Voice and LTE: What to Do?

Voice and LTE: What’s An Operator to Do?

LTE handsets will become available that may be used as primary mobile phones as well as terminals for broadband data and other non-voice applications and services

oh no.. do you think Vodafone (and so Vodacom) and all the other operators would sell handsets that actually let you easily make a VoiP call? If they do that their whole pathetic business model will fall through the floor and they will rape us with some other pricing extremity... for example.... your data will cost you R1/Mb if your browsing WAP sites, R10/Mb if you do anything voice, and R30/Mb if you send text. Cos thats how it is now.

change

I read somewhere that in Europe the major telcos limit VOIP access over their networks, which sounds bad but the big players point out the voice quality and capacity problems that arise using LTE tech with traditional data networks. 3G networks are only recently reaching a point where they can support a decent voice call using what ever codec/tech at a usable price. WiMAX and WiFi are even better for quality.

This shows a stepped execution plan for these telcos:
http://www.telecomasia.net/content/six-steps-voip

I think Nokia/Intel's and Google's efforts in their software indicate they are keen on this change. N900/Andriod devices come with built in clients for VOIP using any connection you want. Smart-phone penetration is key. Mobile Internet access in this country and Africa is still to grow.

We already see major ISPs (MWeb,Vox) in this country starting to step into the same market as the traditional telcos, and visa versa (Vodacom, MTN, Telkom mobile). Hell, even Google is buying infrastructure:
http://deals.venturebeat.com/2010/0...solutions-for-68-2m-for-real-time-technology/

The tech over which this change will develop, is definitely becoming more capable. The developments to watch are definitely network infrastructure, devices and software. Is Google the only one with a finger in each of these pies? /endramble

Personally, I see it going the other way. MTN & Vodacom are already positioning themselves in the IP voice sector. They've already converted large portions of their network, converging the GSM traffic into their IP traffic. It makes sense for them to convert to IP, as they have the network and subscribers.

Don't fool yourself, MTN, Vodacom, Telkom 8ta, Cell-C are will dominate this space in the future. Other IP voice providers as mentioned above such as Vox etc will still need their traffic carried to devices, which will probably be via LTE networks provided by those providers.