DT demonstrates VoLGA-based LTE voice call

Germany’s incumbent fixed line operator Deutsche Telekom (DT) has demonstrated a voice call over Long Term Evolution (LTE) based on Voice over LTE via Generic Access (VoLGA) technology, reports cellular-news citing DT’s senior vice president of core networks, Uwe Janssen. LTE calls were made between a test system, installed at the telco’s headquarters in Bonn, and a second totally independent system from Alcatel-Lucent, installed in the vendor’s test centre in Stuttgart. Both VoLGA-based systems support inbound and outbound voice calling and text messaging between LTE-enabled devices, as well as standard mobile and fixed telephones. ‘Voice calling is an essential service for mobile operators. This demonstration is a key milestone towards establishing a futureproof ecosystem and shows a cost efficient way for using Voice over LTE,’ noted Uwe Janssen, adding, ‘The VoLGA test shows how operators could quickly and easily provide next generation voice services, re-using their existing core networks. At the same time this serves as a first step to prepare networks for the industry-agreed mid- and long-term solution for Voice over LTE that will be based on IMS.’