Samsung Elec unveils solution for stable 5G voice calls

Samsung Electronics Co., the world’s top smartphone maker, has developed a software solution for more stable 5G voice calls in a move to increase use of the latest mobile network service. Samsung’s chips for mobile communication embedded with the solution enable users to utilize the 5G network in a more stable way.

Samsung said on Sept. 30 that it has developed its comprehensive Voice over New Radio (VoNR) solution, with both voice calls and data service using the 5G network as opposed to the current 5G network approach, which switches to the 4G network when making voice calls. Without needing to switch between networks, the technology offers a better chance of maintaining connection during voice calls as well as faster call connection times.

NO NEED TO SWITCH NETWORKS FOR VOICE CALLS

The solution is embedded in Samsung’s chips for smartphones such as the Exynos 5100 and the Exynos 2100. Samsung launched the Exynos 5100, the industry’s first multi-mode chip compliant with the 5G telecommunication standard, in 2018. The company in January of this year unveiled the Exynos 2100, its first premium mobile system-on-chip (SoC) with an integrated 5G modem.

“Users can play high-performance games or stream high-quality videos without suffering a slowdown even while staying on a call,” said a Samsung source. “It will also help develop applications based on the metaverse.”

The VoNR solution includes various technologies such as an IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS), Quality of Service (QoS), and handover. IMS is the key technology for VoNR to enable all multimedia services – such as audio, video, and extensive data services – within a single internet protocol (IP) network. QoS analyzes the flow of data using the network and determines the priority of services in real-time, providing stable support for 5G VoNR. Handover is a technology that sustains voice calls without interruption between nearby network base stations.

TO BOOST 5G USE

The solution is expected to increase use of the 5G service, industry sources said.

“To commercialize the service, we need various technologies such as IMS and Qos. But there are not many among mobile manufacturers and network carriers that have all of the technologies,” said an industry source. “Samsung’s comprehensive solution can solve such concerns at once.”

The penetration rate of the 5G in the global mobile telecommunication market is expected to grow to 92% in 2026 from 46.6% this year and 16.8% in 2020, according to market research firm Strategy Analytics.

Samsung is a telecommunication chip designer and producer. Its System LSI Business unit, which designs the Exynos series, provides the mobile processors to Samsung’s IT & Mobile Communications Division and its rivals such as China’s Vivo Communication Technology Co. Samsung’s foundry unit produces various telecommunication chips including the Exynos. The unit is predicted to manufacture 54% of the global 5G chips this year, according to Strategy Analytics.

“We will make efforts to upgrade telecommunication technologies by supporting global network carriers’ commercialization of the VoNR service,” said Jonghan Kim, vice president of Samsung’s System LSI Business.

Write to Sin-Young Park at nyusos@hankyung.com
Jongwoo Cheon edited this article.