Voice over Wi-Fi (VoWiFi) is a term typically employed to describe the delivery of commercial telephony services using Voice over IP (VoIP) technologies from mobile devices connected across Wi-Fi. This is typically counter to alternatives, predominantly Voice over LTE (VoLTE), in which a mobile network operator’s (MNO’s) licensed spectrum (i.e. 4G LTE) is used to carry packetized voice. Broadly speaking, VoWiFi terminology is assigned to all core IMS services accessed from unlicensed spectrum and across untrusted access infrastructures, such as public Wi-Fi access points. VoWiFi is used synonymously to describe the GSMAs permanent reference document IR.51: IMS Profile for Voice, Video and SMS over untrusted Wi-Fi access.
While over-the-top (OTT) mobile communications services may also employ Wi-Fi, where possible, to prevent using a subscriber’s (licensed) data plan, this is not typically referred to as VoWiFi as these services are not tightly integrated with a MNOs global service offering and infrastructure.
Employing VoWiFi enables MNOs (or MVNOs) to quickly and easily extend their coverage or service range without costly radio access network (RAN) infrastructure build-outs, investing in new licensed spectrum or engaging in complex roaming agreements. Following the 3GPP reference architecture defined within the 3GPP’s TS 23.402 (Architecture enhancements for non-3GPP [IP] accesses), connectivity from the mobile handset to the evolved packet core (EPC) is over the S2b reference interface via an enhanced packet data gateway (ePDG) function. The specification covers policy control, charging, authentication and handover between untrusted and trusted access infrastructures for both roaming and non-roaming scenarios.
TS-23-402 architecture enhancements for non-3GPP (non-roaming) access
Outining a profile for supporting voice, video and SMS, IR.51 extends the requirements, detailed within IR.92 (Voice over LTE / VoLTE) and IR.94 (Video over LTE / ViLTE) to include untrusted Wi-Fi access. The PRD also stipulates the use of (dual-radio) circuit switch (CS) call continuity and fallback (VCC), per 3GPP TS 23.237. IR.51 also specifies the basic Wi-Fi radio, IMS and EPC capabilities along with describing functionality that is applicable across the protocol stack and subsystems. The VoWiFi PRD also identifies the necessary information a mobile device requires to connect to, and obtain services from, an IMS core. Furthermore, the specification outlines the subset of required telephony supplementary services and the supported media types.
Wi-Fi Calling has been around for a long time. Voice calls have been transmitted over Wi-Fi either in the form of OTT applications such as Skype or as initiatives such as UMA and femtocells to enhance the reach of mobile voice services in subscribers’ homes.
The problem with OTT applications from an operator’s perspective is that the operator loses control. The UMA / femtocell initiatives have proven to be too expensive lacking widespread support among phone manufacturers. In an ideal world voice calling should be totally seamless for the user, built-in natively in the device and work over any network connection.
The technology has been available for some time but operators have been hesitant. They have wanted to protect their voice-related revenue including revenue from roaming charges. However, new business models allowing for flat-fee voice services, combined with the realization that users will use OTT applications for calls as much as they can, has removed the last obstacle for taking Wi-Fi Calling to the next level.
In September 2014, mobile operator T-Mobile pioneered this next-generation Wi-Fi Calling solution. This is a paradigm shift for Wi-Fi Calling as it is now implemented with native support embedded in the smartphones and working seamlessly through any Wi-Fi connection. Text messaging (SMS) also works in this way.
