We usually take phone calls in our companies for granted—until they start causing problems. Poorer voice quality, longer connection times, "discontinued" calls in the field, or customers reporting that it's increasingly difficult to reach them. Increasingly, the cause lies not with the phones themselves or the carrier, but with technological changes already taking place in the background.
One of them is VoLTE – a technology that is gradually becoming the new standard for voice calls in mobile networks. For many businesses, it sounds like another "phone feature" that can be ignored. In practice, VoLTE is part of a larger puzzle: the phasing out of 3G, the transition to 4G and 5G packet networks, and a transformation in how voice is delivered in the business environment.
In this article we explain VoLTE from A to Z – without instructions on where to click, but with an emphasis on, how this technology works, what really changes in companies and when it makes business sense. If the telephone is still an important tool in your organization, this issue will catch up with you sooner or later. It's better to understand it early on than to react only when problems arise.
VoLTE in the company – what is it and why is the topic coming back like a boomerang?
At first glance, VoLTE seems like a minor technical detail—another shortcut that's "out there" on your phone. In reality, it's a change to the foundation on which voice calls on mobile networks are based. VoLTE (Voice over LTE) means that the phone call is made over the 4G/LTE network, and not over the older 2G or 3G technologies, as was the case for many years.
From a company's perspective, one thing is important: VoLTE isn't an app or a messenger. It's still a classic operator service—with a phone number, billing, and telecom-class reliability—but technically based on a new network architecture. This allows calls to connect faster, sound clearer (so-called HD Voice), and operate in parallel with LTE data transmission. In practice, employees can talk while simultaneously using CRM, maps, or company applications without noticeable interruptions.
So why does this topic keep coming back like a boomerang? infrastructure is changing, not user habits. Operators are gradually phasing out 3G, and 4G and 5G networks are becoming the basis for both data and voice. If a phone or configuration doesn't support VoLTE, calls begin to "migrate" to older technologies or behave differently depending on location. In companies, this manifests itself very specifically: poorer call quality in the field, longer connection times, or unpredictable performance in warehouses and offices with weaker coverage.
VoLTE is coming back not because it is fashionable, but because has become the new standard, which cannot be avoided. For companies, this is the moment to stop treating the phone as an "always-on entity" and start viewing it as a component of IT infrastructure—one that also requires understanding, standardization, and informed decisions. In the following chapters, we will show what exactly is behind this technology and when it actually makes a difference in daily work.
Why VoLTE was created – what has changed in 4G/5G networks
Many decision-makers in companies today ask a logical question: if conversations have been working without any problems for years, then why was it necessary to invent VoLTE at all?The answer doesn't lie in phones, but in the evolution of mobile networks themselves.
The older technologies, 2G and 3G, were designed at a time when voice was the number one service. Calls had their own dedicated "channel" on the network, independent of data traffic. This ensured predictability: calling was stable, even if the internet connection was mediocre. Mobile data was an add-on, not a requirement.
With the development of LTE and later 5G, everything has changed. These networks were designed from the outset as packet networks, i.e. focused on data transfer – applications, cloud, video, corporate systems. In LTE there is no native old-style voice chat mechanism. It's a bit like building a modern highway for trucks and then suddenly trying to let a train onto it – a completely different solution is needed.
Initially, the problem was "solved" with a workaround: when someone called, the phone would momentarily switch from LTE to 3G or 2G. This was often invisible to the user, but technically meant reverting to the older technology. As long as 3G was widespread, this worked properly. The problem arose when operators began turn off 3G, to free up frequencies for more efficient 4G and 5G networks.
That's where VoLTE comes in. It answers the question: how to make voice calls on a network that was designed exclusively for data. VoLTE brings voice to the same "layer" as mobile internet, but does so in a controlled manner, with quality prioritization and mechanisms to ensure call stability. This eliminates the need to "escape" to older technologies that are disappearing from the network landscape.
