World’s first call between different VoLTE clients showcased at CTIA 2010

Las Vegas, Nevada, USA – March 23, 2010

Nokia Siemens Networks demonstrates standards-based Voice over LTE (VoLTE) interoperability using two different clients running on Samsung LTE devices

Nokia Siemens Networks and Samsung are demonstrating successful Voice over LTE (VoLTE) calls in an end-to-end LTE network setup at CTIA Wireless 2010. This is the first time a standards-compliant VoLTE call has been demonstrated between VoLTE clients from different vendors. The calls, using the 700-MHz frequency LTE band used in the US, underlines Nokia Siemens Networks’ continued commitment to the North American LTE market.

The test encompasses a complete end-to-end VoLTE configuration including laptops installed with VoLTE clients from Nokia Siemens Networks and Samsung. The laptops are connected to the network via Samsung’s “Redwood” LTE dongle, which incorporates Samsung’s in-house developed “Kalmia” modem chipset.

“As a leading device manufacturer, we are committed to pursuing continuous innovation,” said Yunsang Park, vice president of the Telecom R&D Center at Samsung Electronics. “Following the announcement of our first commercial LTE dongle and the demonstration of our LTE netbook, this demo is a defining moment for us. Full interoperability with Nokia Siemens Networks’ LTE network infrastructure and its own VoLTE client takes us one step closer to commercial deployments and showcases the viability of our products.”

“We have achieved interoperability with Samsung for both data and voice calls across several frequency bands required for LTE deployments in different markets,” said Tommi Uitto, head of Network Systems product management, Nokia Siemens Networks. “With this demo, we further underscore that we are commercially ready for global LTE deployments and that our end-to-end LTE ecosystem is fully interoperable with leading vendor devices.”

The technical setup used for the demo is entirely based on the VoLTE profile defined by the GSM Association’s (GSMA) VoLTE initiative and recently announced during Mobile World Congress. The initiative, incorporating contributions from Nokia Siemens Networks, Samsung and other industry stakeholders, continues the work that was started with the “One Voice” initiative in 2009.

Nokia Siemens Networks offers an evolutionary approach for implementing GSMA-compliant VoLTE with its Fast Track solution. Network operators already using Nokia Siemens Networks’ mobile softswitches can use Fast Track to implement VoLTE functionality with a simple software upgrade. In this way, operators can implement VoLTE prior to deploying the full IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS) solution that will ultimately be the standard mechanism for providing voice and multimedia services across LTE networks. Alternatively, operators can use Nokia Siemens Networks’ IMS-based VoLTE solution, particularly as an attractive option for operators evolving from the CDMA world. This approach enables operators to choose when and how to evolve their network to IMS.

About Samsung Electronics

Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. is a global leader in semiconductor, telecommunication, digital media and digital convergence technologies with 2009 consolidated sales of US$116.7 billion.

Employing approximately 157,700 people in 185 offices across 65 countries, the company consists of seven independently operated business units: Visual Display, Mobile Communications, Telecommunication Systems, Digital Appliances, IT Solutions, Semiconductor and LCD. Recognized as one of the fastest growing global brands, Samsung Electronics is a leading producer of digital TVs, memory chips, mobile phones and TFT-LCDs. For more information, please visit www.samsung.com.

About Nokia Siemens Networks

Nokia Siemens Networks is a leading global enabler of telecommunications services. With its focus on innovation and sustainability, the company provides a complete portfolio of mobile, fixed and converged network technology, as well as professional services including consultancy and systems integration, deployment, maintenance and managed services. It is one of the largest telecommunications hardware, software and professional services companies in the world. Operating in 150 countries, its headquarters are in Espoo, Finland. www.nokiasiemensnetworks.com

Engage in conversation about Nokia Siemens Networks’ aim to reinvent the connected world at http://unite.nokiasiemensnetworks.com and talk about its news at http://blogs.nokiasiemensnetworks.com
Find out if your country is exploiting the full potential of connectivity at http://connectivityscorecard.org

Media Enquiries

Nokia Siemens Networks
Media contact at CTIA:
Chantal Boeckman (North America)
Communications Manager
Phone: +1 469-789-9594
e-mail: chantal [dot] boeckman [at] nsn [dot] com

Nina Kukkurainen
Media Relations
Phone: +358 7180 40623
E-mail: nina [dot] kukkurainen [at] nsn [dot] com

Media Relations
Phone: +358 7180 31451
E-mail: mediarelations [at] nsn [dot] com

Samsung Electronics
Sophia Kim, Senior PR Manager
Phone: + 82 31 277 1074
E-mail: Sophia [dot] kim [at] samsung [dot] com

Notes to Editors
The call demonstrated at CTIA 2010 was made using Nokia Siemens Networks’ LTE equipment, including the Flexi Multiradio Base Station, the Flexi NS (Network Server) and Flexi NG (Network Gateway), IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS), and standards-compliant software, as well as the Samsung LTE dongle connected to standard portable computers installed with the Voice over IP clients from Nokia Siemens Networks (Nokia Siemens Networks Communication Suite) and Samsung (Redwood). All of the equipment is compliant with the 3GPP Release 8 March 2009 baseline specifications and is aligned with the GSMA VoLTE specification.

Nokia Siemens Networks has a long track record in demonstrating its technological leadership in LTE:

  • November 2006 Nokia Siemens Networks conducted the World’s first LTE demo with a handover to HSPA at the ITU world congress in Hong Kong
  • eptember 2008 Nokia Siemens Networks started the industry’s first shipping of LTE base station hardware to customers.
  • November 2008 Nokia Siemens Networks conducted the world's first demonstration of LTE-Advanced Relaying technology.
  • September 2009 Nokia Siemens Networks made the world’s first LTE call using a commercial base station and fully standards-compliant software (3GPP Rel 8 March 09 baseline).
  • October 2009 Nokia Siemens Networks made the world’s first LTE handover test using a commercially available base station and fully standards-compliant software (3GPP Rel 8 March 09 baseline).
  • October 2009 Nokia Siemens Networks conducts end-to-end LTE interoperability testing with four leading device vendors across several frequency bands.
  • November 2009 Nokia Siemens Networks is a founding member of the One Voice initiative providing a blueprint for the early deployment of IMS-based Voice over LTE service. The company’s Fast Track approach is fully compliant with One Voice.
  • December 2009 Nokia Siemens Networks rings up another first in LTE with 3GPP standardized voice over LTE calls. Successful IMS-compliant voice calls and SMS messaging using standardized LTE equipment marks an important step towards commercial voice over LTE deployments.