J’son & Partners Consulting presents the results of the research “Voice over 4G networks. LTE: from Tests to Implementation.” More reports available on our website: http://bit.ly/16Znqpx Find video about J’son & Partners Consulting on Json TV: http://bit.ly/1432QJV

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J’son & Partners Consulting presents the results of the research “Voice over 4G networks. LTE: from
Tests to Implementation.”
LTE Networks and Traditional Mobile Services
Mobile communications networks based on the LTE standard, developed by the 3GPP Consortium for
high-speed data communication, are at the stage of active global deployment. According to GSA, from
December, 2009, when the first commercial LTE network was launched, to the middle of March, 2013,
the amount of commercial LTE networks in 67 countries reached 156 and 412 operators in 125 countries
invested in the technology. It is forecasted that 244 commercial LTE networks will be deployed in 87
countries by the end of 2013.
The LTE ecosystem evolves rapidly. It is anticipated that by the end of 2013, some 300 various models
of LTE-compatible terminal devices will be available on the market. According to GSMA’s forecast, the
number of LTE-compatible smartphones in use will grow to 920 million by 2017, up from 62 million as of
the end of 2012. At the same time, there is a significant amount of smartphones on the today’s market
that can operate only on 2G and 3G networks; their quantity is estimated 1.9 billion by the end of 2013.
A critical issue for the spread of LTE is the support of traditional services, namely telephony and SMS,
which still bring most of mobile operators’ revenues. LTE networks belong to All-IP-class (“all over IP”)
networks, utilizing the principle of packet switching on every section of the network. For this reason, the
LTE technology is not meant for supporting “voice” and SMS the way it is realized on switched 2G and
3G networks. Thus, the implementation of VoLTE (Voice over Long Term Evolution), a communication of
voice over an LTE network, is one of the most urgent tasks for mobile operators implementing the 4G
technology on their networks.
In 2013, the revenues from voice services will amount, according to GSMA, over 60% of
operators’ revenues; therefore, providing the support of voice services on LTE networks
becomes a topical problem. However, the implementation of VoLTE will be not so quick,
as against the growth rates of commercial LTE networks.

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VoLTE Definition and Status
The VoLTE initiative (originally, “One Voice”) was formally announced by the GSM Association on
February 15, 2010 and is aimed to standardize the methods of communicating voice and SMS over LTE
networks. As its basis, the IMS (IP Multimedia Subsystem) specifications by 3GPP Consortium were used.
Operators hope that VoLTE will ensure the provision of voice services over a packet switching network
characterized by a carrier-class quality, as opposed to VoIP services by third-party providers (so called
OTT providers). On networks with VoLTE support, the subscribers may use, for example, such services
as HD Voice and Rich Communication Services (RCS).
As of March, 2013, from 156 LTE networks operating worldwide, the support of VoLTE
was implemented for only three of them – MetroPCS (the USA), SKT and LG U Plus
(South Korea). Several other U.S. operators are planning to implement the technology
by the end of 2013 – the beginning of 2014.
Table 1. Commercial networks with LTE support in the world
Country Operator
Date of
VoLTE
launch
Devices Note
The USA MetroPCS
August,
2012
Connect 4G
RCS are launched; the operator plans
to add two-three VoLTE-compatible
devices per year
South
Korea
SK
Telecom
Galaxy S3 LTE; Optimus LTE2LG-
F160LV
RCS are launched
South
Korea
LG U Plus
Galaxy S3 LTE; Vega IM-R3
A850L; Optimus LTE2LG-F160LV;
Optimus Vu2 LG-F200L
RCS are launched
Source: J’son & Partners Consulting
The main operators’ objective to implement VoLTE is the provision of voice services on
4G networks with a quality relevant/higher than traditional 2G/3G networks. To
implement this technology, an operator should deploy IMS and build a LTE radio access
network on its core network. Interim technologies on the way to VoLTE are CSFB, SRVCC
and SVLTE.
In the medium term, the main drivers of implementing VoLTE in Russia will be the following: spread of
smartphones featuring LTE support, widening of the 4G coverage and increasing pressure from OTT
services.
The typical strategy of an operator for implementing voice services on LTE networks
involves implementing an “interim” CSFB technology with a gradual transition to IMS
and VoIP. Until the national LTE coverage is ensured, the SR-VCC (Single Radio Call

