Voice over LTE
Voice over Long-Term Evolution is a standard high-speed wireless communication for mobile phones and data terminals, including Internet of things devices and wearables. It is based on the IP Multimedia Subsystem network, with specific profiles for control and media planes of voice service on the LTE wireless broadband service defined by GSMA in PRD IR.92. This approach results in the voice service being delivered as data flows within the LTE data bearer, with no dependency on the circuit-switched voice network to be in the call path. VoLTE has up to three times more voice and data capacity than older 3G UMTS and up to six times more than 2G GSM. It uses less bandwidth because VoLTE's packet headers are smaller than those of unoptimized VoIP/LTE.
VoLTE calls are usually charged at the same rate as other calls. A claimed advantage is that the signal penetrates buildings better, eliminating indoor "blackspots" without reception.
To be able to make a VoLTE call the device, its firmware, and the mobile telephone provider must all support the service in the area, and be able to work together. For example, the Three UK network as of 2019 supports VoLTE on phones supplied by Three, and other networks do not support it on "Pay-as-you-Go" phones.
History
In August 2012, MetroPCS launched the world's first commercial VoLTE services in Dallas, Texas, in the United States, alongside the first VoLTE phone, the LG Connect 4G.In May 2014, Singtel introduced the world's first commercial "full-featured" VoLTE service in Singapore, only in combination with Galaxy Note 3, it was subsequently expanded.
In June 2014, KT showcased the world's first cross-border roaming services based on Voice over LTE. The South Korean operator partnered with China Mobile to develop VoLTE roaming services.
In October 2014, operators based on IMS local breakout architecture with home routing systems.
In November 2014, Verizon and AT&T announced the companies are enabling VoLTE-to-VoLTE connections between their respective customers. VoLTE interoperability between Verizon and AT&T customers began in 2015. Testing and design were performed between both companies using third party networks such as Alcatel-Lucent. This was stated to have been completed in November 2017.
On 11 July 2015, SEATEL Cambodia announced the world's first commercial 100% VoLTE service without 2G/3G in Cambodia.
On 14 September 2015, Orange Romania launched the VoLTE service for Samsung users in Romania.
On 16 September 2015, Telstra announced that it had started enabling VoLTE across its network, including calling to National Broadband Network and business and enterprise services with HD handsets.
On 30 November 2015, Telenor Denmark launched VoLTE for all Samsung Galaxy S6 phones, which has since been followed by additional Samsung and Apple models.
In 2016, Vodafone Netherlands launched VoLTE support, along with Wi-Fi Calling.
On 30 June 2016, YTL's YES launches 4G LTE service to become Malaysia's FIRST VoLTE service provider.
In June 2016 Movistar Peru launched commercial VoLTE service in Peru, starting in Lima and Callao for Samsung Galaxy S6, S6 Edge and LG G4 phones. Service will be enabled progressively in other departments and handsets. Movistar Peru is the first operator in the country offering this service.
In July 2016, became the first operator to launch VoLTE in UAE.
In July 2016, PT Smartfren Telecom launches VoLTE services working in partnership with Mitel, and become Indonesia's first VoLTE service provider.
On 1 September 2016, Dialog Axiata launched commercial VoLTE service in Sri Lanka.
On 5 September 2016, India's first 4G-only network Jio launched their commercial VoLTE service without 2G/3G based services.
In October 2016, Orange Polska launched commercial VoLTE service in Poland, followed by T-Mobile Polska the following month.
On 7 December 2016, Telenor Denmark launched VoLTE for all phones with VoLTE support.
On 8 March 2017, Cosmote is the first operator that launched VoLTE service in Greece.
On 24 April 2017, TIM launched VoLTE for all phones with VoLTE support in Italy.
In June 2017, Pakistan's Largest telecom operator Jazz has tested VoLTE over its network. Jazz plans to commercially launch it in July 2017.
In June 2017, Bahrain's Largest telecom operator Batelco has semi-launched the service to iOS users.
