Squire Technologies: Rolling Out A VoLTE Network. We look at the challenges facing the telecoms industry rolling out VoLTE networks, focussing on South African telecoms operator Smile, the first provider to rollout 4G LTE in Africa.

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August 2016
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Squire Technologies
Rolling out a VoLTE network
Lessons Learned

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Complexity
► “VoLTE network deployment is one of the most
difficult projects ever, the implementation
complexity and workload is unparalleled in history”
China Mobile Group, Vice President, Mr Liu Aili
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Some thoughts on complexity …

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VoLTE progress ..
► 422 commercial LTE networks across 143
countries worldwide ( Amdocs Sept 2015 )
► 80% of all 4G-LTE Connections are in the US,
South Korea and Japan ( Amdocs Sept 2015 )
► 25 Commercial VoLTE launches, 80 planned
( Amdocs Sept 2015 )
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How many ? Where ? When ?

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Why is VoLTE finally being rolled out ?
► Struggled to find real business case
► HD Voice
► Extended battery life
► Faster call setup
► The rise of VoWiFi and ViWiFi
► Apple adds support for VoWiFi and VoLTE to iOS 8 - September 2014
► Provides near 100% voice coverage for LTE subscribers
► Provides a secure means of connecting to mobile networks
► Reduces radio bandwidth
► Solve / Stop Gap Solution to Roaming ?
► Native support for VoLTE on handset starts the fight back against the
OTT
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VoLTE at last …

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Who is rolling out VoLTE?
► Two types of carrier :-
► Carrier A – full end-to-end test in labs of all network
types, all technologies, all handsets, all vendors and
then full launch
► Carrier B – prepared to do a staggered rollout of
services in order to capture market share and take
advantage of “emerging technologies”.
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VoLTE. Who ?

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Live VoLTE rollout
► Smile owns and operates mobile wireless 4G LTE broadband networks
in Nigeria, Tanzania and Uganda – combined market potential of 300
million subscribers
► Was the first 4G LTE network in Africa in 2012
► Raised US $365 million in 2015 to fund expansion
► Wanted to rollout and support VoLTE, ViLTE,VoWiFi,ViWiFi
► Developed softphone App
► Support for off-net subscribers over WiFi
► Support for subscribers without VoLTE handset
► Allow subscribers to use service on tablets , PC’s – “Presence”, “Follow-Me”
service
► Support for messaging – SMS across 4G <-> 2G,3G
► Network rollout commenced in April 2015
► Nov 2015 – “Smile has developed interconnect platforms with our key
provider, Squire Technologies, to allow us to achieve full interconnect
nationally and internationally to any network “ Tom Allen CTO
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Smile Group – South Africa

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So who are Squire Technologies ?
The Signalling Specialists to the Telecoms Industry.
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www.squire-technologies.com
► Formed in 2001 with HQ in the UK
► Signalling Specialists – SS7, VoIP, NGN and VoLTE /
IMS
► Provide a range of products and end-to-end solutions
along with the associated to insure successful
deployment and ongoing support
► Deployed in over 90 countries worldwide
► Deliver to carriers in the fixed and mobile space, ISPs,
systems integrators and telecom equipment suppliers

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Technology Timeline
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2015
2013
2011
2009
2005
2004
2001
VoLTE
MGCF - IWF
SBC
SMS Gateways
MG
MGC
Company
Formation
8 I
2006 SoftSwitch
SS7
SIP / H.323
SIGTRAN
DIAMETER
RADIUS
Products and Technologies
Technology
MAP - SMS
2016 DSC
VoLTE
DSC
DDos etc ..
Products
VoLTE
DSC

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What were the issues ?
► Vendors, Vendors and more Vendors :-
► 26 x Network Operators
►2G
►3G
►PSTN
►VoIP
► 2 x Radio Network Suppliers
► 3 x mobile handset manufacturers
► 1 x App developer
► 1 x IMS core vendor
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What issues were Smile facing ?

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VoLTE is really well defined right ?
► The simple answer is YES and NO !
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Why the big fuss VoLTE is specified by 3GPP ..
3GPP specs galore
► IMS core network 50+ specs
containing 9000+ pages
BUT
► For VoLTE devices there are
30 pages

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Live VoLTE rollout
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A lot to consider
VoLTE
to
2G
3G
VoIP
Operators
Handsets
Apps
Messaging PSTN
Pre-
Conditions

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Live VoLTE Rollout
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Practical Solutions
► Set up a lab to provide :-
► Comprehensive test facilities
► Rapid testing of new features across
all devices / apps
► Regression testing on new device /
app versions
► Rapid turn around on support issues
► Managed rollout of new features
► Access to our R&D development
team
and
► Deployment of flexible subset of
Squire SVI products ..

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The Technical Solution
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Live VoLTE Rollout

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Live VoLTE Rollout
► Pre-Condition Conundrums
► Early Media – no “early” announcements i.e. Mobile
Number Portability
► No ringtone
► Forking between VoLTE and non VoLTE devices
► Softphone App
► Interop and testing
► Follow-me – single number , multiple devices
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Problems Solved

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Solution
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Handsets
► Handset Manufacturers
developing VoLTE compliant
3GPP SIP clients to 30 page
specifications
► Specifications misinterpreted
or just not to spec
► Differences between versions
► Significant delays between
version releases

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Summary
What did we learn ?
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► VoLTE deployment is complex
► Commercial pressure – budget + launch dates
► Solved with a combination of Squire
Technologies flexible product set and access
to signaling expertise to insure :-
► project delivered to timescale
► project delivered to budget
► ongoing development and support – LI , USSD ,
Rich Communication Services ( RCS ) , additional
African country rollout

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Tel: +44(0)1305 757 314
Email: enquiries@squire-technologies.co.uk
Squire Technologies
www.squire-technologies.com