SoftBank Mobile, one of Japan's leading operators, has selected Ericsson as a solution provider for end-to-end Mobile Telephony solution using the VoLTE technology. The partnership will enable Softbank to utilize its valuable spectrum resources more efficiently. The VoLTE solution provides telecom-grade HD voice and video calling alongside other telephony services, while using simultaneous LTE data services on LTE smartphones. As part of its contract, Ericsson has upgraded the existing mobile core network that was on Ericsson Mobile Softswitch Solution and Evolved Packet Core to a complete IMS core, which includes the Multimedia Telephony Application Server (MTAS).
Junichi Miyakawa, Executive Vice President, Director and CTO, SoftBank Mobile, said: "With the rapid network evolution to LTE, SoftBank Mobile decided to introduce VoLTE as the next generation communication technology for voice and video calling over LTE. We hope to be able to deliver quality communication in a fast and cost-efficient manner by utilizing Ericsson's VoLTE solution."
Jan Signell, President and Representative Director of Ericsson Japan and Head of Region North East Asia, said: "Ericsson's VoLTE offering provides a highly capable end-to-end solution for SoftBank Mobile. With this new agreement we will continue to strengthen our strategic partnership with SoftBank Mobile. By leveraging on the Ericsson installed base in the mobile core and radio network, and our ability to deliver complex Systems Integration projects, SoftBank Mobile will benefit from a fast and cost efficient new service introduction." Source - Dell'ORO (Oct 31, 2013)