In July 2017, Digi.Mobil will be the second carrier that launches commercial VoLTE services in Romania.
In July 2017, TIM Brasil was the first carrier to sell VoLTE on Brazil.
In August 2017, Proximus was the first to activate VoLTE in Belgium. Customers were notified by SMS that the service was available.
In September 2017, Swazi Mobile was the first to activate VoLTE in Swaziland.
After this Bharti Airtel also launched the commercial VoLTE service in India.
In October 2017, Nova was the first to activate VoLTE in Iceland.
In November 2017, Telia Company was the first to activate VoLTE in Lithuania.
In November 2017 enabled VoLTE service in Peru, starting in Lima and Callao for Apple iPhone SE, Apple iPhone 6, Apple iPhone 6 Plus, Apple iPhone 6S, Apple iPhone 6S Plus, Apple iPhone 7, Apple iPhone 7 Plus, Apple iPhone 8, Apple iPhone 8 Plus, Apple iPhone X, Huawei Mate 9, Huawei Mate 10 Lite, Huawei P9, LG G4, Motorola MOTO C 4G, Motorola MOTO E4 Plus, Motorola MOTO G5S Plus, Samsung Galaxy J7, Samsung Galaxy S8, Samsung Galaxy S8+, Sony XPERIA L1 and Sony XPERIA XA1 Ultra phones.
In December 2017, Jamii Telecom Limited, offering broadband data services under the 'Faiba' brand, was the first to activate VoLTE in Kenya.
In February 2018, Vodafone India's VoLTE, went live in the Delhi NCR circle, Gujarat and Mumbai
In March 2018, SS7ware, the company behind Yate, launched VoLTE Lab, intended for use as a VoLTE test bed and learning environment.
In May 2018, Play launched commercial VoLTE service in Poland for supported iOS devices.
In June 2018, Orange and Telenet announced that VoLTE will be launched in Belgium.
In January 2019, Mobitel launched VoLTE.
In February 2019, WOM announced that VoLTE along with WiFi Calling will be launched in Chile. Currently working on select android devices
In August 2019, SMART Communications has launched the VoLTE service in Metro Manila, Philippines to provide high-definition voice call quality. With Samsung devices to support this feature
In August 2019, Tigo Colombia enabled VoLTE in the country, available for users with the following devices: Huawei Mate 20 Pro, P20, P20 PRO, P30, P30 PRO, P30 Lite, Samsung S9 - S9+ and iPhone from SE and forward. And also Sony Xperia 1.
U.S.-based Tracfone plans to require VoLTE devices by summer of 2020.
As of 2020, almost all new phones for sale support VoLTE.
Deployment
As of February 2019 there were 253 operators investing in VoLTE in 113 countries globally, including 184 operators with commercially launched VoLTE-HD voice service in 87 countries, up from 137 operators in 65 countries 12 months previously, according to data from the Global Mobile Suppliers Association. By August 2019, these numbers had risen to 262 operators investing in VoLTE in 120 countries and 194 operators with launched VoLTE-HD voice services in 91 countries.A list of commercial VoLTE deployments around the world can be found in the main article above.