This has very practical implications for businesses. Since voice and data operate on the same network, the quality of calls begins to depend on the same factors, as well as access to cloud-based applications and systems. LTE coverage, network load, and even how the phone is used in the field – all of this impacts the caller experience. VoLTE is not a whim of operators, but a natural part of the transition to a world in which all mobile communications are based on a single, shared infrastructure.
How VoLTE Works Underneath – IMS, Signaling and Quality in a Nutshell for Business
From the company's perspective, VoLTE simply has to "work." And rightly so. But to consciously assess its stability, limitations, and the viability of its implementation, it's worth understanding what's actually happening in the background, when an employee presses the green button. Without going into engineering details, but also without simplifications that explain nothing.
IMS – the operator's new telephone exchange
The heart of VoLTE is IMS (IP Multimedia Subsystem). Simply put, IMS is a modern operator switchboard that manages voice calls across 4G and 5G networks. Unlike legacy switchboards, IMS operates in the world of IP networks – just like corporate systems, the cloud, and web applications.
IMS is responsible for:
• call summary (who is calling whom),
• authorization of numbers and services,
• selection of call parameters (e.g. codec),
• maintaining the connection while the user moves.
What is important for the company is that VoLTE is still an operator service, not a loose internet connection. IMS provides predictability, accountability, and integration with traditional telephony – features that instant messaging applications typically don't offer in the same way.
Signaling and voice – two different „streams”
In VoLTE it is worth distinguishing two things: signaling and the sound of the conversation itself.
Signaling is the moment when the network "communicates": who is calling, whether the number is available, and what the connection parameters are. This is done using protocols known from the IP world (e.g., SIP), but remains completely transparent to the user.
Only after this stage does the actual voice begin to flow. And here's the key difference compared to old telephony: voice is transmitted as data, on the same LTE network where applications and mobile internet run. This is precisely why VoLTE requires additional quality mechanisms – because the call cannot "compete" with the rest of the traffic on an equal basis.
Conversation Quality – What Really Matters
For a comfortable conversation, good coverage isn't enough. VoLTE relies on three technical factors, which can be explained in very human terms:
• Delay – how quickly the voice reaches the interlocutor. Too much of it creates the impression that the conversation is "echoic.".
• Transmission jitter – If sound packets arrive unevenly, cutouts occur.
• Packet losses – missing parts of the voice that the brain tries to „figure out on its own”.
That's why VoLTE uses QoS (Quality of Service) – mechanisms that prioritize conversations over regular data. This means that conversations shouldn't be outweighed by file downloads, video, or app updates. For the company, this means one thing: VoLTE is designed to ensure conversations remain legible even when the network is heavily used.
Codecs and "HD Voice" – where better sound comes from
The final piece of the puzzle is codecs, or the method of encoding audio. VoLTE most commonly uses wideband codecs such as AMR-WB, and in newer implementations also EVS. In practice, this means that the conversation carries more voice detail than in traditional telephony.
The result? Your voice sounds more natural, it's easier to understand the other person, and you're less likely to have to ask for repetition. Provided, of course, that both sides of the conversation and the operator network support the same capabilities. In the corporate world, this is another argument for device standardization – a random fleet of phones means random call quality.
In summary: VoLTE operates on a modern network architecture that bridges the worlds of telephony and data. When everything is well-matched—devices, coverage, and network configuration—conversations are faster, clearer, and more predictable.
Reliability, Quality, and Security – What a Company Should Understand Before Declaring VoLTE a „Standard”
VoLTE is often presented as the obvious successor to traditional calls. And in the long run, it is. However, before companies declare VoLTE "the new standard that just works," it's worth understanding what this technology depends on and where its real limitations lie. This helps avoid disappointment and false expectations.
VoLTE Reliability – What It Really Depends On
The most important difference compared to old telephony is simple: VoLTE works only as well as the LTE network at a given time and place.. If coverage is stable and the network isn't congested, calls usually maintain a high level. As conditions deteriorate, quality can degrade more rapidly than in older voice networks.
In practice, this means a few things that companies often discover only after the fact:
• Field calls may behave differently depending on location,
• traveling between network cells (e.g. in a car) is more important than before,
• poor LTE coverage in the building means poor VoLTE – even if there are still „bars”.
