Syniverse has announced that it is enabling South Korea’s LG Uplus to launch the commercial VoLTE (voice over LTE) roaming service, featuring HD voice. Made possible by Syniverse’s IPX network, the service allows LG Uplus subscribers to roam onto the KDDI network in Japan and will allow LG Uplus to expand coverage and services in additional markets.
Syniverse’s IPX interconnects the networks to make LTE roaming possible. With nearly 800 LTE roaming routes, Syniverse’s IPX reaches more than 200 operators in 44 countries. This reach includes 104 direct connections that enable Syniverse to launch VoLTE trials and deployments around the globe. As a result, Syniverse recently enabled the transoceanic VoLTE roaming call and has direct LTE connections with 14 of the 16 operators that have launched VoLTE.
“Because LTE roaming is the prerequisite to launch VoLTE, Syniverse’s reach to nearly every operator that has launched LTE roaming enables us to achieve the critical reach and coverage our subscribers will demand,” said Hong Jun Choi, general manager, LG Uplus.
With the Syniverse IPX, operators have the flexibility to implement VoLTE through S8 home routing, local breakout or VoLTE interconnect, which are three key emerging VoLTE implementation models. LG Uplus is launching VoLTE over IPX through Syniverse’s S8 home-routed LTE data roaming platform, which allows operators to rapidly deploy VoLTE by leveraging their existing LTE data roaming connections. Additionally, the Syniverse IPX is prepared to offer other IP-based multimedia service features such as video over LTE (ViLTE) and rich communication services (RCS).
“The transition to VoLTE involves a number of challenges. As new equipment is installed and mobile devices are made with the necessary hardware, it’s essential to provide operators with solutions to enable a variety of approaches to meet their specific needs,” said MK Chang, vice president, Advanced Signal and Network Interoperability, Mobile Transaction Services, Syniverse. “Having provided the critical LTE building blocks of IPX and Diameter Signaling for these operators, we were perfectly positioned to support the breakthrough VoLTE implementation.”
