone call.

However, on a 4G LTE network, both calls and data will work in unison. That means you can receive a text message even during a call.

How VoLTE works

As delineated in GSMA standards, it is the procedure of packetized voice over the Internet Protocol (VoIP) and transporting both the signaling and media components through a 4G packet-switched data path.

The standard is in contrast with the delivery of voice using circuit switch methodologies that need 4G handsets to use a secondary 3G radio. That requires network operators to continue supporting the inefficient access infrastructure and licensed spectrum.

The GSMA Association’s Permanent Reference Document narrates the IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS) application for the transfer of voice and short message service traffic. IMS serves as the foundation, and uses the Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) for registration, authentication addressing, call establishing, and termination. The Session Description Protocol (SDP) is utilized for RTP media and bandwidth negotiation.

VoLTE uses a variety of technologies integrated together to make voice calling clear and crisp. A simple breakdown will look like this:

1. Your mobile device connects to a nearby cellular tower
2. When you place a call, it is carried like a regular voice call to the tower
3. The cellular tower uses VoIP technology to transfer your call to the recipient
4. Alternatively, the recipient answers the call using their VoIP device

How to Activate VolTE on Your Smartphone

All major carriers support VoLTE technology, and almost all the new phones in the market support it. You can check whether it is enabled on your device or not. To enable it on your smartphone, follow the simple guidelines below.

How to Enable VoLTE on Android

Android devices come in different Operating Systems, so the specific steps might vary depending on your device’s OS. Ensure your device is updated and running Android 6.0 (Marshmallow) or above.

The general steps to activate it on your android device are below.

1. Go to the device Settings
2. Tap on the Connections setting. Then go to Mobile networks
3. Enable or disable the VoLTE calls toggle button

How to Enable VoLTE on iOS/iPhone

On your iOS devices, you can enable or disable it using the following steps.

1. Open the Settings app and go to the Mobile Data option
2. Select the Mobile Data Options
3. Then Voice & Data
4. You’ll see the VoLTE toggle button, enabling it to enjoy high-quality voice calls

Upgrade to a VoLTE Enabled Phone

You should always have VoLTE on. However, if you have an older phone model that uses the 3G or even some early 4G phones, your device might not support it at all. You should upgrade your phone to a newer model to avoid service disruptions. In case you’re wondering which phones support VoLTE, you’ll actually be amazed to find a new phone that doesn’t.

Benefits

Most latest smartphones support VoLTE, and network providers around the world support the technology. If your mobile phone doesn’t support it, update your software version, which might bring the feature.

To know if your smartphone doesn’t support it, you can observe that you can’t use voice and data simultaneously.

VoLTE helps you use both data and calling. So, you can use your data for calling and browsing at the same time. It’s one of the outstanding features that improve voice call quality over the world. Some of the main advantages of it are here.

Improved Call Quality

VoLTE offers you a significant improvement in call quality. Using the 4G VoLTE, you can communicate clearly with crisp and clear voice calls. It provides improved and innovative voice communication services across smartphones, wearables, and other smart devices.

Previously with 2G and 3G, the voice quality was not high definition or mostly suboptimal at best. VoLTE offers three times better call quality than 3G and more than six times 2G technology. Altogether you get a much richer call experience with VoLTE.

Better Network Coverage & Connectivity

You will be shocked to know that VoLTE calls connect twice as fast as 2G or 3G signals. Similarly, today 4G networks are widely available all over the world with much better and improved signal quality.

4G operates on an 800 MHz spectrum with a much greater reach than 2G and 3G networks. The 4G spectrum can penetrate large objects, which previously caused signal problems and depleted signals’ strength and quality.

This means that you will have a strong network connection even if you’re in the basement or on the top floor. Voice over LTE runs on the 4G spectrum to offer superior coverage and improved connectivity, with wider and consistent coverage.

Better Battery Life

Without VoLTE active on your smartphone, the 4G network switches to 3G whenever you make a call. That causes the smartphone to use more battery than usual. Once you activate Voice over LTE, your phone won’t switch to 3G even when you’re on a call, saving battery in the long run.

Multitasking with Faster Data

VoLTE enables you to use both call service and mobile data at the same time. When you make a call, the network won’t switch to 3G, allowing you to keep using 4G for all the other functions. It can come in pretty handy if you’re multitasking, such as web browsing during the call or downloading an app.

Video Calls

Theoretically, it’s even possible to make video calls over VoLTE with very little consumption of data. Generally, you have to download third-party apps like Google Meet, Skype, Zoom, etc., for video calling.

However, with 4G, you don’t need any third-party application. 4G VoLTE compatible mobile devices have inbuilt support for video calls in their system.  Skype or similar apps offer high-quality video call services using the VoIP system. You can expect similar quality calls when using VoLTE but without hitting your battery life as much as Skype calling does.

VoLTE availability in the UK

Almost all the major UK carriers offer it and a few MVNOs (mobile virtual network operators).

Once you have made sure your phone is compatible, you need to check whether your network supports the service and that you’re in the coverage area. Assuming you have the supported phone, latest software, and it’s available in your area, you should have access to VoLTE. The following UK Networks offer VoLTE.

• EE
• O2
• Three
• Vodafone
• Asda Mobile
• iD Mobile
• BT Mobile
• Sky Mobile
• Smarty Mobile
• Virgin Mobile
• VOXI

Future of VoLTE in the Wake of 5G

As operators worldwide are preparing to deploy 5G standalone networks, the somewhat slow rollout of voice-over LTE can gain ground. It can play a key role in voice-over 5G applications.

Voice-over LTE technology has been around for more than ten years. But the adoption has been slow. Only approximately 30% of mobile operators that have launched 4G also have deployed commercial VoLTE services.

This trend is about to change significantly with the rollout of 5G over the next few years. According to the GSMA Intelligence report, VoLTE: 5G will provide the long-awaited boost. Driving further customer adoption and data traffic as the industry seeks globally interoperable voice and communication services.

Several factors, such as limited smartphone support, are changing that will accelerate the pace of VoLTE launches. The future of operator-provided voice services relies on IMS technology to support both VoLTE and voice over 5G (Vo5G).

Conclusion

Today, global VoLTE adoption continues to increase. However, you need to consider data plan usage and the associated charges, as data is being used to make calls. These calls can eat up your data allowances.

But on the other hand offer superfast call setup, seamless switching, wider coverage, and clearer calls. Your phone remains in the LTE network allowing you to use data roaming services along the way. Although you may be charged additional roaming charges but the service offers an innovative and improved voice and communication service across a multitude of smart devices.

That can serve as a base for improving business and people collaboration services due to its high mobile voice quality. It’s a telecom-grade service for consumers, businesses, and industries deployed with cloud-based solutions. That offers a peek into the future of communication.

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