Therefore, VoLTE is not a magic cure-all for all calling problems. It is a technology that requires a conscious approach to radio range and conditions – exactly like mobile internet.
Device Compatibility – Why „It Works for One, But Not for Another”
One of the most common sources of frustration in businesses is when VoLTE:
• works on one phone model,
• doesn't work or works worse on another,
• behaves differently with different operators.
This is no coincidence. VoLTE requires compatibility phone, software version and operator profile. Even if a model technically supports VoLTE, the operator must "know" it and support it within their network. In a corporate environment, this means one thing: a random fleet of phones means random call quality.
Companies that take telephony seriously sooner or later come to the conclusion that device standardization and compatibility testing are cheaper than constantly resolving minor issues reported by users.
Call Quality – When VoLTE Makes a Difference and When It Doesn't
VoLTE can offer very good voice quality, but only when basic conditions are met:
• stable LTE coverage,
• compatible devices on both sides of the call,
• no frequent switching between technologies.
If any of these elements fail, the "HD Voice" effect disappears and the call quality returns to average. So, from a business perspective, it's worth remembering that VoLTE improves quality where the infrastructure is already relatively good. Where coverage is poor, VoWiFi or improving the local network is often a better solution.
Security – VoLTE and calls „over the internet”
A question that often arises is: "Since VoLTE works over an IP network, is it as secure as alternative VoLTE?" instant messengers?” The answer is: it's a completely different model. VoLTE operates on the operator's closed infrastructure, with authentication and control mechanisms that are part of the telecommunications network.
For businesses, this means several practical things:
• VoLTE calls are not "open internet traffic",
• are covered by the operator's security policies,
• do not require additional applications or user accounts.
This doesn't mean that VoLTE replaces encrypted messaging in every situation. It does mean that for classic business conversations is a predictable solution and in line with the expectations of the telecommunications world.
Practical application for companies
VoLTE is worth treating as new default phone mode, but not as a "hands-free" technology. Before you adopt it as a standard in your company, it's a good idea to:
• check the real LTE coverage where people work,
• organize the fleet of devices,
• consciously decide where VoLTE should be the basis and where it is better to rely on VoWiFi or VoIP.
Thanks to this, VoLTE is no longer a source of surprises and starts fulfilling the role for which it was created – a stable voice channel in modern corporate communication.
VoLTE applications in companies – when does it make sense and when is it better to choose a different approach?
VoLTE is not a "for everyone, everywhere" technology. In businesses, it works best where the telephone is still the basic work tool, and conversations must be quick, clear, and predictable. Below are specific scenarios, without theorizing.
When VoLTE makes real business sense
1) Mobile workers and field teams
Salespeople, service technicians, coordinators, and drivers often simultaneously talk and access data (maps, CRM, orders). VoLTE allows conversations and data transmission to be maintained over LTE without being "downloaded" to older technologies, reducing the risk of interruptions and delays.
2) Telephone sales and customer service
If call quality affects a company's image, VoLTE helps reduce situations like "please repeat yourself" or "you cut me off." Better audibility and faster call setup are small details that make a difference on a daily basis.
3) On-duty and critical processes
Where the phone serves as an escalation channel (failures, urgent calls), predictability is key. VoLTE, as an operator service, provides a more stable foundation than messaging services that rely solely on the internet and apps.
When VoLTE is not enough or the best choice
4) Offices and warehouses with poor LTE coverage
If there is a cellular signal in the building unstable, VoLTE won't "fix" physics. In such places, VoWiFi, which involves calling the operator over the company's Wi-Fi, is often a better solution, provided the local network is well designed.
5) Mainly internal communication
When most calls are between employees and the phone is primarily used for external purposes, instant messaging (e.g., Teams) can be more convenient: integrations, call history, meetings. VoLTE then plays a complementary, not central, role.
6) Lack of standardization of devices
If everyone in a company uses a different phone model, VoLTE may perform inconsistently. In such an environment, the effects are random, and the technology generates calls instead of helping. In this case, it's worth organizing your fleet first, before you can expect benefits.
