Nokia Networks (and T-Mobile) show LTE QoS for all-not just VoLTE

This week Nokia Networks announced new tools to deliver content across mobile networks including the ability to provide high-quality voice and data with embedded real-time communication services across LTE.  It includes new LTE Quality of Service (QoS) features for improved network performance and assured levels of service.

Nokia's announcement is built around the company's Liquid Applications capability to provide a content delivery network (CDN)-esque edge capabilities directly to RF cellular base stations and real time use of network data to dynamically adjust the overall network.  Mobile users can get faster and more reliable services at the mobile network edge without having to go deep into the network cloud to tap into services.  Keeping processes locally also aids in cutting down on network traffic.

Pre-configured applications include video orchestration to deliver live video in real time locally, without backhaul; real-time analytics to capture user and service performance data for optimizing end-user content delivery; and delivery of augmented reality to enable fast image recognition and delivery of relevant content without loading traffic across the network.

A number of third-party application developers and commercial operators are conducting both trials and deployments, with Nokia citing a Liquid Applications proof of concept trial with T-Mobile US to demonstrate how an LTE base station can provide road hazard warnings to cars in real time. 

LTE QoS might be the most significant long-term part of the announcement.  Operators can provide a nominal bit rate for users experiencing poor radio conditions at the cell edge, but LTE's dedicated bearer functionality is used to deliver high-quality and prioritized streaming services for third parties, such as CDN providers.

Cellular network equipment manufacturers and carriers have stressed the advantage of VoLTE over other OTT voice-enabled applications in a number of white papers and tests.  In theory, OTT applications could use the same QoS advantages if they were written to tap into those LTE functions and carriers permitted access.

Imagine if Microsoft's Skype or GENBAND's Kandy WebRTC services were able to provide a guaranteed level of service for voice and video on LTE rather than just relying on best-effort IP connections.  Carriers would no doubt charge for access and provide limits on the number of apps or users—everyone can't fly first class—so there would be a select number of apps, but there's nothing from a technical standpoint that would limit a "traditional" OTT service from getting LTE QoS.   More limiting would be customization of an OTT app to the particulars of each LTE QoS hooks, making it a task for well-funded companies with some clout. 

Nokia Networks says it is also delivering the first commercial Network Functions virtualization (NFV) solution for end-to-end VoLTE services, with the solution scheduled to go into production by the end of 2014 (Verizon, perhaps?).  Running VoLTE as an NFV solution enables operators to scale and cope with varying traffic by automating mobile network functions.  If there's a lot of calls, NFV would spin up more resources—less calls means freeing up resources for other users.

There's a lot of potential in Nokia's announcements, and it will be fascinating to see how all the software bits and pieces fit with the vision and promises of LTE, VoLTE, and NFV over the past three to four years.