What is Vo5G? How Does It Works & When’s India Getting It?،
We've come a long way since the beginning of cellular networks. 5G, the latest to reach internet speeds of up to gigabytes, has revolutionized the way we connect. However, it's not just internet speeds that have evolved, calls have also been able to keep pace with the iterations.
Gone are the days of saying “What?” every few minutes because you are called to listen to what the person on the other side is saying. A few years ago, VoLTE changed our outlook by providing crystal clear voice calls. Today, Vo5G or Voice-Over-5G is taking it to the next level by improving the overall calling experience like never before.
Unfortunately, not everyone knows what Vo5G is and some might doubt it. So, read on to learn what Vo5G is, how it differs from last-generation VoLTE, and how it helps you revolutionize your mobile experience.
What is Vo5G?
First, let's understand the abbreviations. Vo5G stands for Voice-Over-5G. It is also known as VoNR (or Voice Over New Radio). These two terms are often used interchangeably and also to connote marketing value.
Vo5G is the latest advancement in voice calling available for smartphones supporting 5G. When you make or take Vo5G calls, the phones use the basic 5G standard to provide better call quality, clarity, and lower latency. Vo5G expands the full potential of 5G without moving to a lower wireless standard such as VoLTE, 3G, or even 2G, which can offer sub-voice quality.
It is similar to Voice-Over-Internet Protocol (VoIP), however, instead of using a third-party app, the phone uses a 5G network to transmit calls in normal mode and therefore does not require any mobile data. The lower latency promised with Vo5G often mimics calls via WhatsApp or even face-to-face interactions in real time, which dictates the prowess of Vo5G usage.
However, unlike VoLTE which is widespread after years of operation (India has been using VoLTE since 2016), Vo5G is relatively new in India and therefore requires a lot of groundwork before it can begin to realize its full potential.
Vo5G – Numbers that tell a story
According to statistics from research firm Juniper Research, the total number of voice minutes over 5G (Vo5G) is expected to increase by 500% to 4.7 trillion minutes in 2028. These are the estimates for a period from 2023 to 2028 .representing 42% of the total minutes.
Another research firm, Mordor Intelligence, estimates the market value of Vo5G at $2.15 billion in 2020, growing to $145.99 billion by 2026, with a CAGR of 98.9%. Vo5G will also benefit from IoT, Cloud, AR/VR as well as the evolution of 5G over the years, bringing HD voice communication and enhanced voice and data capabilities to users.
How is Vo5G better than VoLTE?
To simplify, VoLTE uses 4G at the core while Vo5G uses 5G, making them somewhat similar, although using Vo5G is much better. This is because Vo5G introduces better call quality and lower latency, meaning you can talk to the person on the other end without much delay. It also discourages switching to VoLTE or older standards that maintain optimal voice clarity.
Vo5G discourages call drops and dropouts due to its reliability and lower packet loss. It has higher bandwidth, which means it can handle more calls in congested areas than VoLTE. 5G itself has increased data speeds for many reasons, meaning you can download 1GB of file in minutes.
5G users have long complained about call latency if standards move from 5G to 4G. However, once Vo5G becomes dominant, delays and drops will be minimized since your phone will prefer Vo5G over VoLTE. You can check the next “Pros” section to better understand why Vo5G is better.
Benefits of using Vo5G
Improved voice quality: By far one of the biggest benefits of using Vo5G is the improved voice quality. Indeed, Vo5G uses advanced codecs to ensure high-fidelity voice transmissions as well as the high data speeds and low latency offered by 5G networks. This results in more natural sound, excellent call clarity and reduced background noise.
Low latency: Use 5G core networks to provide callers with Vo5G low latency. In its simplest form, latency is the time it takes for data packets to travel between devices, from the caller to the recipient, and vice versa, in this case. With Vo5G, you will enjoy real-time conversations with people with negligible delays, crucial for voice and video calls.
Improved simultaneous connections: Each network and cellular technology offers better features and, most importantly, increases bandwidth and capacity. 5G is nothing less when it has more bandwidth to support more devices simultaneously. The connection provides users with a seamless experience in a densely populated area and/or during peak hours, providing uninterrupted voice call services.
What are the requirements for Vo5G?
Most feature phones like Samsung Guru have been limited to 2G and 3G, which means they have no compatibility with 4G and newer generations. This then shows that you must meet certain conditions to become eligible for the latest technologies, including Vo5G.
- You need a 5G smartphone to get started. Phones released after 2022 are compatible with Vo5G.
- You must reside in a 5G coverage area to be eligible for Vo5G.
- You must partner with a carrier that supports Vo5G calling as a minimum requirement.
How to use Vo5G?
If you have a Vo5G-enabled device, a carrier providing Vo5G services, and you live in a 5G coverage area, you should be able to use Vo5G without much hassle.
Just like VoLTE, you should have settings to enable Vo5G on your phone. It is mainly available for devices launched after 2022 with the setting enabled by default. Otherwise, you can search for your make and model, check its compatibility, and activate it if you're connected to a carrier that supports it. Ultimately, it only takes a swipe of a finger to enable Vo5G as soon as it's available.
When will Vo5G come to India?
5G in India has started to become mainstream with Reliance Jio leading the way along with Bharti Airtel. Vi (Vodafone India) is yet to bring in 5G, which is currently limited to postpaid plans. Talking about VoNR or Vo5G, the technology is not available in India even though 5G has become widespread with presence in over 100 cities.
Reports suggest that Reliance Jio is testing VoNR (or Vo5G) behind the curtains, although it remains to be seen when the service will be available. Operators will need to establish 5G infrastructure and ensure interoperability between existing 4G VoLTE and new 5G systems in place to ensure smooth deployment.
We are quite optimistic that Reliance Jio will take the lead in VoNR deployment in India, followed successively by Airtel and Vi.
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