Devices
This is an incomplete list.| Brand | Name | Note |
| Alcatel | LINKZONE | |
| Alcatel | ONETOUCH Fierce XL | |
| Apple | iPhone 6 and 6 Plus | |
| Apple | iPhone 6S and 6S Plus | |
| Apple | iPhone SE | |
| Apple | iPhone 7 and 7 Plus | |
| Apple | iPhone 8 and 8 Plus | |
| Apple | iPhone X | |
| Apple | iPhone XR | |
| Apple | iPhone XS and XS Max | |
| Apple | iPhone 11 | |
| Apple | iPhone 11 Pro and Pro Max | |
| Apple | iPhone SE | |
| Andromax | E2 | |
| Andromax | R2 | |
| Asus | Zenfone 3 | ZE520KL, ZE552KL |
| BlackBerry | Priv | |
| BlackBerry | DTEK50 | |
| BlackBerry | DTEK60 | |
| BlackBerry | KEYone | |
| BlackBerry | Motion | |
| BlackBerry | KEY2 | |
| BlackBerry | KEY2LE | |
| Coolpad | Catalyst | |
| Fujitsu | Arrows NX | F-02G, F-05F, F-04G |
| Essential | Essential Phone | |
| Nexus 6P | ||
| Pixel and Pixel XL | ||
| Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL | ||
| Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL | ||
| Pixel 3a and Pixel 3a XL | ||
| HTC | 10 | |
| HTC | Desire 524 | |
| HTC | Desire 526 | |
| HTC | Desire 530 | |
| HTC | Desire EYE | |
| HTC | :jp:HTV31|J butterfly | HTV31 |
| HTC | One A9 | |
| HTC | One | |
| HTC | One M9 | |
| Huawei | Ascend D2 LTE | |
| Huawei | Ascend P7 | |
| Huawei | P8 | |
| Huawei | P8 Lite 2017 | |
| Huawei | P9 | |
| Huawei | P9 Lite | |
| Huawei | Huawei GR 5 2017 | |
| Huawei | P10 | |
| Kyocera | :jp:KYV32|BASIO | |
| Kyocera | :jp:KYV 36|DIGNO rafre KYV36 | |
| Kyocera | :jp:KYF 31|GRATINA 4G KYF31 | |
| Kyocera | :jp:INFOBAR A03|INFOBAR A03 | sold under :jp:iida|iida brand by "au" |
| Kyocera | TORQUE G02 | |
| Kyocera | :jp:URBANO V01|URBANO V01 | |
| Kyocera | :jp:URBANO V01|URBANO V02 | |
| LG | Aristo | |
| LG | Class | |
| LG | :jp:Disney Mobile on docomo|Disney Mobile on docomo | DM-01G, DM-02H |
| LG | F60 | |
| LG | G Flex | |
| LG | G Flex 2 | |
| LG | G Pro | F240S |
| LG | G2 | |
| LG | G3 | |
| LG | G4 | |
| LG | G5 | |
| LG | G6 | |
| LG | G7 ThinQ | |
| LG | :jp:LGV32|isai vivid | LGV32 |
| LG | :jp:LGV31|isai VL | LGV31 |
| LG | K10 | |
| LG | K20 | |
| LG | Lancet | |
| LG | Optimus GX | F310L |
| LG | Optimus LTE 2 | F160LV |
| LG | Optimus LTE III | F260S |
| LG | Optimus Vu II | F200L |
| LG | Spirit LTE | Indian Version |
| LG | Stylo 2 PLUS | |
| LG | Stylus 2 Plus | |
| LG | V10 | |
| LG | V20 | |
| LG | Vu 3 | F300 |
| LG | X Screen | |
| Lenovo | K5 Note | |
| Lenovo | K6 Power | |
| Lenovo | K6 Note | |
| Lenovo | Z2 Plus | |
| Lenovo | K8 | |
| Lenovo | K8 Plus | |
| Lenovo | K8 Note | |
| Lenovo | P2 | |
| LYF | LYF Earth 1 | |
| LYF | LYF Flame 1 | |
| LYF | LYF Water 1 | |
| LYF | LYF Water 2 | |
| LYF | LYF Wind 4S | |
| LYF | LYF Wind 6 | |
| Microsoft | Lumia 550 | |
| Microsoft | Lumia 640 | |
