VoLTE: The Future of Voice Calling

VoLTE or Voice over Long-Term Evolution is a standard for making voice calls over LTE (Long-Term Evolution) networks. It uses the same network as data, which means that calls can be made using the internet connection rather than the traditional circuit-switched method. VoLTE is designed to improve the calling experience by offering superior voice quality, faster call setup times, and longer battery life.

The Biggest Advantage - Improved Call Quality

One of the significant advantages of VoLTE is that it offers better call quality than traditional circuit-switched voice calls. VoLTE uses wideband audio codecs such as HD voice, which provides more extended frequency ranges, making the voice sound clearer than ever before. This means that there are fewer background noise and interference, leading to a smoother conversation experience even in noisy environments. This has a significant impact on the user experience, especially in a business context, where communication is critical, and every word matters.

Faster Call Setup Time

Another advantage of VoLTE is the faster call setup time. Traditional voice calls use the legacy circuit-switched network infrastructure that takes a lot of time to establish a connection. The process involves multiple steps along with network signaling, which can cause delays. With VoLTE, the process is much simpler, and the connection is faster as it uses the LTE data network. This means that users can connect to other parties much more quickly, cutting down on call setup time, making the experience more seamless.

Lower Battery Usage

One of the issues around using the internet for voice calling is that it can consume a lot of battery power. This is because older technologies require your phone to switch between LTE and 3G to ensure you are connected to the right network for both voice calls and data. However, with VoLTE, you don't have that problem since the network is LTE-based. This results in a more efficient use of battery power, which means you can spend more time talking to your customers without worrying about your battery.

Better Video Calling

VoLTE isn't just limited to voice calls. It also provides a better video calling experience. The same benefits of HD voice also apply to video calls when using VoLTE. The user can also switch between voice and video call without interrupting the call quality. This is especially useful for remote meetings, where video calls are increasingly becoming a preferred mode of communication.

Increased Network Capacity

As more and more users are using data services, the existing 2G/3G networks can become congested, leading to lower voice quality or dropped calls. VoLTE addresses this issue by making voice calls a part of the data service. This means that voice calls can move over the LTE network, freeing up capacity on the older 2G/3G networks. VoLTE reduces network congestion, providing a better user experience, and freeing up network resources to handle more data traffic.

Limitations

The primary limitation of VoLTE is that it requires a compatible device and network. As of 2021, all major carriers in the US and several others around the world offer VoLTE service, and the technology is rapidly gaining adoption. However, some carriers may not support VoLTE yet, and not all devices are VoLTE compatible.

Another limitation is that VoLTE calls rely on an internet connection. If the user's connection is weak or unstable, the quality of the call may suffer. While this is not unique to VoLTE, it underscores the importance of a strong and stable internet connection, particularly during critical calls.

Conclusion

VoLTE offers a superior voice calling experience over traditional methods. It provides higher quality calls, faster call setup times, lower battery usage, and better video calling. With its ability to free up network resources, it is quickly becoming the standard for voice calling around the world. However, as with all new technologies, there are limitations, and users need to have a compatible device and a robust internet connection to get the most out of VoLTE. The benefits of VoLTE are particularly pronounced in business settings where real-time communication is crucial, making it an essential tool for today's businesses.