Voice over LTE via Generic Access (VoLGA) A Whitepaper

Voice over LTE via Generic Access (VoLGA) PDF

The roots of 'Voice over LTE via GAN' (VoLGA) are the 3GPP Generic Access Network

(GAN) specifications which add Wi-Fi as an access technology to 3GPP based networks such

as GSM and UMTS. GAN requires dual mode mobile devices which have both a

GSM/UMTS radio interface and a Wi-Fi radio interface. Such mobile devices are available

today from a number of manufacturers including Samsung, Nokia, Sagem, LG, HTC3,

Motorola4, Sony-Ericsson and RIM (Blackberry)5. When these dual-mode devices detect the

availability of a suitable Wi-Fi network, e.g. at home or a public hotspot, they connect to the

Wi-Fi access point and register with the GSM/UMTS core network over the Wi-Fi link and

the Internet. A GAN gateway securely connects a subscriber to the infrastructure of a network

operator and voice calls and other circuit switched services such as SMS are then securely

transported between the mobile device and the Gateway over the intermediate Wi-Fi link and

Internet access network.

VoLGA re-uses this principle by replacing the Wi-Fi access with LTE.