In a world where over-the-top (OTT) content is increasingly popular, and demand for enhanced data services continues to rise, mobile network operators have been all but forced to adopt new strategies and transform their infrastructure. Expansion of LTE (News - Alert) networks is at the center of this transition as operators vie with rival service providers, whether they be mobile network operators or OTT content providers.
High consumer demand for media-rich applications as well as music and video streaming services has prompted operators to expand capacity and ensure the necessary infrastructure for a robust, future-proof LTE data network. The IP Multimedia Subsystem (News - Alert) (IMS), a concept of an integrated network of telecom carriers all using Internet protocol (IP) for packet communications, has never seemed more real. With an IMS, LTE networks would transmit all forms of communication including traditional telephony, fax, email, Internet and Web services, voice over IP (VoIP), instant messaging, videoconferencing and video on demand (VoD).
In 2013, some major telecom markets (such as the US and Japan) saw data revenues exceed voice services and OTT applications claim a large portion of voice minutes. Seeing as OTT content does not generate any profit for the carriers and in fact is a form of competition, these companies are now focused on deploying IMS technology in order to gain the capacity necessary for offering rich communication services. In addition the IMS enables alternative Voice over Mobile Broadband (VoMBB) services such as VoLTE and VoWi-Fi to enrich existing HD voice services and compete with third party offerings.
According to recent market research performed by Visiongain (News - Alert), there will be approximately 101.7 million active VoLTE subscriptions worldwide by the end of 2015. As a natural market reaction to diminishing returns on voice services, the rise of LTE networks as well as VoLTE services (a $650 billion market) will allow operators to capitalize on their IMS infrastructure while optimizing efficiency and ensuring added value to all services.
Edited by Alisen Downey