Swedish vendor Ericsson and Oman Future Telecommunications, which operates under the name Vodafone Oman, have carried out the first successful test call that will pave the way for the commercial introduction of 5G Standalone (5G SA) voice and data services for Vodafone customers in the Sultanate. Oman’s first successful Voice over New Radio (VoNR) proof of concept call over a 5G SA network is part of Vodafone and Ericsson’s ongoing project to develop a highly efficient and reliable nationwide standalone network, allowing for high quality, seamless voice and data services.

Using Ericsson dual-mode 5G Core and Ericsson IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS) technology, the proof of concept showed the potential of the mobile network to enhance speech quality across the country. It also demonstrated the capability of Vodafone’s network to enable 5G-specific voice and communication services for both consumers and enterprises, using an experimental terminal, which will subsequently be replaced by commercial terminals made by Vodafone’s partners.

‘As we continue to push boundaries as an innovation leader in Oman, this successful VoNR proof of concept call is a milestone in our mission to enhance our 5G capabilities and deliver superior user experiences. High quality and seamless voice calling will soon become a must-have service for residents across Oman, as Vodafone becomes one of an extremely select group of operators around the world to deploy a standalone 5G network,’ said Stelios Savvides, Vodafone’s Technology Director in Oman, adding: ‘Our collaboration with Ericsson is another move towards providing our customers with advanced 5G voice and data services. We look forward to developing this proof of concept further and exploring a range of immersive applications that 5G SA data and VoNR capabilities will enable for customers and digital enterprises across the country.’

Original article can be seen at: