5G or fifth-generation mobile network technology is the latest development in wireless communication that promises to revolutionize the way we communicate, connect, and interact with our world. 5G is designed to offer faster data transfer speeds, higher bandwidth, lower latency, and greater reliability than its predecessors. Along with other advancements, 5G also brings a new voice technology called VoNR or Voice over New Radio, which is set to replace traditional voice calls.

5G is the fifth generation of wireless technology and the successor to 4G. It is designed to offer faster and more reliable connectivity, with the ability to handle more devices simultaneously. 5G networks use higher frequency bands than 4G, which means they can offer higher data transfer rates and lower latency. Additionally, 5G networks are built with software-defined architecture, which allows for greater flexibility and the ability to adapt to changing network demands.

VoNR or Voice over New Radio is a new technology that allows voice calls to be made over 5G networks using the IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS) protocol. It enables voice calls to be made using the same high-speed data network that is used for internet browsing, video streaming, and other data-intensive applications. VoNR is designed to offer better voice quality, lower latency, and greater reliability than traditional voice calls. Overall we have multiple benefits like:

• Better Voice Quality: VoNR offers better voice quality than traditional voice calls, as it uses higher-quality codecs that can deliver clearer and more natural-sounding voices. It also supports wideband audio, which means that users can hear a wider range of frequencies, making it easier to understand speech.
• Lower Latency: VoNR has lower latency than traditional voice calls, which means that there is less delay between when a user speaks and when the other person hears them. This makes conversations feel more natural and can help to reduce misunderstandings.
• Greater Reliability: VoNR is designed to be more reliable than traditional voice calls, as it uses the same high-speed data network that is used for other applications. This means that calls are less likely to be dropped or disconnected, even in areas with weak signal strength.
• Improved Battery Life: VoNR uses less battery power than traditional voice calls, as it uses the 5G network’s more efficient protocols and transmission methods. This means that users can talk for longer without needing to recharge their device.
• Integration with Other Services: VoNR is fully integrated with other 5G services, such as video calling and messaging, which means that users can switch between different modes of communication seamlessly.

VoNR or Voice over New Radio is a technology that enables voice calls to be made over 5G networks using the IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS) protocol. It uses the same high-speed data network that is used for internet browsing, video streaming, and other data-intensive applications. Here’s how VoNR works in detail:

• VoNR uses the same 5G network architecture as other data services. The network is based on a software-defined architecture that allows for greater flexibility and the ability to adapt to changing network demands. The network consists of various components such as User Equipment (UE), Radio Access Network (RAN), and the Core Network (CN).
• The User Equipment (UE) is the device used for making voice calls. The UE communicates with the Radio Access Network (RAN) to establish a connection with the network. The RAN is responsible for managing the radio resources and ensuring that the UE is connected to the network.
• IMS Core: Once the UE is connected to the network, it establishes a connection with the IMS Core, which is responsible for managing the voice call. The IMS Core is a network element that provides the necessary services and protocols for VoNR. It includes various components such as Call Session Control Function (CSCF), Media Resource Function (MRF), and Application Server (AS).
• Call Session Control Function (CSCF): The Call Session Control Function (CSCF) is responsible for controlling the call session between the UE and the IMS Core. It manages call signaling, authentication, and authorization.
• Media Resource Function (MRF): The Media Resource Function (MRF) is responsible for managing the media streams during the call. It ensures that the audio and video streams are transmitted with high quality and minimal delay.
• The Application Server (AS) provides additional services such as call forwarding, voicemail, and conferencing. It also interfaces with other applications such as messaging and video calling.
• Codec: VoNR uses high-quality codecs to ensure that the voice quality is clear and natural-sounding. It uses a codec called Enhanced Voice Services (EVS) that provides better quality than traditional voice codecs.
• QoS: VoNR also supports Quality of Service (QoS) to ensure that voice calls are given priority over other data traffic. This helps to reduce latency and ensure that voice calls are not affected by network congestion.
• Security: VoNR uses the same security protocols as other 5G services to ensure that voice calls are secure and protected from eavesdropping and other attacks. It uses encryption and authentication to ensure that only authorized users can access the network.

