Telecoms with HD voice networks grow 30% to 116: GSA

The number of telecom operators, which have launched HD voice services, has increased 30 percent to 116 till 2014 September from 92 in 2013, said GSA.

GSA, a telecom industry association, said the number of HD voice telecom operators in 2012 was 63 against 39 in 2011.

30 percent growth to reach 116 mobile operators with HD voice services in 75 countries is a big achievement for the telecom industry association.

Mobile HD voice uses Adaptive Multi Rate Wideband (W-AMR) technology.

The majority of operators offer HD voice service over a single radio access network, however some offer the service over more than one network system.

Mobile HD growth GSA chart

The breakdown of radio access network technologies that are used to deliver commercial HD voice service is as follows:

95 HD voice operators use 3G/HSPA-only

9 HD voice operators use LTE-only with VoLTE

2 HD voice operators use GSM-only

8 HD voice operators use GSM and HSPA networks

2 HD voice operators use HSPA and LTE networks with VoLTE

The system technology totals are:

105 HD voice operators use 3G/HSPA networks

10 HD voice operator use 2G/GSM networks

11 HD voice operator use 4G/LTE networks

VoLTE growth

Mobile HD deployments

GSA also said 71 operators are investing in VoLTE studies, trials or deployments, including 11 that have commercially launched HD voice service.

The number of HD voice launches enabled by VoLTE is forecast to reach 19 by end-2014 and then double in 2015.

Baburajan K
[email protected]