Vodacom Completes South Africa’s First 5G Voice Call Using VoNR Technology

Vodacom has made history by completing South Africa’s first “native” 5G voice call using Voice over New Radio (VoNR) technology on a test network. This milestone represents a significant step forward in the evolution of mobile communication in the country, demonstrating Vodacom’s commitment to pioneering next-generation connectivity solutions [1].

According to Beverly Ngwenya, Vodacom South Africa’s Technology Director, the achievement aligns with the company’s mission to connect for a better future. It showcases Vodacom’s ongoing efforts to enhance its technological capabilities and provide faster, more reliable, and secure services to its customers [1]. Unlike traditional 5G smartphones that fall back to 4G/LTE for voice calls, VoNR allows for seamless voice communication directly over 5G networks. This technology utilises 5G’s high-speed, low-latency capabilities, resulting in faster call setup times, improved voice quality, and reduced background noise [1].

The implementation of VoNR builds upon the foundation of Voice over LTE (VoLTE), which has been in use in South Africa for over a decade. While VoLTE improved upon 3G call quality, VoNR offers further enhancements by supporting ultra-high-definition audio and improving battery life on mobile devices [1]. This evolution is not just a technical advancement but also a strategic one, as it maximises the potential of 5G infrastructure, which has largely been used for data services. By enabling voice calls over 5G, Vodacom can handle more simultaneous calls, reducing network congestion as data traffic continues to grow [1].

Consumers stand to benefit from VoNR in several ways. The faster call connection times reduce wait times, while the improved audio quality ensures clearer conversations even in noisy environments. Furthermore, the efficiency of VoNR could lead to better battery performance on 5G-enabled devices, a feature highly valued by users [1]. Vodacom highlighted that many modern smartphones, including recent models from Apple and Samsung, already support VoNR, ensuring broad compatibility for users [1].

The technical achievement behind the VoNR test was notable. Vodacom utilised a “single packet core,” a complex setup that required cloud orchestration and network upgrades to allow for seamless integration of voice and data services across multiple access technologies. The test demonstrated Vodacom’s readiness to deliver high-quality, uninterrupted voice services on its 5G network [1].

Vodacom’s investment in 5G began years ago, with the first live 5G network launched in Johannesburg, Pretoria, and Cape Town in 2020. Since then, the company has expanded its 5G coverage across several African countries, supported by temporary spectrum allocations from ICASA. These efforts have solidified Vodacom’s position as a leader in telecommunications on the continent [1].

While Vodacom has not provided a specific timeline for the commercial rollout of VoNR, the company remains optimistic about its potential. Its history of early adoption, such as the 2015 launch of VoLTE in South Africa and the 2020 rollout of 5G, indicates a commitment to rapid innovation and deployment [1]. The introduction of VoNR also aligns with Vodacom’s broader strategy to modernise its network in response to growing data demands driven by emerging technologies like virtual reality, e-education, and high-resolution streaming [1].

The success of Vodacom’s VoNR test could influence other African operators to accelerate their own 5G voice initiatives. As 5G adoption continues to grow across the continent, the enhanced call quality and network efficiency offered by VoNR may reshape consumer expectations, pushing competitors to prioritise 5G voice services [1].

Source: [1] Vodacom makes history with South Africa’s first 5G voice call (https://coinmarketcap.com/community/articles/6894ab77fe544f06ed286ea4/)