UMTS Voice Quality Improvement Solution (RAN17.1 - 01)

WCDMA RAN
UMTS Voice Quality Improvement

Solution
Issue
01
Date
2015-04-20
HUAWEI TECHNOLOGIES CO., LTD.
Copyright Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd. 2015. All rights reserved.

No part of this document may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means without prior written
consent of Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd.
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and other Huawei trademarks are trademarks of Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd.
All other trademarks and trade names mentioned in this document are the property of their respective holders.
Notice
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Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd.

Address:
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Website:
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Email:
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Issue 01 (2015-04-20)
Huawei Proprietary and Confidential

Copyright Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd.
WCDMA RAN
UMTS Voice Quality Improvement Solution
Contents
Contents
1 About This Document..................................................................................................................1
1.1 Scope..............................................................................................................................................................................1
1.2 Intended Audience..........................................................................................................................................................1
1.3 Change History...............................................................................................................................................................1
2 Overview of Solution....................................................................................................................2
2.1 Background.....................................................................................................................................................................2
2.2 Application Scenarios.....................................................................................................................................................2
2.3 Overall Solution..............................................................................................................................................................3
3 Solution Application Guidelines...............................................................................................5

3.1 Scenario 1: Narrowband Voice Services........................................................................................................................5
3.1.1 Sub-scenario 1: Single-Rate AMR-NB.......................................................................................................................5
3.1.1.1 Scenario Description.................................................................................................................................................5
3.1.1.2 Solution Purpose.......................................................................................................................................................6
3.1.1.3 Solution Description.................................................................................................................................................7
3.1.1.4 Implementation.........................................................................................................................................................7
3.1.2 Sub-scenario 2: Multi-Rate AMR-NB.........................................................................................................................8
3.1.2.1 Scenario Description.................................................................................................................................................8
3.1.2.2 Solution Purpose.......................................................................................................................................................9
3.1.2.3 Solution Description.................................................................................................................................................9
3.1.2.4 Implementation.......................................................................................................................................................10
3.2 Scenario 2: HD Voice Services....................................................................................................................................11
3.2.1 Sub-Scenario 1: Common AMR-WB Scenarios (12.65 kbit/s).................................................................................12
3.2.1.1 Scenario Description...............................................................................................................................................12
3.2.1.2 Solution Purpose.....................................................................................................................................................12
3.2.1.3 Solution Description...............................................................................................................................................12
3.2.1.4 Implementation.......................................................................................................................................................13
3.2.2 Sub-Scenario 2: Optimized AMR-WB Scenarios (23.85 kbit/s)...............................................................................14
3.2.2.1 Scenario Description...............................................................................................................................................15
3.2.2.2 Solution Purpose.....................................................................................................................................................15
3.2.2.3 Solution Description...............................................................................................................................................15
3.2.2.4 Implementation.......................................................................................................................................................16
3.3 Scenario 3: Optimal Voice Experience.........................................................................................................................17
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Contents
3.3.1 Scenario Description..................................................................................................................................................17

3.3.2 Solution Purpose........................................................................................................................................................17
3.3.3 Solution Description..................................................................................................................................................18
3.3.4 Implementation..........................................................................................................................................................19
3.4 Scenario 4: Fast Voice Service Establishment.............................................................................................................20
3.4.1 Scenario Description..................................................................................................................................................20
3.4.2 Solution Purpose........................................................................................................................................................20
3.4.4 Implementation..........................................................................................................................................................22
3.5 Scenario 5: Speech Quality Assessment, Test, and Maintenance................................................................................23
3.5.2 Implementation..........................................................................................................................................................24
4 List of Features Involved in Solution......................................................................................26

5 Acronyms and Abbreviations...................................................................................................27
6 Reference Documents.................................................................................................................28
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1 About This Document
About This Document
1.1 Scope
This document describes voice quality improvement solutions for different application scenarios
in UMTS networks.
The purpose of this document is to help customers choose the appropriate feature or feature
combination based on different network deployment scenarios. The technical principles,
deployment, and activation of each feature will not be described in this document and will be
included in the corresponding feature parameter description.
1.2 Intended Audience

