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Voice over LTE:The new mobile voiceInspire new conversationswhile streamlining networksStrategic White Paper4G LTE enables mobile operators to deliver a new conversation experienceof enriched voice, enlivened video and intuitive messaging. VoLTE unlocksthis experience, enabling 4G LTE’s all-IP services for the mobile broadbandconsumer. VoLTE’s infrastructure also leads directly to cloud communicationsand WebRTC’s convergence of telecommunications and the web. Now isthe time for you to begin your move to a new conversation experiencethat will captivate your subscribers and enable you to capitalize on your4G LTE investment.

Table of contents1. Introduction/12. The new conversation experience/3. Voice for the 4G LTE subscriber3/23.1 Voice options / 34. VoLTE’s value/45. How does VoLTE work?/65.1 Introduction / 65.2 QoS and bearers / 75.3 VoLTE overview6. Path to VoLTE//8146.1 The New Conversation Experience/146.2 Planning VoLTE’s implementation / 147. Conclusion8. Acronyms9. References/1616//18

1. IntroductionConsumers’ enthusiasm for mobile data services has driven operators to implement4G Long Term Evolution (LTE) networks to better serve their subscribers with morecapacity, higher bandwidth, reduced latency and improved pricing. Voice over LTE(VoLTE) is specifically designed for 4G LTE’s all-IP network. This fact is vital becauseeven as the operator’s connectivity and content services increase over the comingyears, and innovative competitors further alter the telecommunications industry,communication services remain a vital means by which operators create value inorder to win and serve subscribers [12]. VoLTE is a key part of this equation becauseit unlocks all-IP communications in the 4G LTE network. With VoLTE, operators can: Bring customers on to the newest 4G LTE mobile network and deliver datasimultaneously with crisp HD voice while efficiently offloading legacy infrastructure Create attractive communication services by blending mobile voice with video,converged IP messaging, the web and social networking Inspire more conversations by harmonizing today’s fragmented communicationsthat are stranded on different mediaVoLTE operators have the most competitive freedom with the lowest risk, as shown inFigure 1. They can deliver the new mobile voice, add video and messaging, and convergewith the web through Web Real Time Communications (WebRTC) [16]. They can partnerwith application providers by delivering the best user experience at the lowest cost perbit, and they can mainstream application developers’ innovation into communicationservices. They can experiment with new communication features that enliven adjacentmarkets, such as the web, or rapidly customize features for strategic industries suchas mobile healthcare. Regardless of where technology, regulation and competitiontake the industry in the coming years, VoLTE operators’ investment enables themto act decisively.Figure 1. Strategic value of VoLTECOMPETITIVE VOICE, VIDEO AND MESSAGING Reduce communications price erosion, grow broadband profits More fully monetize the 4G LTE investmentALL-IP4G LTECONVERGED CLOUD Embrace the subscriber’s life across fixed, mobile, web Control costs and increase service velocityINNOVATION Service Agility (REST APIs) enables continued differentiation Experiment and invent new servicesVoLTE – THE NEW MOBILE VOICEVoice over LTE: The new mobile voiceAlcatel-Lucent White paper1

2. The new conversation experience4G LTE operators need to rise above the data storm by delivering the best brandedservices. While consumers have happily adopted the latest gadgets and services, theynow juggle conversations across disparate providers, devices and apps. Conversationsare becoming complicated, and that stifles further innovation.Video-calling is an example: Although people embrace it, video calls are beyond thereach of most people. You cannot just pick up your mobile device, wherever you are,for a video call that’s as easy as voice.With the Alcatel-Lucent New Conversation Experience (NCE) (shown in Figure 2 anddiscussed in the white paper The New Conversation Experience: It’s Time to ReinventCommunications [6]), operators can deliver: A better user experience: Gained by making video and messaging as easy as voice.For the first time, mobile subscribers can enjoy video, voice and messaging using anycombination of device, screen and network. We make it as easy and as trusted as voiceis today. Connected communities: By harmonizing communications across telecom and webbased networks. Users can easily contact friends and family over social networks. And,through WebRTC, operators can extend their services to anyone with a web browser. Open for innovation: The solution has easy to use, open Application ProgrammingInterfaces (APIs) to attract application developers with additional features that inspireand accelerate new conversation services and collaboration.The Alcatel-Lucent 4G Consumer Communications solution [1] makes 4G LTE even moreattractive for operators to deploy because with it they can captivate subscribers with anew conversation experience. It enables operators to capitalize on their 4G LTE accessinvestment, reducing the erosion in communications pricing. The solution includes APIsfor agile co-creation with partners in the LTE ecosystem. It also includes interworking thesubscriber’s services from 4G LTE to any broadband access, such as 3G HSPA , WiFi,fixed and the web.Figure 2. The value of the New Conversation ExperienceCONNECTED COMMUNITIESBETTER USER EXPERIENCE Video plus messaging as easyas voice Clear mobile video communicationsfor the first time4G LTE3G HSPA Wi-Fi Voice over LTE: The new mobile voiceAlcatel-Lucent White paper2OPEN FOR INNOVATION Harmonize communications acrossservice provider and web-basednetworksWebFixed Create more apps quickly bymainstreaming applicationdeveloper innovation intocommunicationsIntuitivemessagingLiving videoEnrichedvoice

