SA's biggest mobile operator, Vodacom, says it made the country's first voice-over-LTE (VOLTE) call over its 4G/LTE network yesterday.
Typically reserved for data, the move to use 4G/LTE technology to carry voice traffic will, in future, mean better call quality for consumers and a more efficient use of network resources, says the company.
"VOLTE is a win-win technology - it's good for the consumer and for Vodacom. The implementation of the VOLTE infrastructure is the first step towards commercial implementation that will ultimately result in faster call set-up times, better voice quality and an overall improved quality of service," says Vodacom CTO Andries Delport.
"The migration of voice traffic to the 4G/LTE network will also have the benefit of freeing up capacity currently used to carry voice services."
The date for the commercial launch of the service will depend on the availability of compatible devices, and Vodacom says it is working with the handset manufacturers to ensure the technology is embedded in local handsets.
Vodacom notes the announcement forms part of its ongoing R9 billion network investment programme. In addition to implementing enhanced voice services (HD Voice plus), Vodacom has also been adding base stations, and expanding fibre-optic infrastructure to improve both the reach and quality of coverage.
The operator claims to have recently become the first operator to achieve true 4G (LTE-Advanced) on a live mobile network in SA, with the first commercial test of its 4G network resulting in download speeds exceeding 300Mbps.
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