This document is intended for personnel who:
l
Need to understand voice quality improvement solutions
Work with Huawei products
1.3 Change History

This section provides information on the changes in different document versions.
RAN17.1 01 (2015-04-20)
Compared with Issue 01 (2014-05-15) of RAN16.0, Issue 01 (2015-04-20) of RAN17.1 includes
the following changes:
l
Added features WRFD-170201 Seamless Crystal Voice and WRFD-171201 Crystal Voice
in Deep Coverage to the scenario of optimal voice experience.
Added feature WRFD-171202 Ultrafast CS Call Setup to the scenario of fast voice service
establishment.
Added solutions to the scenario of narrowband voice services.
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2 Overview of Solution
Overview of Solution
2.1 Background
As the most basic and important services in mobile networks, voice services are undergoing
constant evolution and development. In the MBB era, the UMTS network is the basic bearer
network for voice services, and requirements on user experience become more demanding.
AMR-NB services are conventional narrowband UMTS voice services. As the penetration rate
of AMR-WB-capable terminals increases, AMR-WB services become the trend. Compared with
the AMR-NB technique, AMR-WB significantly improves voice quality.
In addition to AMR-WB services, the voice quality improvement solution improves the mean
opinion score (MOS) of voice services, reduces the access delay, and provides optimal voice
quality for users.
2.2 Application Scenarios

As the basic services of the UMTS network, voice services are widely deployed. The voice
quality improvement solution applies to the following scenarios:
l
Scenario 1: narrowband voice services

AMR-NB services are supported in this scenario. This scenario can be further divided into
single-rate AMR-NB scenarios (12.2 kbit/s) and multi-rate AMR-NB scenarios (such as
4.75 kbit/s and 12.2 kbit/s). In single-rate AMR-NB scenarios, only one data rate is used
to fulfill basic requirements of voice services. In multi-rate AMR-NB scenarios, multiple
data rates are used so that UEs can better adapt to the changing air-interface environment
to achieve optimal performance.
Scenario 2: high-definition (HD) voice services

AMR-WB services are supported in this scenario. This scenario can be further divided into
common AMR-WB scenarios with a maximum data rate of 12.65 kbit/s and optimized
AMR-WB scenarios with a maximum data rate of 23.85 kbit/s. Common AMR-WB
scenarios provide the same maximum data rate as that in 12.2 kbit/s AMR-NB scenarios
but consume the same number of codes, power, and bandwidth. Therefore, enabling
common AMR-WB services ensures easy access to AMR-WB services while produces the
least impact on network performance. Optimized AMR-WB scenarios provide a maximum
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data rate twice that in 12.2 kbit/s AMR-NB scenarios. This scenario consumes more power
resources but provides optimal voice quality. When resources are insufficient, the adaptive
SRB rate function must be enabled to reduce the data rate to 12.65 kbit/s or lower so as to
counteract the impact on the coverage and capacity of voice services.
l
Scenario 3: optimal voice experience

Multiple differentiation enhancement algorithms can be used to improve the voice
experience. In areas with normal coverage, optimized power control can be used to enhance
the power efficiency and reduce the block error rate (BLER), thereby increasing the MOS
of voice services. In areas with weak coverage, functions such as decoding performance
improvement and voice combination enhancement can be used to reduce the BLER and
increase the MOS of voice services.
Scenario 4: fast voice service establishment

Access delay is a key factor affecting user experience of voice services. This solution
reduces the access delay by means such as procedure optimization and signaling bearer
optimization.
Scenario 5: speech quality assessment, test, and maintenance

This solution assesses, tests, and maintains speech quality. It also determines whether
garbled voices occur and, if so, locates these voices.
2.3 Overall Solution