| Microsoft | Lumia 640 XL | |
| Microsoft | Lumia 650 | |
| Microsoft | Lumia 950 | |
| Microsoft | Lumia 950XL | |
| Motorola | Droid Maxx | |
| Motorola | Droid Maxx 2 | |
| Motorola | Droid Mini | |
| Motorola | Droid Turbo | XT-1254 |
| Motorola | Droid Turbo 2 | |
| Motorola | Moto G | - XT1550 |
| Motorola | Moto E3 Power | XT1706 |
| Motorola | Moto G4 Play and Plus | XT1643, XT1642, and XT1602 |
| Motorola | Moto G5 Plus | XT1686 |
| Motorola | Moto Z2 Force | |
| Nokia | Nokia 2 | |
| Nokia | Nokia 3 | |
| Nokia | Nokia 5 | |
| Nokia | Nokia 6 | |
| Nokia | Nokia 6.1 | |
| Nokia | Nokia 7 | |
| Nokia | Nokia 7 Plus | |
| Nokia | Nokia 8 | |
| Nokia | Nokia 8 Sirocco | |
| OnePlus | OnePlus 2 | |
| OnePlus | OnePlus 3/3T | |
| OnePlus | OnePlus 5/5T | |
| OnePlus | OnePlus 6/6T | |
| OnePlus | OnePlus 7 | |
| Pantech | Vega Iron | IM-A870S |
| Pantech | Vega N°6 | IM-A860S |
| Pantech | Vega R3 | IM-A850L |
| Pantech | :ko:팬택 베가 시크릿노트|Vega Secret Note | IM-A890S |
| Samsung | Samsung A01 | |
| Samsung | Galaxy A3 | 2016 and 2017 model |
| Samsung | Galaxy A5 | 2015, 2016 and 2017 model |
| Samsung | Galaxy A7 | 2017 model |
| Samsung | Galaxy A8 | SCV 32 |
| Samsung | Galaxy A9 Pro | |
| Samsung | Samsung A10e | |
| Samsung | Samsung A20 | |
| Samsung | Samsung A50 | |
| Samsung | Samsung A51 | |
| Samsung | Samsung Galaxy A71 | |
| Samsung | Galaxy Active Neo | SC-01H |
| Samsung | Galaxy Avant | |
| Samsung | Galaxy Core Prime | |
| Samsung | Samsung Galaxy Fold | |
| Samsung | :ko:삼성 갤럭시 골든|Galaxy Golden | SHV-E400 |
| Samsung | Galaxy Grand | SHV-E270 |
| Samsung | Galaxy J5 | SM-J500M, SM-J500FN, SM-J500F |
| Samsung | Galaxy J7 | SM-J500M, SM-J700FN, SM-J700T, SM-J700P, SM-J700F |
| Samsung | Galaxy Light | |
| Samsung | Galaxy Note II LTE | SHV-E250S |
| Samsung | Galaxy Note 3 | |
| Samsung | Galaxy Note 4 | |
| Samsung | Galaxy Note 5 | |
| Samsung | Galaxy Note 7 | |
| Samsung | Samsung Galaxy Note 8 | |
| Samsung | Samsung Galaxy Note 9 | |
| Samsung | Samsung Galaxy Note 10 | |
| Samsung | Samsung Galaxy Note 10+ | |
| Samsung | Samsung Galaxy Note 10+ 5G | |
| Samsung | Galaxy Galaxy Note Edge | SC-01G |
| Samsung | Galaxy Pop | SHV-E220S |
| Samsung | Galaxy Round | SM-G910S |
| Samsung | Samsung Galaxy Z Flip | |
| Samsung | Galaxy S III LTE | SHV-E210 |
| Samsung | Galaxy S4 | SCH-R970C |
| Samsung | Galaxy S4 mini LTE | GT-i9195 |
| Samsung | Galaxy S4 Zoom | SM-C105S |
| Samsung | Galaxy S5 | |
| Samsung | Galaxy S5 Active | SC-02G |
| Samsung | Galaxy S5 Neo | 2016 model |
| Samsung | Galaxy S6 | |
| Samsung | Galaxy S6 Edge | |
| Samsung | Galaxy S6 Edge+ | |
| Samsung | Galaxy S7 | |
| Samsung | Galaxy S7 Active | |
| Samsung | Galaxy S7 Edge | |
| Samsung | Galaxy S8 | |
