Page 9 - DECT Today - Issue 1 - April 2014

HD VOICE ENABLED SERVICES AND DEVICES Capitalising on Enhanced Voice Services With the adoption of DECT/CAT-iq as the reach an agreement as to communicating a voice calling as a mainstream experience is technology of choice for wireline voice single message to the end consumer. expected during 2014, developing the handling service, and the coming together of wired of international HD voice calls, and for HD voice and wireless service providers behind the The HD Voice logo is a calling between fixed and mobile networks. GSMA HD voice logo, the time is ripe for universally recognised symbol In fixed line, the installed base of DECT/CAT-iq cable operators to capitalise on the enhanced that identifies HD Voice has reached over 25 million gateways, with voice services which can be provided. enabled services and devices, across both multiple gateway and handset vendors mobile and fixed networks including: interoperable to provide supplier options for operators. Publicly announced deployments are Some history • Mobile networks and/or terminals with known from Orange, Deutsche Telekom and The transition of European operators from GSM/UMTS/LTE Swisscom, with many more service providers PSTN to IP backhaul kick-started the • Mobile networks and/or terminals with following the trend. In conjunction with the technology's development, taking advantage CDMA2000 GSMA, the DECT Forum has announced the first of the increased bandwidth to deliver HD voice • Fixed terminals with support of CAT-iq CAT-iq 2.0 certified handsets to carry the HD and multi-line services. Building on mature • Companies that provide complementary Voice logo. DECT technology, which is widely deployed in services, such as testing Europe, US and other countries worldwide, Cable provisioning and which enjoys its own protected, dedicated More information on the HD voice logo and license-exempt spectrum, telephony gained licensing can be found here: HD Voice The subsequent adoption of HD voice by the benefit of interference-free operation. licensing guidelines CableLabs and its incorporation into the Initial specification development was by PacketCable HD voice specification will bring ETSI, with guidance from the operator benefits to cable operators, underpinning triple- Market adoption community via the HGI to the DECT Forum, play services with a quality telephony experience. and defined the real-world requirements that Market adoption can be considered from The specification includes High Definition (HD) would bring value to the end-user service. The multiple perspectives in the HD voice landscape. Voice requirements for PacketCable 1.5 and associated DECT Forum product certification A new report from the GSMA confirms the PacketCable 2.0 networks, and leverages DECT programme ensures conformity to standards, growing importance of HD voice service for and wide-band analogue interface technologies. interoperable multiple vendor solutions, and a mobile network operators around the world, First issued in May 2009, and with subsequent consistent, high-quality user experience which with a 48 percent increase in HD voice service revisions in 2010 and 2012, the specification is benefits all stakeholders. offerings in 2013, confirming that 93 now mature and ready for deployment. Adoption While the key benefits of the technology operators now have commercially launched will benefit from the handset ecosystem already were understood, operators considered that it HD voice services on mobile networks in 66 available and certified, with underlying would be advantageous to come behind a countries. During 2013, 30 additional interoperability which will enable cable modem single brand for HD voice services, and operators launched HD voice across 21 further vendors to adopt a supplier mix-and-match engaged with the GSMA HD voice program to countries. Further progress establishing HD approach. Future opportunities Incorporation of the DECT technology into gateway and modems is opening a further opportunity for service providers in the smart home, with the latest adaption of the data technology, ULE (Ultra Low Energy). Adoption of DECT/CAT-iq as the technology of choice for HD voice has provided the ideal springboard for ULE. With a simple in-life upgrade, these gateways/ modems become the nucleus for the ULE ecosystem, enabling a myriad of home control applications. The benefits in terms of cost, reliability, and convenience are clear allowing for true efficiency in gateway operation, with none of the technology silos that are the inevitable result of separate voice and data technology deployments. DECT Today - The Success Story Continues · www.dect.org 9