VoNR is a new technology that uses the same high-speed data network as other data services to provide better voice quality, lower latency, and greater reliability than traditional voice calls. It is based on the IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS) protocol and uses various network elements such as CSCF, MRF, and AS to manage the voice call. VoNR is set to become the new standard for voice communication as 5G networks become more widely available.

As of now in April 2023, in Germany it’s still not supported by all network operators. However, several mobile network operators had started to test the technology and were planning to roll it out in the near future.

Deutsche Telekom had announced that it was testing VoNR in its 5G network and had already conducted successful trials. Vodafone Germany had also conducted trials of VoNR and was planning to roll out the technology in the near future. Similarly, Telefonica Germany (O2) had announced that it was testing VoNR and was planning to introduce the technology in its network soon. Vodafone Germany is planning to start VoNR in Summer 2023, but you may also find some Twitter posts where it seems to be already usable in Düsseldorf, Germany.

It’s important to note that the availability of VoNR may vary depending on the location and network coverage. Therefore, it’s very important to have a great network coverage to avoid any fallbacks to older technologies like 4G or 2G (3G is already deprecated in Germany) that might result in a worse voice quality. As a result, the 700 MHz (5G N28) frequency has a key role in 5G networks:

• Improved Coverage: 700 MHz has a longer range than higher frequency bands used for 5G, such as 3.5 GHz and 28 GHz. This means that 5G signals on 700 MHz can travel further and penetrate obstacles like walls and buildings more easily. As a result, it can provide better coverage in rural areas and other areas with poor coverage.
• Better Indoor Coverage: 5G on 700 MHz can also provide better indoor coverage compared to higher frequency bands. The longer wavelength can penetrate building walls and other obstacles more easily, allowing for better indoor coverage.
• Improved Network Capacity: 5G on 700 MHz can also provide improved network capacity. This is because the lower frequency bands have larger channel bandwidths, which means that they can support more devices simultaneously.
• Better Battery Life: 5G on 700 MHz can also improve the battery life of devices. This is because the lower frequency bands require less power to transmit and receive data compared to higher frequency bands.
• Future Compatibility: 700 MHz is a frequency band that is already widely used for 4G LTE networks. By using this band for 5G, it allows for a smooth transition from 4G to 5G networks.

5G on 700 MHz is important because it provides improved coverage, better indoor coverage, improved network capacity, better battery life, and future compatibility with existing 4G networks. It is expected to play a key role in the development of 5G networks and the widespread adoption of this technology.

But while 5G N28 provides an improved coverage it won’t provide higher speeds. This is where other frequencies come in like midband 5G on 1,8 Ghz (N3) or highband 5G on 3,6 Ghz (N78). In theory, the following data bandwidths can be expected:

• mmWave: Not supported in Germany
• Highband: 800-1500 Mbit/s
• Midband: 300-500 Mbit/s
• Lowband: 150-200 Mbit/s

But it can be much faster than only this! 5G Carrier Aggregation is a technology that allows mobile network operators to combine multiple bands of 5G spectrum to increase the data transfer speeds and network capacity of their networks. Carrier Aggregation has been used in previous generations of wireless networks, such as 4G LTE, and it has now been extended to 5G networks. In 5G Carrier Aggregation, the mobile device is able to communicate with two or more base stations simultaneously, using different bands of 5G spectrum. The data traffic is then combined into a single data stream, which is transmitted to the device. This allows for faster data transfer speeds and increased network capacity, as more data can be transmitted simultaneously.

5G Carrier Aggregation is important for several reasons. First, it allows mobile network operators to make the most efficient use of their available spectrum, by combining multiple frequency bands. Second, it allows for faster data transfer speeds and increased network capacity, which improves the user experience and enables new applications and services. Finally, it enables the seamless integration of 5G networks with existing 4G networks, allowing for a smooth transition to 5G technology.