Practical conclusion
VoLTE works best as a stable, basic voice channel for contact with customers and mobile work. It doesn't replace instant messaging or well-designed Wi-Fi, but it meaningfully complements them. Companies that treat VoLTE as part of a comprehensive communications strategy—rather than a single "phone feature"—tend to get the most out of it.
If telephone calls are still an important part of work in your organization, it is worth consciously deciding, where VoLTE should be the standard and where it is better to choose another solution. It's simpler and cheaper than reacting only when something starts to go wrong.
VoLTE today, 5G tomorrow – how to schedule calls in your company
VoLTE is not a "temporary" solution. It is the foundation upon which operators will base their voice services for many years to come. In parallel, VoNR (Voice over New Radio), i.e. calls made directly in the 5G network. In practice, however, VoNR is only just entering the market and will be for the next 12–24 months VoLTE will remain the default voice standard, even in environments with 5G access.
From a company's perspective, the best approach is pragmatic:
• today: sort out VoLTE (devices, coverage, phone roles in the company),
• tomorrow: treat VoNR as a natural evolution, not an urgent investment,
• strategically: build communication as a whole – a telephone number for contacting customers, instant messaging for teamwork, VoWiFi where LTE cannot cope.
Small change, noticeable effect
A service company with a team working primarily in the field faced frequent customer requests for callbacks, with calls often being interrupted or barely audible. After streamlining the phone fleet and consciously switching to VoLTE, the number of such calls decreased, and employees stopped "fighting with the phone" during calls. No revolution, no switching providers – just adapting the technology to real-world work conditions.
The conclusion for the future is simple: VoLTE is a stable foundation today. Companies that approach it consciously now will enter the world of 5G and VoNR without hesitant adjustments or last-minute troubleshooting.
VoLTE FAQs
VoLTE (Voice over LTE) is a technology for making phone calls over the 4G/LTE network. You still call a regular phone number, but the call uses a modern packet network instead of older 2G/3G technologies. This allows calls to connect faster and sound clearer.
No. VoLTE is a mobile operator service, not a web application. It operates within a closed telecommunications infrastructure and does not require accounts, logins, or installation of additional applications. VoIP messengers are dependent on the quality of the internet and applications, while VoLTE depends on the quality of the operator's network.
No. VoLTE calls do not reduce your data allowance, even though they technically travel over the LTE network. From a billing perspective, they function the same as traditional voice calls.
VoLTE requires compatibility between three elements: the phone model, its software, and carrier support for the specific model. If any of these elements are not aligned, the phone may not use VoLTE or may do so unstable. This is why device standardization is so important for companies.
Yes. We help companies take a practical approach to VoLTE: we examine work scenarios, phone fleets, coverage conditions, and the phone's role within the organization. Sometimes VoLTE is a good standard, while other times VoWiFi or a combination of several solutions may be a better choice.
We support companies locally in and around Warsaw (including Ożarów Mazowiecki, Błonie, and Pruszków), as well as remotely throughout Poland. When it comes to telephony and corporate communications, many activities—analysis, recommendations, and support—can be completed without an on-site visit.
VoLTE isn't just another "phone option," but the result of a profound shift in how mobile networks operate. As 3G is phased out, voice calls are increasingly being relied on to the same infrastructure that hosts data and corporate applications. For businesses, this means new opportunities, but also new dependencies—on LTE coverage, device quality, and environmental consistency.
Properly implemented, VoLTE can improve call comfort, shorten connection times, and increase communication predictability, especially in mobile work and customer interactions. However, it's not a universal solution – VoWiFi is better suited for offices with poor coverage, and VoIP messengers are better for team collaboration.
The most important conclusion is simple: VoLTE works best when it is a conscious decision, and not by accident. Companies that treat their phones as part of their IT infrastructure—organizing their fleet, understanding their limitations, and selecting technology for real-world scenarios—are entering the world of 4G/5G calmly, without nervous reactions or unexpected problems.
If this topic applies to your company, please get in touch. We'd be happy to help you translate VoLTE technology into a practical, working solution.
