Remember when voice was the original mobile network use-case? It was a much simpler time, with more network control, greater profit, and fewer competitors. Fast forward to today and like the rest of the Service Provider industry, mobile voice communications are changing, and changing very rapidly. Mobile networks must provide a cost-effective, rich user experience.
According to the Global mobile Suppliers Association (GSA), by the close of 2014 there were 360 mobile operators that had commercially launched LTE networks and service in 124 countries. Of those mobile operators only 14 had a commercially launched voice over LTE (VoLTE) service. Voice continues to be the most popular mobile service, but LTE systems are all-IP and do not have any circuit-switched capabilities. This change implies a significant complexity and skilled staff “gap” for operators.
Spark New Zealand Voice Goals
For Spark New Zealand, voice is a major source of revenue subject to the same industry pressures, including the challenge from over-the-top
(OTT) services, such as Skype, WhatsApp, and Facetime. Spark also seeks to add higher value services such as conferencing and desktop integration to meet the increasing requirements from business users. Convergence of Fixed and Mobile Voice Services to achieve their digitization plan was critical to the future Spark Voice Network Vision.
Read more: http://blogs.cisco.com/sp/cisco-helps-spark-new-zealand-serve-up-the-voice-of-the-future
Read the Spark New Zealand PR: Spark Press Release: http://www.sparknz.co.nz/news/vimsvoltedemo
