VoLTE Testing Will Be Key to Service Rollouts, Heavy Reading Finds

-- As VoLTE grows over the next few years, operators must invest in testing the service to ensure QoS at all layers, says Heavy Reading Mobile Networks Insider

NEW YORK, Dec. 23, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Voice over Long Term Evolution (VoLTE) is predicted to grow tremendously through 2016, making it imperative for operators to test the new service at all layers to ensure quality of service (QoS), according to the latest report from Heavy Reading Insider (www.heavyreading.com/mobile-networks), a subscription research service from Heavy Reading (www.heavyreading.com).

VoLTE Test & Measurement: Who's Doing What examines the market for testing VoLTE solutions, analyzing the most lucrative drivers in the market, as well as challenges in the industry. It includes a comparative analysis of solutions available, examines the geographic landscape of the market and details trends that likely will occur in the industry over the next 18-24 months.

Here's a list of companies covered in this report: http://twimgs.com/audiencedevelopment/LRHR/PDFS/mni1213_companies.pdf

"Mobile networks with high demand from heavy users are looking to solidly embrace VoLTE technology," says Denise Culver, research analyst with Heavy Reading Insider and author of the report. "Demand is mainly being driven by customer requirement for both voice and data and the operator's ability to provide this with LTE services."

It's important for operators to test VoLTE at various layer levels to ensure the QoS prioritization of the voice element is accurate, Culver says. "The increasing capacity requirement on the management layer, plus the addition of applications, means QoS optimization for VoLTE is a two-dimensional challenge in which both layers need attention," she continues. "As mobile carriers continue to build out their VoLTE network, the importance of testing each level of those networks to ensure the highest level of quality will become a valuable instrument in distinguishing themselves in the competitive marketplace."

Key findings of VoLTE Test & Measurement: Who's Doing What include the following:

• Voice and SMS still represent approximately 70 percent of all global wireless revenues.
• The success of VoLTE will depend on how comparable the voice quality and reliability are when compared to existing circuit-switched services.
• Metrics on QoS for VoLTE will be critical for it to be measured and deployed.
• VoLTE has become a medium-term ambition for many operators, as they're still rolling out IMS capability in their networks.
• As countries converge core networks and replace 2G networks, VoLTE will grow, thus spurring more growth in testing.
• Testing of fallback solutions and assisting with trial launches will occur, along with a need to test between multiple technologies.

VoLTE Test & Measurement: Who's Doing What is available as part of an annual single-user subscription (six issues) to Heavy Reading Mobile Networks Insider, priced at $1,595. Individual reports are available for $900 (single-user license).

To subscribe, or for more information, please visit: www.heavyreading.com/mobile-networks. For more information on all of Heavy Reading's Insider services, please visit www.heavyreading.com/research.

To request a free executive summary of the report, or for details on multi-user licensing options, please contact:

David Williams
Global Director of Sales, Research
Heavy Reading
+1-858-829-8612
david.williams@ubm.com

Press/analyst contact:
Dennis Mendyk
Vice President of Research, Heavy Reading
+1-201-587-2154
mendyk@heavyreading.com

About Heavy Reading (www.heavyreading.com)
Heavy Reading is an independent research organization offering deep analysis of emerging telecom trends to network operators, technology suppliers, and investors. Its product portfolio includes in-depth reports that address critical next-generation technology and service issues, market trackers that focus on the telecom industry's most critical technology sectors, exclusive worldwide surveys of network operator decision-makers that identify future purchasing and deployment plans, and a rich array of custom and consulting services that give clients the market intelligence needed to compete successfully in the global telecom industry. As a division of UBM Tech (tech.ubm.com), Heavy Reading contributes to the only integrated business information platform serving the global communications industry.