Telecom operator AT&T has demonstrated VoLTE call for Internet of Things (IoT) with Ericsson and chipset major Qualcomm Technologies.
The demonstration of Voice over LTE – at MWC 2017 — using Qualcomm’s MDM9206 LTE modem and Ericsson’s radio and core network shows that new Cat-M1/LTE-M technology enables voice services for IoT applications on Cat-M1/LTE-M -enabled IoT devices.
AT&T, which is rapidly growing its IoT revenue, plans to extend the technology into its mobile network to enhance existing and new IoT use cases requiring voice services.
VoLTE uptake is projected to accelerate and reach 3.3 billion by the end of 2022, making up more than 60 percent of all LTE subscriptions. In 2022 there will be 18 billion connected IoT devices globally, according to the Ericsson Mobility Report Nov.
Ericsson, AT&T and Qualcomm Technologies are the first to announce the performance of a successful Voice over LTE (VoLTE) call for Internet of Things (IoT) on existing mobile network infrastructure with new software activation.
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The demonstration used Qualcomm Technologies’ MDM9206 LTE modem, designed to support Cat-M1/ LTE-M, as well as Ericsson LTE Radio Access Network, Ericsson IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS), Ericsson Evolved Packet Core (EPC) and Ericsson User Data Management network infrastructure and new software.
“The ability to support voice services is an important feature to many verticals within our IoT portfolio, including our customers in the alarm and security industry, automotive, wearables and connected health markets,” said Chris Penrose, president, IoT Solutions, AT&T.
Telecom operators can utilize mobile voice service capabilities on IoT devices to expand enterprise services to areas such as security alarm panels, remote first aid kits, wearables, digital locks, disposable security garments, and other types of IoT-enabled applications and services.
IoT devices using VoLTE on Cat-M1/LTE-M will allow enterprises to make voice calls indicates the extension of capabilities of operators’ mobile networks by tapping into the IoT device ecosystem.
Telecom operators can utilize Cat-M1/LTE-M -enabled IoT devices to deploy a range of applications in smart cities, logistics, utilities, medicine, transport, mining, agriculture, manufacturing and many more.
Anders Olin, head of Network Applications, Business Unit IT and Cloud Products, Ericsson; and Vieri Vanghi, vice president, Product Management, Qualcomm Technologies were instrumental in conducting the demonstration at the Mobile World Congress 2017.
