Ericsson and Vodafone Netherlands have deployed the country’s first cloud-based and fully virtualized Voice over LTE (VoLTE) and Wi-Fi calling solution.
With Wi-Fi calling, operator can deliver voice services in more locations, such as indoor environments like basements, by complementing macro network coverage.
VoLTE offers fast call set-up times and high-definition (HD) voice quality while facilitating a broader range of IP-based communication capabilities, such as video calling over LTE and multi-device support.
At the core of the system is a set of VNFs for the Ericsson IP Multimedia Subsystem with Ericsson Multimedia Telephony Application Server, Ericsson Call Session Control Function, Ericsson Evolved Packet Core with Ericsson Evolved Packet Gateway, Ericsson Wi-Fi Mobility Gateway and other Ericsson control and authentication functions.
The partnership will improve Vodafone Netherlands’ mobile video communication services compared with similar services delivered over internet access.
The solution is based on a commercial Network Functions Virtualization (NFV) deployment of Ericsson IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS) and Ericsson Evolved Packet Core (EPC). The complete cloud-based solution also includes Virtual Network Functions (VNF) for Wi-Fi calling, policy control and application server domain.
Commenting on this development, Matthias Sauder, head of Networks, Vodafone Netherlands, says: “Network virtualization brings huge opportunities for efficiency and agility. It will allow us to introduce new services more rapidly to our subscribers. We are very pleased with Ericsson’s support in deploying NFV in our network in the Netherlands, which will now enable swift launches of new IP-based communication services for our customers.”
Valter D’Avino, head of Western and Central Europe, Ericsson, said the VoLTE and Wi-Fi calling system can automatically scale within a telecom cloud and fulfill telecom-grade service availability.
Vodafone will now be able to evolve their voice and SMS business toward an all-IP communications network based in the cloud.
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