gsa mobile hd voice

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Mobile HD voice: Global Update report

This report by GSA gives a status summary

of mobile HD voice operator commitments &service deployments on 2G/GSM, 3G/HSPA& 4G/LTE networks (i.e. VoLTE), launches

globally & the maturing W-AMR enabledmobile HD voice user devices ecosystem

Introduction

Mobile HD voice based on Adaptive MultiRate Wideband (W-AMR) technologyenables high-quality voice calls in mobilenetworks and an improved user experience.It provides significantly higher voice qualityfor calls between mobile phones supportingthe feature and is deployed in GSM, UMTS(WCDMA-HSPA) and LTE networks aroundthe world. The higher voice quality using HDvoice improves the call experience, allowingpeople to better share feelings, do businessand communicate information. HD voicetransmits a broader spectrum of the humanvoice; therefore conversation is more naturaland is likened to speaking to the other partyin the same room. HD voice also helpspeople hear better in noisy environments.

HD voice helps operators to differentiatetheir offerings and enable high qualityservices e.g. voice dependent business likecall centres, information and emergencyservices, etc. HD voice is ideal forconference calls and can contribute to areduction in business travel and raiseproductivity while reducing environmentalimpact. Calls which are easier to hear andunderstand reduce the fatigue oftenassociated with long conference calls. HDvoice represents the greatest advance invoice on mobile networks in decades.

W-AMR speech technology is standardizedin 3GPP Release 5. The W-AMR speech-compression algorithm doubles voice

bandwidth (507000 Hz) compared to the current narrowband speech

codec (3003400 Hz) without extra radio or transmissionrequirements. According to 3GPP, 12.65 kbit/s or higher coding bit-rates provide high-quality wideband audio (lower bit-rates of 8.85 and6.6 kbit/s are for temporary use during adverse radio conditions orperiods of cell congestion). In subjective tests the HD voice widebandcodec produces better results than the best narrow-band codec.

116 mobile operators launched HD voice service (up to 15.09.14)

Over 30% annual growth

Mobile HD service now launched in 75 countries

329 models of HD voice (W-AMR) enabled mobile phonesannounced (including VoLTE devices) Q1 2014

HD voice service is commercially launched in Armenia, Australia, Austria, Bahrain,Belarus, Belgium, Bulgaria, Canada, Croatia, Czech Rep., Denmark, DominicanRep., Egypt, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hong Kong, Hungary,India, Indonesia, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Ivory Coast, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan,Kenya, Kuwait, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malawi, Malaysia, Mali, Mauritius,Moldova, Mongolia, Montenegro, Morocco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nigeria,Norway, Oman, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Runion, Romania, Russia,Rwanda, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Serbia, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, South

Africa, South Korea, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, Thailand,Turkey, UAE, Uganda, UK, Ukraine, USA. 29 countries have at least two mobileHD voice operators. Interconnection between competing networks for end-to-endHD voice calling is a priority. Progress is continuing for handling international HDvoice calls, and for HD voice calling between fixed & mobile networks.

The maximum benefits from using HD voice are realized when bothcalling and called party use HD voice phones on a compatible mobilenetwork. Improvements in call quality are also observed even whenusing an HD voice phone to call a non-HD voice phone, due toimprovements in the acoustic performance and advanced noisereduction capabilities of most HD voice phones. There is a strongbusiness case for Mobile HD voice:

Orange France studies confirmed:

Orange has commercially launched HD voice on 21 mobile networks with over12 million subscribers using the service.

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Network aspects

The voice payload for transport in the corenetwork is usually PCM-coded at 64 kbit/s(ITU-T Rec. G.711). Narrowband AMR istranscoded to/from PCM but degrades voicequality, adding signal processing complexity.Analog PCM-based transport cannot beused with W-AMR as G.711 only applies tonarrowband voice. W-AMR must be basedon one of two complementary 3GPPstandards: tandem-free operation (TFO) ortranscoder-free operation (TrFO).Introduction of W-AMR into GSM systems

requires TFO, which is part of 3GPPGERAN, which does not require substantialmodification of the core network. W-AMRand TFO can also be introduced into UMTS.A better option is to use the recommendedTrFO. The combination of TFO and TrFOenables W-AMR calls between all types of3GPP mobile devices (i.e. GSM/EDGE andUMTS/WCDMA-HSPA).

HD voice devices ecosystem

GSA tracks vendor announcements aboutmobile devices that support HD voiceservice using W-AMR. Several HD-voicephones are available from leadingmanufacturers, including products forprofessional broadcasters. GSAs research(March 21, 2014) confirmed 329 HD voicephones announced by 19 manufacturers.The HD voice phones are listed in a freeGSA report that can be downloaded byregistered site users from www.gsacom.comHD voice (W-AMR) mobile phones andsuppliers report: 329 phones (incl. VoLTE),19 suppliers

Check back regularly for updates towww.gsacom.com

Most HD voice devices operate on3G/HSPA networks, with some working onGSM networks and now several on LTEnetworks. VoLTE-capable HD voice devicesare included in the GSA report. Many newmodels are delivered with HD Voiceactivated as default. Apple iPhones 5s, cand 6, 6 Plus support HD voice. All Xperiaphones are shipping with HD voice turnedon for use in HSPA networks. NokiasSymbian Belle release brought HD voice forGSM operators, enabled by Nokia 600, 700,701 phones, with HD voice shipping as the

default for WCDMA and GSM modes. Symbian Belle is also available

as a software update for current models e.g. Nokia N8, E6, E7, C6-01,C7 and X7, giving owners an upgrade path. Lumia phones have W- AMR support for GSM and WCDMA. Nokia also has more affordableproducts e.g. X3, C3. Mobile operators often list HD voice compatiblephones. Some are carrier specific and not compatible for use in othernetworks or available in all markets.

This information is for interest/guidance only for readers. Availability ofthe W-AMR feature in any device for a specific market must always bechecked directly with the phone manufacturer concerned.

To continue the market development, GSA advocates that allsmartphones should be delivered with W-AMR activated by default.

Hear HD Voice!Martin Stanford (Sky News presenter)www.youtube.com/watch?v=bwVPkt6vwEw&feature=player_embedded

A white paper "BT Global IP Exchange" (available in the Mobile HDvoice Zone on www.gsacom.com) explains how operators can benefitfrom the opportunity to deliver and charge for cross-network, nationaland international and roaming HD calls. Since October 2012, Orangecustomers in Romania and Moldova can make HD voice calls betweenthese countries. Orange supports international HD voice calls betweentwo operators on fixed and/or any mobile network and launched aninternational HD voice call exchange for 3 rd party operators and serviceproviders. Other IPX providers include Aicent, BICS, iBasis, TISparkle, TSIC, and Tata Communications. According to research byInnovation Observatory for BT, global retail revenue from cross-network HD voice services could reach GB 1.5 billion by 2015.

The HD voice logo is designed foroperators and vendors to market andpromote interoperable HD voice capabilitieson their networks and end user products.Details about the logo, how to become alicensee, contacts etc., are available on theGSMA (GSM Association) website

www.gsma.com/technicalprojects/hd-voice/ Since June 12, 2013 DECT Cat-iq 2.0 certified devices may also use this logo.

HD Voice (W-AMR) discussion group:www.linkedin.com/groups?=&gid=3032759

On the GSA website www.gsacom.com/hdvoice

Maps and charts relating to mobile HD voice are available as PDF files via the links onwww.gsacom.com and also as JPEG files at www.gsacom.com/news/statistics.php4

White papers, market updates, graphics www.gsacom.com

White Paper: Voice Handover in LTE Networks - shows that the SRVCC technologyperformance is mature for commercial launch. It also means good voice quality in LTEnetwork handover scenarios, non-noticeable interrupt time when doing a handover, aswell as seamless HD voice between LTE and WCDMA.

www.ericsson.com/news/121026-voice-handover-in-lte-networks_244159017_c


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OPERATOR HSPA

network

GSM

network

LTE network COUNTRY HD voice service

1st

launch dateOrange Moldova ! Moldova 09.09.2009Orange France ! France 19.07.2010Orange Armenia ! Armenia 24.02.2010Orange UK ! UK 01.09.2010SFR ! France xx.09.2010Orange Spain (Catalonia region) ! Spain 10.09.2010Mobistar ! Belgium 16.09.2010Vipnet ! Croatia 22.09.2010Tata DoCoMo ! India 03.11.2010Mobinil ! Egypt 09.11.2010Megafon (initially HSPA, with GSM from 27.04.2011) ! ! Russia 10.11.2010Orange Luxembourg ! Luxembourg 08.12.2010

CSL Limited!

Hong Kong 12.2010Turkcell ! Turkey 17.01.2011TIM ! Italy 27.01.2011WIND Mobile ! Canada 02.2011Vodafone Turkey ! Turkey 01.04.2011Orange Mauritius ! Mauritius 07.04.2011Orange Runion ! Runion 2011Orange Romania ! Romania 13.05.20113 UK ! UK 05.2011Orange Dominicana ! Dominican Republic 06.2011Du ! UAE 06.2011M-TEL ! Bulgaria 14.06.2011Telstra ! Australia 24.06.11Orange Uganda ! Uganda 07.07.2011T-Mobile Poland ! ! Poland 17.08.2011Orange Kenya ! Kenya 25.08.2011T-Mobile Austria ! Austria 29.08.2011Mobitel ! Slovenia 06.09.2011VIP Serbia ! ! Serbia 12.09.2011Orange Switzerland ! Switzerland 13.09.2011T-Hrvatski Telekom ! Planned Croatia 14.09.2011TDC ! Denmark 26.09.2011A1 Telekom ! Austria 10.2011T-Mobile CZ ! Czech Republic 26.10.2011DT ! Germany 02.11.20113 Austria ! Austria 16.11.2011Si.mobil ! Slovenia 15.12.2011Bell Mobility ! Canada 24.01.2012Swisscom ! Switzerland 01.02.2012Dialog Axiata ! Sri Lanka 14.02.2012KPN ! Netherlands 05.03.2012Celcom Axiata ! Malaysia 07.04.2012Vodafone Ireland ! Ireland 18.04.2012Kcell ! Kazakhstan 2012Play (P4) ! Poland 10.07.2012T-Mobile UK ! UK 08.2012SK Telecom ! South Korea 08.08.2012LG U Plus ! South Korea 08.08.2012Orange Jordan ! Jordan 11.08.2012MTS ! Russia 12.09.2012Telus ! Canada 21.09.2012Meo (formerly known as TMN) ! Portugal 28.09.2012Rogers Wireless ! Canada 10.2012


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KT ! South Korea 08.10.2012

Smart!

Philippines 22.10.2012Bouygues Telecom ! France 11.2012DTAC ! Thailand 11.2012Ooredoo ! Qatar 27.11.20123 Denmark ! Denmark 20.12.2012Airtel ! Nigeria 22.12.2012Orange (Partner) ! Israel 25.12.2012T-Mobile US (HSPA first, VoLTE launched 22.05.14) ! ! USA 08.01.2013Axis ! Indonesia 22.01.2013DNA ! Finland 28.01.2013Chunghwa Telecom ! Taiwan 05.02.2013Orange CI ! Ivory Coast 28.02.2013Airtel ! Kenya 05.03.2013

Airtel!

Malawi 05.03.2013Airtel ! Rwanda 05.03.2013StarHub (HSPA first, VoLTE launched 26.08.14) ! ! Singapore 07.03.2013Telenor Norway ! Norway 19.03.2013G-Mobile ! Mongolia 20.03.2013Mobily ! Saudi Arabia 03.2013STC ! Saudi Arabia 03.2013Netcom ! Norway 04.2013Cosmote Romania ! Romania 15.04.2013AIS ! Thailand 06.05.2013Orange Slovakia ! Slovakia 16.05.2013Cosmote Greece ! Greece 11.06.2013Cmogorski Telekom ! ! Montenegro 24.06.2013Vodafone Australia ! Australia 25.06.2013Magyar Telekom ! Hungary 01.07.2013Vodafone Germany ! Germany 26.07.2013Bite Lithuania ! Lithuania 31.07.2013Bite Latvia ! Latvia 05.08.2013Kyivstar ! Ukraine 08.08.2013Telenor Serbia ! ! Serbia 16.09.2013Vodafone NZ ! New Zealand 07.11.2013MTS Belarus ! Belarus 11.12 2013Viva Kuwait ! Kuwait 25.12.2013Orange Mali ! Mali 01.20142 Degrees ! New Zealand 21.01.2014Orange Sonatel ! Senegal 14.02.2014TeliaSonera Sweden ! Sweden 01.03.2014E Plus ! Germany 12.03.2014Nawras ! Oman 22.03.2014Inwi ! ! Morocco 24.03.2014Tele2 Sweden ! Sweden 25.03.2014Viva ! Bahrain 29.03.2014Zain ! Bahrain 31.03.2014EMT ! Estonia 06.05.2014HKT-PCCW ! Hong Kong 15.05.20143 HK ! Hong Kong 15.05.2014Altel ! ! Kazakhstan 15.05.2014Etisalat ! Sri Lanka 22.05.2014AT&T Mobility ! USA 23.05.2014SingTel ! Singapore 31.05.2014NTT DoCoMo ! Japan 06.2014Vodafone ! Netherlands 02.07.14Orange ! ! Poland 28.07.14


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MTN ! South Africa 20.08.14

Telenor!

Denmark 03.09.14Vodafone ! UK 11.09.14Verizon Wireless ! USA 15.09.14

Total = 116 HD voice operators (enabled by W-AMR)105 on3G/HSPAnetworks

10 onGSMnetworks

11 VoLTEon LTEnetworks

75 countries Excludes MVNOs

Many more operators are trialling or deploying HD voice capability in their networks.

HD voice (W-AMR) on LTE networks (VoLTE)LTE systems are all-IP, optimized for data transfer. LTEdoes not include any circuit switched capability as usedon previous technologies for voice and SMS services.

Since voice and SMS generate in the region of 60-70% ofoperator revenues globally, voice service is needed onLTE networks and is a priority for many LTE operators asnetwork coverage improved (increasingly nationwide) andas penetration and usage of LTE smartphones increased.

In the first phase of voice evolution, voice calls arehandled in a circuit switched network using CSFB (circuitswitched fall back). The LTE data connection falls backto a legacy 2G/3G voice network connection prior toinitiation of a voice call. This solution is favoured by manyLTE operators initially, with VoLTE as the goal. SomeLTE operators launched voice service with VoLTE in onestep. With the VoLTE solution (GSMA spec. VoLTEIR.92, based on 3GPP standards), subscribers can useHD voice and other richer communication services usingLTE smartphones. An operator needs an IMS (IPMultimedia System) core network and the LTE radioaccess network and Evolved Packet Core must alsosupport VoLTE (usually achieved by software upgrade).

The first VoLTE-based HD voice service launched in2012. Operators deploying VoLTE for HD voice is now akey trend. GSA confirms 71 operators are investing inVoLTE studies, trials or deployments, including 11operators offering VoLTE-HD voice. The number oflaunches should reach 19 by end-2014 & double in 2015.

