www.squire-technologies.com
August 2016
1
Squire Technologies
Rolling out a VoLTE network
Lessons Learned
www.squire-technologies.com
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
2
Some thoughts on complexity …
www.squire-technologies.com
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 )
3
How many ? Where ? When ?
www.squire-technologies.com
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
4
VoLTE at last …
www.squire-technologies.com
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”.
5
VoLTE. Who ?
www.squire-technologies.com
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
6
Smile Group – South Africa
www.squire-technologies.com
So who are Squire Technologies ?
The Signalling Specialists to the Telecoms Industry.
7
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
www.squire-technologies.com
Technology Timeline
8
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
www.squire-technologies.com
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
9
What issues were Smile facing ?
www.squire-technologies.com
VoLTE is really well defined right ?
► The simple answer is YES and NO !
10
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
www.squire-technologies.com
Live VoLTE rollout
11
A lot to consider
VoLTE
to
2G
3G
VoIP
Operators
Handsets
Apps
Messaging PSTN
Pre-
Conditions
www.squire-technologies.com
Live VoLTE Rollout
12
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 ..
www.squire-technologies.com
The Technical Solution
13
Live VoLTE Rollout
www.squire-technologies.com
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
14
Problems Solved
www.squire-technologies.com
Solution
15
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
www.squire-technologies.com
Summary
What did we learn ?
16
www.squire-technologies.com
► 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
www.squire-technologies.com
Tel: +44(0)1305 757 314
Email: enquiries@squire-technologies.co.uk
Squire Technologies
www.squire-technologies.com

Squire Technologies: Rolling Out A VoLTE Network

  • 1.
  • 2.
    www.squire-technologies.com Complexity ► “VoLTE networkdeployment 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 2 Some thoughts on complexity …
  • 3.
    www.squire-technologies.com 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 ) 3 How many ? Where ? When ?
  • 4.
    www.squire-technologies.com Why is VoLTEfinally 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 4 VoLTE at last …
  • 5.
    www.squire-technologies.com Who is rollingout 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”. 5 VoLTE. Who ?
  • 6.
    www.squire-technologies.com 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 6 Smile Group – South Africa
  • 7.
    www.squire-technologies.com So who areSquire Technologies ? The Signalling Specialists to the Telecoms Industry. 7 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
  • 8.
    www.squire-technologies.com Technology Timeline 8 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
  • 9.
    www.squire-technologies.com What were theissues ? ► 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 9 What issues were Smile facing ?
  • 10.
    www.squire-technologies.com VoLTE is reallywell defined right ? ► The simple answer is YES and NO ! 10 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
  • 11.
    www.squire-technologies.com Live VoLTE rollout 11 Alot to consider VoLTE to 2G 3G VoIP Operators Handsets Apps Messaging PSTN Pre- Conditions
  • 12.
    www.squire-technologies.com Live VoLTE Rollout 12 PracticalSolutions ► 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 ..
  • 13.
  • 14.
    www.squire-technologies.com 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 14 Problems Solved
  • 15.
    www.squire-technologies.com Solution 15 Handsets ► Handset Manufacturers developingVoLTE compliant 3GPP SIP clients to 30 page specifications ► Specifications misinterpreted or just not to spec ► Differences between versions ► Significant delays between version releases
  • 16.
    www.squire-technologies.com Summary What did welearn ? 16 www.squire-technologies.com ► 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
  • 17.
    www.squire-technologies.com Tel: +44(0)1305 757314 Email: enquiries@squire-technologies.co.uk Squire Technologies www.squire-technologies.com