Report: Improvements seen with Voice-over-LTE and battery performance
A cursory examination of voice-over-LTE (VoLTE) by Spirent Communications last autumn revealed what many of us already suspected about running voice services over LTE, the battery life is compromised heavily.
However, Spirent has continued to perform in-depth testing of VoLTE, using MetroPCS’ network. MetroPCS is currently the only carrier in the US to offer service supporting voice-over-LTE. Since Spirent's last round of testing, MetroPCS introduced a second device supporting VoLTE, enabling Spirent to see if the newer hardware, the LG Spirit 4G, is able to handle voice-over-LTE more efficiently than the carrier's first VoLTE device, the LG Connect 4G.
As one might expect, the manufacturers (or LG in this case) are making marked improvements in power consumption not only in the native performance of the hardware itself, but how the device manages power demand when using the network. Spirent conduced a new series of tests in Dallas, Texas on the MetroPCS network, and while VoLTE is still not providing the same battery life as traditional circuit-switched voice on the incumbent CDMA network, the improvements were sizable.
The new architecture in the LG Spirit 4G, which incorporates a single chip-set for the CDMA and LTE processing, enabled better than 35% less power demand on the new hardware versus the previous generation LG Connect 4G. That translates to more time away from the charging cable which is also due, in part, to the larger battery on the LG Spirit 4G. Spirent also tested the devices using Skype’s VoIP application and saw an improvement of less power demand on the new device.
This new round of tests is timely since the carriers will certainly embrace VoLTE as the mobile hardware advances and the network efficiency improves. “We conducted this second round of VoLTE battery performance tests to gain some understanding of whether recent technology advances have helped decrease battery drain and improve capacity for VoLTE calls,” according to Spirent’s Vice President of Wireless, Nigel Wright.
source: Spirent Communications
However, Spirent has continued to perform in-depth testing of VoLTE, using MetroPCS’ network. MetroPCS is currently the only carrier in the US to offer service supporting voice-over-LTE. Since Spirent's last round of testing, MetroPCS introduced a second device supporting VoLTE, enabling Spirent to see if the newer hardware, the LG Spirit 4G, is able to handle voice-over-LTE more efficiently than the carrier's first VoLTE device, the LG Connect 4G.
source: Spirent Communications
Next Generation VoLTE Devices Offer Significant Battery Life Improvement
Mar 12, 2013
A new study by Spirent shows significant improvement in battery performance for VoLTE calls over first generation devices
Sunnyvale, Calif. – March 12, 2013 — Spirent Communications, a leader in testing networks, services and devices, today released the results of a detailed comparative test of VoLTE battery performance of first and second generation VoLTE smartphones on the MetroPCS network. The report concludes that the newer LG Spirit™ 4G showed a 35 percent improvement in power consumption over the previous generation when making a VoLTE call. In addition, the report found that the combination of improved current drain and increased battery capacity translates to an overall battery life improvement of 122 percent for VoLTE calls, making it comparable to CDMA calls on the previous device.
Spirent conducted the test in the Dallas, Texas metropolitan market, measuring and quantifying the impact on battery life of calls placed over both the CDMA and 4G LTE networks. Using Spirent’s Service Experience systems and objective methodologies, current drain and power consumption samples were collected at multiple locations in this market for CDMA and VoLTE calls, as well as for multi-service CDMA/LTE and VoLTE/LTE simultaneous voice and data calls. Spirent also tested Voice over IP (VoIP) calls using the Skype™ over-the-top Android application on the LTE data network. Some of the key findings include the following:
Results showed a 35 percent lower current drain for VoLTE calls, as well as an 18 percent lower current drain for CDMA calls, compared with the first generation.
Calls made over the LTE network using Skype’s over-the-top VoIP application resulted in approximately one-third less current drain.
Battery life on the latest VoLTE-capable device now compares favorably to that of previous-generation devices when using CDMA voice.
“We conducted this second round of VoLTE battery performance tests to gain some understanding of whether recent technology advances have helped decrease battery drain and improve capacity for VoLTE calls,” said Nigel Wright, Vice President of Wireless at Spirent.
Mar 12, 2013
A new study by Spirent shows significant improvement in battery performance for VoLTE calls over first generation devices
Sunnyvale, Calif. – March 12, 2013 — Spirent Communications, a leader in testing networks, services and devices, today released the results of a detailed comparative test of VoLTE battery performance of first and second generation VoLTE smartphones on the MetroPCS network. The report concludes that the newer LG Spirit™ 4G showed a 35 percent improvement in power consumption over the previous generation when making a VoLTE call. In addition, the report found that the combination of improved current drain and increased battery capacity translates to an overall battery life improvement of 122 percent for VoLTE calls, making it comparable to CDMA calls on the previous device.
Spirent conducted the test in the Dallas, Texas metropolitan market, measuring and quantifying the impact on battery life of calls placed over both the CDMA and 4G LTE networks. Using Spirent’s Service Experience systems and objective methodologies, current drain and power consumption samples were collected at multiple locations in this market for CDMA and VoLTE calls, as well as for multi-service CDMA/LTE and VoLTE/LTE simultaneous voice and data calls. Spirent also tested Voice over IP (VoIP) calls using the Skype™ over-the-top Android application on the LTE data network. Some of the key findings include the following:
Results showed a 35 percent lower current drain for VoLTE calls, as well as an 18 percent lower current drain for CDMA calls, compared with the first generation.
Calls made over the LTE network using Skype’s over-the-top VoIP application resulted in approximately one-third less current drain.
Battery life on the latest VoLTE-capable device now compares favorably to that of previous-generation devices when using CDMA voice.
“We conducted this second round of VoLTE battery performance tests to gain some understanding of whether recent technology advances have helped decrease battery drain and improve capacity for VoLTE calls,” said Nigel Wright, Vice President of Wireless at Spirent.
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