China Mobile and South Korea's KT recently showcased the world's first 5G VoNR international roaming and VoNR+ call service at the China-Japan-Korea Tripartite Strategic Cooperation Framework Agreement (SCFA) Summit.
With the 5G SA (Standalone) network entering a new phase of large-scale deployment, China Mobile has achieved a significant upgrade of network architecture and capabilities that enables the operator to innovate new communication services.
China Mobile Research Institute has developed new 5G VoNR international roaming and VoNR+ end-to-end voice communications solutions. To showcase the usage of the commercial 5G SA network, China Mobile Research Institute laboratory and KT Seoul Laboratory have deployed their own 5G SA core networks respectively and connected with each other through IPX network. In addition, commercial 5G base stations were deployed to provide network coverage at conference venues in Beijing and Seoul. During the showcase, a China Mobile’s user at Seoul’s conference center made a roaming call to another China Mobile user at the conference center in Beijing. They conducted a high-definition video call as well as performed Chinese-English translation, “fun calls” and other new voice communication services based on VoNR+.
As an essential service of operators, voice service has been the enabler of communications among people since the launch of mobile networks. Throughout the history of voice network development, China Mobile has been playing an active role in technology innovation. From TDM to IP, from traditional switches, soft switches to all-IP voice networks, China Mobile always aims to build advanced voice networks with the latest technologies available in the market and lead the industry in real-time communication services.
In the 4G era, China Mobile has built the world's largest and most comprehensive VoLTE high-definition voice network. As the 5G network continues to progress, China Mobile has already built a nationwide 5G SA network with advanced technologies and quality services, launching the commercial VoNR services and providing users with 720P high-definition video call experience.
To migrate from audio-visual communications to full-sensory communications and create a new rich-media real-time communication era, the China Mobile Research Institute proposed a new "VoNR+" architecture based on the 3GPP IMS data channel standard. It aims to establish a new data channel in the VoNR network to provide users with a richer, interactive and high-definition video service experience.
Through the introduction of flexible open architecture, third-party voice applications can be easily integrated, creating a VaaP (Voice as a Platform) to help build a new multi-dimensional 5G voice ecology. VoNR+ will bring enhancements to real-time communications at all fronts, transforming the communication from high-definition video calls to zero-trust and fully interactive real-time communications. Mobile devices will also expand from smartphones to a wide range of equipment such as wearable devices, appliances, automobiles, robots and more.
In addition, as a new 5G voice architecture, VoNR+ can support a number of new 5G voice service scenarios:
· Intelligent translation service realizes real-time communication between users of different languages;
· The “fun call” service enables virtual avatar changes, animated gesture effects and emoji function during video calls;
· 5G video customer service supports users to manage activities through visual menus;
· The AR remote guidance service together with the AR annotation function in video calls empowers industry users to improve service efficiency.
China Mobile is conducting a series of VoNR+ pilot network testing and continues to advance the ecosystems of mobile devices and applications, aiming to accelerate the commercialization of new 5G voice call services.
Looking forward, the company will continue to invest in the research VoNR+ technology and business applications and focus on building high-quality and advanced 5G SA networks. It will also cooperate with other international operators who have deployed 5G SA networks and gradually expand new VoNR+ international roaming services. China Mobile will actively promote new VoNR+ voice call applications to support the ecosystem development with global partners.
Source: https://www.cmi.chinamobile.com/en/CMCC-5G-Corner/CMCC-5G-News/detail?id=1714