| Samsung | Galaxy S8+ | |
| Samsung | Galaxy 8 Active | |
| Samsung | Galaxy S9 | |
| Samsung | Galaxy S9+ | |
| Samsung | Galaxy S10 | |
| Samsung | Galaxy S10+ | |
| Samsung | Galaxy S10 Lite | |
| Samsung | Galaxy S10e | |
| Samsung | Galaxy S10 5G | |
| Samsung | Galaxy S20 5G | |
| Samsung | Galaxy S20+ 5G | |
| Samsung | Galaxy S20 Ultra 5G | |
| Samsung | Galaxy Win | SHV-E500S |
| Samsung | Galaxy XCover 4 | |
| Samsung | Gear S3 | |
| Sharp | AQUOS CRYSTAL | |
| Sharp | AQUOS CRYSTAL 2 | |
| Sharp | :jp:SoftBank 402SH|AQUOS CRYSTAL X | |
| Sharp | SH-04G | |
| Sharp | AQUOS K | SHF32, SHF33 |
| Sharp | AQUOS PAD | SH-06F, SH-05G |
| Sharp | AQUOS SERIE | SHV32, SHV33 |
| Sharp | AQUOS SERIE mini | SHV31, SHV33, SHV38 |
| Sharp | AQUOS Xx | |
| Sharp | AQUOS ZETA | SH-01G, SH-04F, SH-03G |
| Sharp | :jp:SH-02G|Disney Mobile on docomo | SH-02G |
| Sony | SO-04G | |
| Sony | Xperia M4 Aqua Dual | SO-06F |
| Sony | Xperia SP M35t | |
| Sony | Xperia X | |
| Sony | Xperia X Compact | |
| Sony | :jp:xperia x performance|Xperia X Performance | SHV32 |
| Sony | Xperia XZ | |
| Sony | Xperia XZs | |
| Sony | Xperia Z2 | SO-03F |
| Sony | Xperia Z2 Tablet | SO-05F |
| Sony | Xperia Z3 | SO-01G, D6653 |
| Sony | Xperia Z3 Compact | SO-02G |
| Sony | Xperia Z4 | SO-03G |
| Sony | Xperia Z4 Tablet | SO-05G |
| Sony | Xperia Z5 | |
| Sony | Xperia Z5 Compact | |
| Sony | Xperia Z5 Premium | |
| vivo | V3 | |
| Vodafone | Smart speed 6 | |
| Vodafone | Smart Ultra 6 | |
| Vodafone | Smart Platinum 7 | VFD900 |
| Vodafone | Vodafone Smart E8 | VFD510 |
| Vodafone | Vodafone Smart Prime 7 | VFD600 |
| Vodafone | Vodafone Smart V8 | VDF710 |
| Xiaomi | Mi5 | |
| Xiaomi | Redmi Note 4 | |
| Xiaomi | Redmi Note 3 | |
| Xiaomi | Redmi 3s | |
| Xiaomi | Redmi 3s Prime | |
| Xiaomi | Mi A3 | |
| Xiaomi | Mi Max | |
| Xiaomi | Mi Mix 2 | |
| Xiaomi | Mi 4A | |
| Xiaomi | Mi 5A | |
| Xiaomi | Mi 9T and 9T Pro | |
| Xiaomi | Redmi Note 5 |
Voice quality
To ensure compatibility, 3GPP demand at least AMR-NB codec, but the recommended speech codec for VoLTE is Adaptive Multi-Rate Wideband, also known as HD Voice. This codec is mandated in 3GPP networks that support 16 kHz sampling.Volte
Fraunhofer IIS has proposed and demonstrated "Full-HD Voice", an implementation of the AAC-ELD codec for LTE handsets. Where previous cell phone voice codecs only supported frequencies up to 3.5 kHz and upcoming wideband audio services branded as HD Voice up to 7 kHz, Full-HD Voice supports the entire bandwidth range from 20 Hz to 20 kHz. For end-to-end Full-HD Voice calls to succeed however, both the caller and recipient's handsets as well as networks have to support the feature.
The GSMA has nominated the EVS codec for superwideband via VoLTE.