A leading Tier-1 German mobile operator has launched its Wi-Fi Calling service this week powered by technology from Siemens Convergence Creators. The service allows mobile voice calls to be routed over Wi-Fi with seamless handover between 4G and Wi-Fi networks.
The operator is leveraging Siemens Convergence Creators' AAA (Authentication, Authorization, and Accounting) which provides standard authentication and mobility control for standard Wi-Fi gateways. Designed as centralized authentication element in mobile and fixed-mobile convergence networks, Siemens Convergence Creators' AAA goes hand in hand with the company's Policy Control (PCRF) product Siemens Policy Manager which uses the same platform and framework.
According to Siemens Convergence Creators, while carriers typically use untrusted public or partner Wi-Fi networks today where an encrypted data tunnel between the user device and the mobile network core is established to perform all IP communications, future designs may also include trusted, carrier-operated Wi-Fi networks.
Roland Steiner, Vice President LTE Business Unit Siemens Convergence Creators
Advantages for mobile operators using our AAA include having Wi-Fi as an alternative mobile network, reducing the load on their 4G LTE networks, and improving indoor coverage and customer loyalty. Voice over Wi-Fi is proof that investments into an All-IP infrastructure provide substantial advantages in a reasonable timeframe and we're proud to be an integral part of it.
