Ericsson demonstrated VoLTE to Wi-Fi calling handover on fully virtual core network
Ericsson has run demonstrations of Wi-Fi calling and seamless handover between TD-LTE based voice over LTE and Wi-Fi using a fully virtual core network. The use cases were demonstrated to customers including China Mobile Hong Kong at the Wireless Innovation Lab and Demo Centre (WILD Center) in Shanghai.
The Ericsson core network included virtual Evolved Packet Core (EPC) and virtual IMS and was run on Ericsson’s Cloud Execution Environment. Virtual products included in the demonstrations were Ericsson Evolved Packet Gateway, Mobility Management Entity, Wireless Mobility Gateway, Call Session Control Function, Multimedia Telephony Application Server, and Home Subscriber Server. The virtual core network is managed and orchestrated with Ericsson Cloud Manager.
With VoLTE consumers will be able to enjoy simultaneous LTE data and HD voice services on LTE smartphones, and operators can introduce new IP-based communication services. With Wi-Fi calling, users will be able to use the operator voice service over their own home Wi-Fi access point, if cellular coverage is poor in their homes. If users leave their home while having a phone conversation over Wi-Fi, the call can be seamlessly handed over to the LTE network.
With NFV technology operators will be able to run networks more cost efficiently and be able to launch and scale new services, such as VoLTE and Wi-Fi calling, faster on the market.
Luca Orsini, Head of Regional Portfolio Management at Ericsson Region North East Asia said: “Telecommunications networks will move to full virtualization with telecom applications running on virtual machines across shared hardware, managed with a common system. This successful demonstration proves the rapid development of NFV and Ericsson’s commitment to virtualize networks to support operators’ network evolution plans. We have been able to showcase our ability to fully integrate virtual solutions, such as virtual EPC and virtual IMS, to build end-to-end network services.”
The system has been integrated and verified by Ericsson’s Region North East Asia Cloud Lab team in Shanghai.
Ericsson’s Regional Cloud Lab is distributed across four sites in North East Asia including Anyang in South Korea, Beijing and Shanghai in China, and Yokohama in Japan. Fully operational since 2014, the Lab supports operators with the development and verification of cloud, NFV and software-defined networking technologies.
NOTES TO EDITORS
Download high-resolution photos and broadcast-quality video at www.ericsson.com/press
Ericsson is the driving force behind the Networked Society – a world leader in communications technology and services. Our long-term relationships with every major telecom operator in the world allow people, business and society to fulfill their potential and create a more sustainable future.
Our services, software and infrastructure – especially in mobility, broadband and the cloud – are enabling the telecom industry and other sectors to do better business, increase efficiency, improve the user experience and capture new opportunities.
With approximately 115,000 professionals and customers in 180 countries, we combine global scale with technology and services leadership. We support networks that connect more than 2.5 billion subscribers. Forty percent of the world’s mobile traffic is carried over Ericsson networks. And our investments in research and development ensure that our solutions – and our customers – stay in front.
Founded in 1876, Ericsson has its headquarters in Stockholm, Sweden. Net sales in 2014 were SEK 228.0 billion (USD 33.1 billion). Ericsson is listed on NASDAQ OMX stock exchange in Stockholm and the NASDAQ in New York.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT
Carol Leung
Ericsson Hong Kong & Macau
Phone: +852 25902349
Email: carol.leung@ericsson.com