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Connectivity) technology will be used. When a subscriber leaves the VoIP coverage area,
SR-VCC provides transition from IMS based VoIP to circuit-switched (CS) voice and vice
versa. The final stage is the implementation of a full-fledged IMS platform and transition
of all calls to packet networks (IMS based VoIP).
VoLTE-Compatible Devices
As of March, 2013, less than 10 models of subscriber devices compatible with this technology are used
in the countries which implemented VoLTE in August, 2012 (the USA and South Korea). It is expected
that, as VoLTE spreads, the model range will be considerably expanded.
Table 2. VoLTE-compatible models for smartphones in the world as of March, 2013
Manufacturer Model Name Operator (Country)
LG Optimus LTE2LG-F160LV LG U+, SK Telecom (South Korea)
LG Optimus Vu2 LG-F200L LG U+ (South Korea)
LG Connect 4G MetroPCS (The USA)
Pantech Vega IM-R3 A850L LG U+ (South Korea)
Samsung Galaxy S3 LTE LG U+, SK Telecom (South Korea)
Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1 n/a
ZTE (HelloSoft client) n/a MetroPCS (The USA)
Sources: GSA, LG, SK Telecom, MetroPCS
Nowadays, VoLTE support is realized on a limited number of models of smartphones. This is
one of the main constraints for this technology development, and it will be overcome in the
medium term.
Forecasts and Prospects
According to ARChart, the VoLTE market will experience a significant growth in the coming years. About
2 million devices with VoLTE support are expected to be sold in 2013 (mainly, in the USA and South
Korea), the revenues from VoLTE services reaching approximately $56 million. It is forecasted that the
number of VoLTE users will amount 70 million by the end of 2016 (about 10% of LTE users). According
to Infonetics Research, by 2016, the share of VoLTE on the VoIP service market will be 14%, which
means that the lion’s share of VoIP will remain under the control of OTT. The Signals and Systems
Telecom Company predicts LTE equipment industry’s growth with the compound annual growth rate
(CAGR) being approximately 150% in 2013 – 2016.
Analysts claim that the number of OTT and VoLTE services users will increase several times
by 2016, but nonetheless, the number of 2G and 3G networks subscribers will predominate
as before. In the medium term, the VoLTE market will remain a niche one, accounting for
1/7th
of the revenues on the VoIP market.

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List of contents of the Full Version of the Report
“Voice over 4G Networks. LTE: from Tests to Implementation”
List of contents of the Report
TERMS AND ABBREVIATIONS
SUMMARY
INTRODUCTION
1. MARKET AND TECHNOLOGICAL PREREQUISITES FOR VOICE SERVICES
IMPLEMENTATION ON LTE NETWORKS
1.1. Market of mobile communication traditional services: main threats and solution
approaches
1.1.1. Revenue structure of the largest mobile network operators in Russia and in the world –
Voice and SMS
1.1.2. OTT services threats: Mobile VoIP and MIM
1.1.3. Rich Communication Services (RCS) as one of mobile network operators’ revenue
protection approaches
1.1.4. Lessons from fixed (line) communications
2. TECHNOLOGICAL PREREQUISITES FOR VOICE SERVICES IMPLEMENTATION IN LTE
2.1. LTE as All IP technology
2.2. Quality of service (QoS) as a technological advantage
2.3. VoLTE and HD Voice
3. VOICE SERVICES IMPLEMENTATION TYPES IN 3GPP NETWORKS: VOLTE AND
ALTERNATIVE APPROACHES
3.1. VoLTE and IMS
3.2. Alternative approaches
3.2.1. CSFB (Circuit Switch FallBack)
3.2.2. SRVCC (Single Radio Voice Call Continuity)
3.2.3. Dual-Radio Handset
3.2.4. VoLGA
4. CURRENT STATE OF VOLTE AND HD VOICE MARKET IN THE WORLD
4.1. Commercial services
4.1.1. SK Telecom
4.1.2. LG U Plus
4.1.3. MetroPCS
4.1.4. Other operators
4.2. VoLTE service testing and operators' plans
4.2.1. Verizon Wireless
4.2.2. AT&T Mobility

