Sri Lanka’s First VoLTE Service on Dialog’s LTE Networks

Dialog Axiata, Sri Lanka’s premier connectivity provider announced Wednesday 22nd June 2016, that the 4G-LTE Networks operated by the Dialog Group had been enabled with VoLTE (Voice over LTE) capability. The Dialog Group operates a Mobile 4G Network based on FD-LTE technology and a Fixed 4G Network based on TD-LTE.

VoLTE is an acronym for Voice over LTE, which leverages the IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS) of the LTE core network. With VoLTE, Control and Media Planes of Voice services are transmitted as end to end IP data flows over the LTE Network. VoLTE Services are defined by GSMA in PRD IR.92.[1]

Dialog’s IMS enabled core network now permits seamless VoLTE services across both Fixed and Mobile LTE services. VoLTE represents the future of voice communications over all-IP networks and exhibits several distinctive features including instant call-set up, HD/Near-Stereo voice quality and extended value added services such as the ability to share audio content including live music over voice calls.

Following the completion of over 1 month of testing the latest advancement of its 4G-LTE infrastructure, Dialog accompanied the announcement with an invitation to subscribers to experience the service first hand at the Dialog Iconic Experience Centre. VoLTE capability has been activated across the Dialog LTE Networks. Subscribers would however require a LTE handset or LTE CPE (Customer Premise Equipment), which is VoLTE capable in order to experience VoLTE. It is envisaged that a majority of upper-end LTE handsets would be produced with VoLTE capability going forward.

Earlier in the week, Dialog earned the distinction of being the first network service provider in South Asia to demonstrate 4.5G Services with a throughput of 1Gbps over an LTE air interface. Since its launch of 4G LTE networks in 2014, the company’s 4G services have evolved to deliver burst speeds of up to 100Mbps with a population coverage of over 50%. Following aggressively in the footsteps of the company’s 3G-HSPA network, which provides coverage to over 80% of the population, Dialog’s 4G LTE Services are expected to provide ultra-high speed broadband coverage to all populated areas of the country in the near future.