3. Voice for the 4G LTE subscriberOnly a couple of years ago, many people believed that legacy 2G/3G circuit voice wasadequate for 4G LTE subscribers. Now VoLTE is a business necessity and it is beingdeployed in preparation for commercial service.Service providers took a closer look at the competitive value of mobile voice and VoLTE’srelationship to broader communications services’ innovation. They realized that 4G LTEputs application providers in a stronger position to deliver communications services.Many operators are engaged in analysis, Requests for Proposal (RFPs) and trials ofVoLTE technology. Verizon Wireless [15] and AT&T [10] are preparing to launch VoLTE.VoLTE optimizes the spectral efficiency of mobile voice in 4G LTE networks. It does sothrough optimizations such as Robust Header Control ([RoHC], reducing bandwidthconsumed), Semi-Persistent Scheduling ([SPS], reducing the control channels used) andTransmission Time Interval (TTI) bundling (boosting uplink coverage at the cell’s edge).In the near-term, VoLTE is not the only method by which all operators will initiallylaunch voice service. However, it is the best method when measured by competitiveenablement and business risk.3.1 Voice optionsThe four primary methods of voice service for 4G LTE subscribers are:3.1.1 Voice over LTE (VoLTE)VoLTE is the all-IP method that tightly links the voice application to the LTE network toassure the best subscriber experience in terms of performance, reliability, interoperabilityand global roaming. This is the industry’s preferred method, with several initial launchesplanned for 2012 and 2013, rapidly shifting to widespread usage by 2014.3.1.2 Circuit switched fallback (CSFB)This method is used for interim LTE voice service pending the operator’s launchof VoLTE. As a 3GPP method, it ensures standards-based performance, reliability,interoperability and roaming. But CSFB is legacy 2G/3G circuit voice, typicallynarrowband (rarely HD audio), and does not enable all-IP services such as video calls orWebRTC. Originating a voice call or answering a terminating voice call (unless the call isrejected) forces the CSFB smartphone to fall back from 4G LTE to 2G GSM or 3G UMTS.Because 4G LTE smartphones are built to utilize only one radio at a time (the singleactive radio design which reduces size, battery consumption and cost), both the voiceand the data service fall back simultaneously from 4G LTE to legacy service.Focusing on the data service, the fallback to 3G HSPA might not be so bad, butfallback to 3G UMTS is certainly a competitive concern, and fallback to 2G GSM causesthe data session to be suspended because no operator has deployed the Dual TransferMode technology that enables simultaneous voice and data in 2G GSM.Voice over LTE: The new mobile voiceAlcatel-Lucent White paper3

3.1.3 Simultaneous voice and LTE (SV-LTE)Simultaneous Voice and LTE (SV-LTE) is implemented by some device manufacturersfor CDMA operators. An SV-LTE smartphone actually has two simultaneously activeradios. One radio provides CDMA 1xRTT for circuit voice, and a second radio provides4G LTE for IP data. In this way, an SV-LTE handset equips the CDMA operator with theclear subscriber value of simultaneous legacy voice and 4G LTE data. (Without it, CDMAoperators can use only voice or data, not both simultaneously, as can 3G UMTS and 4GVoLTE subscribers.) However, such a handset might be larger or heavier due to the needfor two simultaneously used antennas plus a larger battery for the increased currentdrain, and therefore it might incur a higher acquisition cost.3.1.4 Partnering with application and content providersApplication and Content Providers (ACPs) are sometimes referred to as over-the-top(OTT) providers. In this paper we refer to them as application providers. Rather thancompeting with all application providers, the mobile operator might partner with somefor 4G LTE voice. This method would directly fuel the operator with the applicationdevelopers’ innovation, albeit with revenues shifting to the partner’s coffers.However, as a non-3GPP method, the mobile operator incurs custom development costsin order to make such an over-the-top VoIP in 4G LTE match the ecosystem benefits ofVoLTE (smartphone supply, scaling, interoperability and roaming) and the performanceaspects of VoLTE (spectral efficiency, quality of service and so on). Such a strategydirectly incurs business risk should the partners’ strategies diverge, causing the mobileoperator to scramble to field a communications system.While partnering can make sense for selected application innovation and new businessmodels, the business risk to fundamental services such as mobile voice and all that theVoLTE infrastructure enables must be assessed.4. VoLTE’s valueApplication providers have commercially launched very popular voice, video andmessaging services that are shifting consumers’ attention and usage. Skype has700 million registered users, of which 170 million used the service at least once permonth. [11] Apple has sold countless iPhones , iPads and Macintosh computers,many of which are capable of FaceTime video-calling.The application providers’ success stems from the fact that they are delivering servicesthat people enjoy using and can use at a nearly-free price. Clearly, consumers arewilling and eager to engage in new communications that are enabled by smart devicesand broadband. It’s time for the global public network to move beyond basic voice andtexting. It’s time for the global public network to deliver video-calling in mobile. Formore information, please refer to the white paper, Enliven conversations with video. [2]Voice over LTE: The new mobile voiceAlcatel-Lucent White paper4