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4.2.3. Other operators
4.2.4. Situation in Russia
4.3. Support at the level of subscriber devices
4.3.1. HD Voice (W-AMR)
4.3.2. VoLTE
5. PROBLEMS OF VOLTE IMPLEMENTATION
5.1. In the world
5.1.1. Limitations and compatibility issue
5.1.2. Legislative limitations
5.1.3. Other limitations
5.2. In Russia
6. VOLTE TRENDS AND DEVELOPMENT PROSPECTS
6.1. Competition with OTT services
6.2. Forecasts
6.2.1. According to the number of VoLTE users in the world
6.2.2. According to the VoLTE equipment market in the world
7. VENDORS AND THEIR SOLUTIONS
7.1.1. Ericsson
7.1.2. Nokia Siemens Networks
7.1.3. Alcatel-Lucent
7.1.4. Huawei
7.1.5. ZTE
7.1.6. Specialized providers of Voice-over-IMS solutions
RЕSUME AND CONCLUSIONS
Annex 1. Commercial LTE networks in the world
List of Figures
Fig. 1. Generalized architecture of mobile networks
Fig. 2. Dynamics of mobile operators’ operating revenue changes in the world
Fig. 3. Forecast of the growth of mobile communications voice and non-voice services until 2017
Fig. 4. Map of the RSC-e/JOYN project’s spread throughout the world, March 2013
Fig. 5. Compatibility of the digital cross-over switch (PBX) and NGN network archtectures
Fig. 6. Generalized architecture of networks, including LTE/EPC and NGN
Fig. 7. LTE/EPC architecture
Fig. 8. Separation of service and signalization flows on the LTE/EPC network
Fig. 9. Separation of service and signalization flows on the LTE/EPC network

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& Partners Company is prohibited. Media can use any diagrams, data or forecasts contained in this market review only with giving credit to the
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Fig. 10. HTC Thunderbolt Dual-Radio terminal
Fig. 11. Possible ways of voice service provision on LTE networks
Fig. 12. Countries of the world with launched HD Voice
Fig. 13. The number of LTE subscribers (million) by operators in the world (2H 2012)
Fig. 14. Comparison of the coverages of 3G/LTE networks of Verizon and AT&T
Fig. 15. Growth in LTE subscribers on DoCoMo's network (2010 - 2013)
Fig. 16. EPC detailed diagram with access networks and IMS components
Fig. 17. One of solutions for E911 in VoLTE
Fig. 18. Power consumption comparison for CDMA and VoLTE modes
Fig. 19. Composition of the mobile networks subscriber base by 2016
Fig. 20. Composition of the mobile networks subscriber base by 2016 (OTT and VoLTE)
List of Tables
Table 1. Operating revenue from Russian mobile operators’ service provision, billion rubles*
Table 2. RCS SWOT analysis
Table 3. Comparison of LTE voice services implementation methods
Table 4. Networks with VoLTE support in the world
Table 5. Commercial LTE networks with VoLTE support
Table 6. VoLTE testing in the world
Table 7. VoLTE-compatible models of smartphones in the world as of March 2013
Table 8. Comparison of OTT services and VoLTE
The newsletter was prepared by the J'son & Partners Consulting Company. We exert every effort to provide actual and forecasting data
representing the situation in full and available at the time of the publication of the material. J'son & Partners Consulting reserves the right of
revising the data after publication of some new official information by individual players.
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