Previous Year Question
With reference to communication technologies, what is/are the difference/differences between LTE (Long-Term Evolution) and VoLTE (Voice over Long-Term Evolution)?
LTE is commonly marketed as 3G and VoLTE is commonly marketed as advanced 3G.
LTE is data-only technology and VoLTE is voice-only technology.
Select the correct answer by using the codes given below.
Only 1
Only 2
Both 1 and 2
Neither 1 nor 2
Correct Answer: D
Detailed Solution
Statement 1 is incorrect. LTE stands for Long-Term Evolution and is generally presented as a 4G mobile communication technology, not as 3G. VoLTE means Voice over Long-Term Evolution. It is a technology that provides voice calls over the packet-switched infrastructure of an LTE network; it is not described as advanced 3G.
Statement 2 is also incorrect. LTE primarily provides high-speed packet-switched mobile broadband, but describing it as a purely data-only technology is not completely correct. Voice service can be carried on an LTE network in the form of IP data packets through VoLTE.
Similarly, describing VoLTE as a voice-only technology is also incorrect. VoLTE uses the LTE network and the IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS) for voice communication, while mobile data services can continue over the same LTE connection. Thus, a user can use both voice and high-speed data during a call.
Early LTE networks commonly used Circuit-Switched Fallback (CSFB) for voice calls. Under this arrangement, the device shifted to a 2G or 3G network when making or receiving a voice call. In VoLTE, a voice call is carried directly over the 4G LTE network, enabling relatively faster call setup, better voice quality and simultaneous voice and data services.