Voice over New Radio (VoNR) Explained in Less than 5 Minutes
No, Voice over New Radio isn’t a new form of radio that resurrects long-lost celebrities through AI-assisted voice clones, although that does sound neat!
Instead, VoNR refers to technology that supports voice communication over a 5G network, also called Vo5G (Voice over 5G).
VoNR translates to smoother voice quality over similar older tech like Voice over Long Term Evolution (VoLTE). This means consumers and businesses of all sizes can benefit from Vo5G for everything from gaming to conference calls.
To make a VoNR call, you need to have a 5G-capable phone, and the person you’re calling needs to have the same. If you’re connected to a 5G network, your call will automatically be routed over VoNR.
This technology is still in its infancy because VoNR requires 5G networks, which aren’t as prevalent as 4G networks. But adoption will grow as more 5G networks roll out and more devices are created to support VoNR.
5G: The Foundation for VoNR
If you’ve seen this term thrown around but are unsure what it means, don’t worry — you’re not alone. You don’t need to know what 5G means in order to use it. However, it is important to understand 5G in order to grasp the significance of VoNR.
Since around 2019, 5G has emerged as the next generation of mobile networking technology. Most new phones released since then have supported 5G, and lots of regions around the globe have rolled out fifth-generation networks.
If you’re more familiar with the older terms, like 4G, LTE, 3G, etc., just know that 5G is the upgraded version of those technologies. A new ‘G’ is fully realized about every 10 years.
I know the terms themselves don’t explain much. Still, all you need to know about 5G, at least in relation to voice calls, is that compared to older technologies, its benefits include increased bandwidth and lower latency.
VoNR Benefits and Features
VoNR has several advantages over traditional voice calling:
- Faster call setup times: Calls usually connect in under two seconds, which is faster than traditional calls.
- Better voice quality: Vo5G calls use HD voice technology to deliver clearer and more natural-sounding audio.
- Less battery drain: VoNR is efficient, so it can help improve your phone’s battery life.
- Lower latency: Have you ever talked over someone on the phone because of a significant delay? Voice over 5G calls fix this because of lower latency. This means there’s less delay between when you speak and when your voice is heard by the other person.
- More features: Some new features VoNR supports include integrated video calling and the ability to share files during a call. Its low-latency abilities also mean it can better support real-time translations during calls.
VoNR vs VoLTE
VoNR uses 5G, and VoLTE uses 4G. Considering the technological differences between these network generations means Voice over New Radio supports higher voice quality, lower latency (lower is good here), and higher reliability.
To cement their differences in the real world, imagine you’re trying to have a conversation with someone in a crowded room. It’s hard to hear them over the noise, and you have to keep repeating yourself. It’s like to make a voice call over a traditional cellular network.
If VoLTE is akin to having a private conversation in a quiet room, VoNR is like having that same conversation in a soundproof room. While VoLTE uses the LTE/4G network to deliver high-quality voice calls, faster call setup times, and improved battery life, VoNR uses the 5G network to deliver even better voice quality, lower latency, and higher reliability.
However, VoNR isn’t king all around. 4G networks are basically ubiquitous, whereas 5G networks are a hit-or-miss kind of thing. And even if you get connected over 5G, in some cases, you can’t move around much, or you’ll lose that high-quality connection and drop back down to LTE.
VoLTE is still a good option. It offers significant improvements over traditional cellular voice calls.
Check out the summary of the difference between both VoNR and VoLTE.
| Feature | VoNR (Voice over New Radio) | VoLTE (Voice over LTE) |
|---|---|---|
| Network Generation | 5G | 4G |
| Voice Quality | Higher | High |
| Latency | Lower (better) | Lower (better) |
| Reliability | Higher | High |
| Network Availability | Limited (5G networks are hit-or-miss) | Ubiquitous (4G networks are widespread) |
| Mobility | Limited (high-quality connection in some cases, limited mobility) | High (more freedom to move without losing connection quality) |
Vo5G Use Case
With it understood that 5G reigns supreme over 4G in speed and capacity, it isn’t difficult to realize how VoNR can benefit anyone and everyone, both business users and regular consumers.
For example, VoNR is ideal for business users who need to make high-quality phone calls. Think video conferencing and customer service calls. These situations call for crystal-clear conversations, which 5G-backed calls permit. This can help businesses reduce travel costs and improve collaboration between employees and customers.
Vo5G is also useful for gamers who need low-latency communication. This has always been a crucial point for online multiplayer games and real-time strategy games. Just a few situations with badly timed lag can affect professional tournaments and hobbyists alike.
Similar to gaming are augmented reality and virtual reality applications. VoNR can provide real-time translation during AR-assisted video calls or allow users to interact with virtual objects in a more realistic way.
VoNR: The New Highway for Voice Communication
5G networks are fundamentally different from previous generations of cellular networks. They’re designed to support a much wider range of applications and services, including ultra-high-speed data transfer, low-latency communication, and massive connectivity.
VoNR leverages the unique capabilities of 5G networks. It takes advantage of the high bandwidth and low latency to provide superior voice quality and faster call setup times.
It’s also part of a holistic approach to 5G services. VoNR isn’t an isolated technology but instead a part of a broader suite of services that are being developed to meet the needs of consumers and businesses.
VoNR also opens the door to a new range of voice-enabled applications and services, such as high-definition video calling, immersive gaming, and real-time collaboration. It’s expected to play a major role in the development of 5G-enabled services like extended reality.
Since 5G networks are still under development, VoNR is as well. But it’s rapidly gaining traction in the mobile industry. As more and more 5G networks are deployed, VoNR is expected to become the standard for voice communication services.
Next, check out our article on Internet of Things (IoT) architecture.
