High Definition (HD) Voice
HD voice represents a new generation of high-quality voice services for communications service providers. Through the use of wideband codecs on next generation IP networks, HD voice allows users to have clearer, greater quality and more effective voice communication
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Overview
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HD Trial
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Requirements
As the telephony services market becomes increasingly commoditised; the drive towards HD services represents an opportunity to gain a competitive advantage by differentiating services based on quality.
HD Voice Benefits
The improved quality of HD Voice will mean that callers are likely to speak for longer and less likely to revert to alternative means of communication
Within audio conferencing environments, the superior voice quality will result in more natural and easier to understand conversations, particularly where participants have regional and international accents.
The improved clarity of HD Voice will improve the interaction with speech recognition engines and process caller's instructions helping to resolve some of the anomalies and frustrations usually associated with speech recognition technology that is is widely deployed in call centres.
HD Voice Eco-Sytem
The mass adoption of HD Voice is dependent on three factors:
HD voice services being offered by service providers. There have been a number of service providers, both fixed, wireless and web 2.0, announcing HD plans and this is expected to grow. Service Providers not planning to introduce HD Voice services risk losing subscribers to higher quality providers.
HD Voice also needs to be supported at the handset/CPE level. The end-user device must be able to process HD codecs such as G.722, AMR-WB and G.711.1. This challenge is already being addressed by vendors.
Most HD Voice services are currently limited to within the service providers' network, essentially creating "HD Voice Islands". A scalable, multi-lateral all-IP federation based interconnection platform is essential for HD Voice to achieve mass adoption.
To demonstrate how XConnect's next generation, federation interconnection services can support IP based multimedia services, and to promote the benefits of HD Voice, XConnect is inviting service providers to partcipate in a HD Voice Peering trial.
For more information or to apply to join the trial please complete the form.
Service providers considering participating in the HD Voice peering trial must be able to support the following :-
- Number Uploads - Members must upload their subscriber numbers to the XConnect Registry. Number uploads can be performed via .CSV file upload to the web portal, scripted via API, or by sending to XConnect Support.
It's recommended that trial participants load all their numbers into the registry in order to determine what percentage of calls completed between providers were HD end to end. Participants need not distinguish which numbers are HD (G.722) compliant.
- Registry Query - Members must support either ENUM or SIP Redirect query via the Public Internet.
- SIP Trunks - Members must support SIP interconnection, via the Public Internet.
- Codecs Supported - The XC solution is transparent to the VoIP Codecs used, and these are negotiated between end-points following standard SIP operations.
However, the intent of the trial is to demonstrate HD Voice, therefore all Members should support at least G.722 for HD Voice, and G.711 for standard voice. Support for other variant codecs is optional. XConnect will not be supporting transcoding at this time.
- Test Number - Members should provide an automated test number (eg. an IVR system or similar) which will be used by other Members for connectivity testing.
For more information or to apply to join the trial please complete the form.