Country Operator VoLTE statusHong Kong HKT-PCCW LaunchedHong Kong 3 HK LaunchedJapan NTT DoCoMo LaunchedSingapore SingTel LaunchedSingapore StarHub LaunchedSouth Korea KT LaunchedSouth Korea LG U+ LaunchedSouth Korea SK Telecom LaunchedUSA AT&T Mobility LaunchedUSA T-Mobile US Launched

USA Verizon Wireless LaunchedAlgeria Algrie Telecom In deploymentAustralia Optus Trialling

Australia Telstra Planned Australia Vodafone In deployment Austria T Mobile Trialling

Bulgaria Max PlannedCanada Rogers Wireless PlannedCanada Sasktel In deploymentCanada Telus In deploymentChina China Mobile In deploymentCzech Republic T Mobile Trial plannedEcuador CNT In deploymentFrance Bouygues Telecom In deploymentFrance Orange PlannedFrance Orange PlannedGermany DT In deploymentGermany E-Plus In deployment

Germany O2 In deploymentGermany Vodafone TrialledHong Kong CSL Limited Soft-launchedIndia Bharti Airtel TriallingIndia RIL TriallingIndia Videocon PlannedJapan KDDI In deploymentJapan Softbank In deploymentKazakhstan Altel In deploymentKuwait Viva TriallingKuwait Zain TrialledLebanon Alfa In deploymentNetherlands KPM TriallingNetherlands Tele2 In deploymentNetherlands Vodafone In deploymentNew Zealand Vodafone Trial plannedNigeria Smile Communications TrialledRussia MTS TrialledRussia Megafon In deploymentRussia Vimpelcom TrialledSaudi Arabia Mobily In deploymentSingapore M1 In deploymentSlovakia Slovak Telecom PlannedSlovenia Telekom Slovenije In deploymentSpain Telefonica TriallingSpain Vodafone In deploymentSweden Tele2 In deployment


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Sweden TeliaSonera In deployment

Switzerland Swisscom In deploymentTaiwan Asia Pacific Telecom In deploymentTanzania Smile Communications TrialledTurkey Avea TriallingUAE Du In deploymentUAE Etisalat In deploymentUganda Smile Communications TrialledUK EE In deploymentUK Vodafone TrialledUSA C-Spire PlannedUSA KPU In deploymentUSA US Cellular In deployment

USA Sprint In deploymentUSA VTel In deploymentVenezuela Digitel Testing

Source of data: GSAs Evolution to LTE report of

September 17, 2014 & update (re Verizon VoLTE launch) SK Telecom has over 8 million VoLTE subscribers.VoLTE subscriptions may exceed 60 million by end 2014.

MetroPCS launched VoLTE in 2012. Due to spectrumconstraints their voice service is narrowband and notincluded in the list as W-AMR is not used. MetroPCS isnow part of T-Mobile US which has launched W-AMRenabled HD voice using VoLTE, and is included in the list.

In July 2014 GSA confirmed 92 smartphones (includingcarrier and frequency variants) support VoLTE, includingproducts by Asus, Huawei, LG, Pantech, Samsung and

Sony Mobile. The newly-announced Apple iPhone 6 & 6Plus models support VoLTE. GSA will publish a statusupdate report on VoLTE devices later this month.

Global growth of HD voice (W-AMR) services

Download the above graphics from http://www.gsacom.com/hdvoice or from http://www.gsacom.com/news/statistics Also see GSAs HD voice (W-AMR) mobile phones and suppliers report

The report on March 21, 2014 confirmed 329 phones support HD Voice (W-AMR), including operator & frequency variants,from 19 manufacturers. Most phones operate on 3G/HSPA systems, some on GSM systems. VoLTE devices with W-AMRfunctionality are included. Sign in to http://www.gsacom.com and follow the link. Users of GSAs GAMBoD analysis tool mayaccess the GAMBoD-HDV database for W-AMR enabled HD voice mobile phones. Check back for updates.

GSA (Global mobile Suppliers Association) represents GSM/EDGE, WCDMA-HSPA and LTE suppliers, providing reports,facts, analysis and information explaining market developments and trends. Through its website www.gsacom.com GSAprovides a single point of reference for information on the current status of mobile broadband (HSPA/HSPA+ and LTE/LTE-Advanced) networks and devices, and supports a global community which includes over 64,600 registered site users and over

21,300 contributors and followers on our social media platforms - Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter. Around 250,000 reports,information papers and other materials are downloaded from the GSA website annually.

Errors and Omissions Excepted Updates for this report are welcome to [email protected]

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