Professional testing is the key for ensuring high Quality of End-user Experience for VoLTE
Anite is currently providing test and measurement products for VoLTE rollouts on three continents. Anite provides all the necessary drive test, benchmarking, handheld, and in-building tools as well as the post-processing platforms to successfully test VoLTE; thus helping our customers to successfully launch the service and to speed up the time-to-market of their latest network investment.
VoLTE is expected to offer operators the chance to produce better service quality compared to OTT competitors (Over-the-Top services, such as Skype, GTalk). The advantage of VoLTE is that OTT services cannot secure the quality of the service (QoS), and the quality of the OTT service depends solely on the quality of the packet data services the operators offer. On the other hand, OTT services challenge VoLTE by offering their services usually free of charge for the end-users. To function properly, OTT services require a good and reliable packet data connection which will be available when good coverage and quality with LTE is rolled out.
Multiple implementations; how to ensure compatibility?
There are two sides to the VoLTE service: the implementations in the device and the implementations in the network. The IMS core on the radio network side needs to work with the IMS client on the device. What makes this complex is the existence of several vendors both on the network and on the device side which creates a situation where various IMS vendors have their own specific implementations of the IMS client. For example, Qualcomm, Samsung, and LG each have their own IMS clients in the terminal.
What can we measure from VoLTE?
VoLTE measurements done with Anite’s tools can log a number of different VoLTE parameters. Customers can record SIP signaling in real-time and RTP data statistics, such as RTP jitter and packet loss. VoLTE measurement tools also support call statistics, such as call setup time, call success rates, call failures, and SRVCC statistics. For voice quality measurements, the products support POLQA voice quality testing.
While testing VoLTE, it is good to understand that each case is different and that we are working with a technology that has vendor-specific implementations. IMS and VoLTE configurations on devices are complex with a multitude of parameters that need to be specified. The ideal time for testing VoLTE is now, when the service is still in its early stages of commercialization and testing.
Anite Network Testing has successfully tested VoLTE on multiple devices
Currently Anite supports VoLTE testing with all our products (e.g. Nemo Outdoor, Nemo Invex II, Nemo Handy, and Nemo Walker Air). Anite also supports VoLTE testing and analysis in our post-processing tools Nemo Analyze, Nemo WindCatcher, and Nemo Xynergy.
Our customers have successfully used Nemo VoLTE measurement products in operator trials in the US, Europe, and in Asia. Watch this Youtube video for more information or contact us.