Business Chief US+CAN Magazine November 2016 | Page 17

TELECOMS INNOVATION but now customers of all of the major US networks can enjoy high speed data roaming while visiting more than 125 countries around the world , including all of the world ’ s major holiday destinations .
This footprint has grown simultaneously with strong smartphone penetration seen across the world since the iPhone launch in 2007 . Following the development and roll-out of truly international LTE , the next major step is the widespread deployment of higherdefinition voice services . In the US , this has taken the shape of VoLTE , which is currently being rolled out by carriers across the country .
VoLTE ( Voice over LTE ) offers the same leap in quality from standard voice as data services received when LTE replaced 3G , and promises to offer the same boost in usage carriers saw during this transition . In regions where app companies are gaining traction with IP voice services it is vital that carriers accelerate this roll-out and truly make the most of their significant investment in next generation voice .
VOLTE EVERYWHERE VoLTE stands out as the highest quality HD voice service , offering low-frequency LTE spectrum usage , which enables network efficiency and reduced operational expenditure for mobile carriers . As usage increases in line with the availability of supporting devices and wider network availability , VoLTE will be made available for roamers and those making international calls . This promises to provide increased revenue for traditional carriers as they look to boost usage of voice and maximize the economic advantages from their technological investment .
To achieve this ubiquitous international service , however , requires significant research and interoperability testing . This is currently being undertaken by BICS in association with carriers around the world .
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