Specific features or feature combinations can be selected to suit various network deployment
scenarios. The following figure shows different feature and function selections in implementing
the voice quality improvement solution.
The AMR-NB technique ensures basic UMTS voice services. If user experience needs to be
further improved, you are advised to enable AMR-WB services and then use the optimal voice
experience solution to improve voice quality for both AMR-WB and AMR-NB services, and
use the fast voice service establishment solution to accelerate the access for both AMR-NB and
AMR-WB services, thereby improving the ultimate experience of voice users. You can also use
the speech quality assessment, test, and maintenance solution to monitor the voice quality of the
entire network.
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Figure 2-1 Overall solution for voice quality improvement
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3 Solution Application Guidelines
Solution Application Guidelines
3.1 Scenario 1: Narrowband Voice Services

Narrowband voice services refer to AMR-NB services. The AMR-NB technique encodes
speeches whose frequencies range from 300 Hz to 3400 Hz. After speech encoding, the
maximum data rate of voice services reaches 12.2 kbit/s and the minimum data rate is 4.75 kbit/
s.
AMR-NB services can be further divided into single-rate AMR-NB (12.2 kbit/s) and multi-rate
AMR-NB (such as 4.75 kbit/s and 12.2 kbit/s) based on the AMR rates assigned by the CN for
RAN.
3.1.1 Sub-scenario 1: Single-Rate AMR-NB

3.1.1.1 Scenario Description
In single-rate AMR-NB scenarios, only one AMR data rate is used, such as rate set 0/2/3/4/5/6/7
in the following table. The recommended rate set is rate set 7 (12.2 kbit/s).
Set
tin
g
Rat
e
Set
0
Rat
e
Set
1
Rat
e
Set
2
Rat
e
Set
3
Rat
e
Set
4
Rat
e
Set
5
Rat
e
Set
6
Rat
e
Set
7
Rat
e
Set
8
Rat
e
Set
9
Rat
e
Set
10
Rat
e
Set
11
Rat
e
Set
12
Rat
e
Set
13
Rat
e
Set
14
Rat
e
Set
15
12.
2
kbit
/s
(1)
10.
2
kbit
/s
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Set
tin
g
Rat
e
Set
0
Rat
e
Set
1
Rat
e
Set
2
Rat
e
Set
3
Rat
e
Set
4
Rat
e
Set
5
Rat
e
Set
6
Rat
e
Set
7
Rat
e
Set
8
Rat
e
Set
9
Rat
e
Set
10
Rat
e
Set
11
Rat
e
Set
12
Rat
e
Set
13
Rat
e
Set
14
Rat
e
Set
15
7.9
5
kbit
/s
7.4
0
kbit
/s
6.7
0
kbit
/s
5.9
0
kbit
/s
5.1
5
kbit
/s
4.7
5
kbit
/s
OM
NOTE
1 indicates that a rate set contains the rate. (1) indicates that the rate is optional in a rate set. - indicates that
a rate set does not contain the rate.
In the OM row, A indicates that the TFO/TrFO mechanism is allowed to automatically optimize and modify
the rate set during TFO/TrFO negotiation. F indicates that the optimization and modification are not
allowed. Usually, F is used.
3.1.1.2 Solution Purpose

Single-rate AMR-NB provides basic narrowband voice services and is easy to deploy.
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3.1.1.3 Solution Description

List of Features Involved in the Solution
The following table lists the features involved in the solution for scenarios of single-rate AMRNB services.
Feature ID
Feature
Name
Introduced in
Reference Document
WRFD-011
600
TFO/TrFO
RAN3.0
AMR Feature Parameter

Description
Description of Features Involved in the Solution

The following table describes the feature involved in the solution for scenarios of single-rate
AMR-NB services.
Feature ID
Feature Name
Feature Description
WRFD-011600
TFO/TrFO
This feature helps reduce the signal loss

during speech coding/decoding and
therefore improves the MOS of AMR
services.
3.1.1.4 Implementation
The single-rate AMR-NB solution provides common narrowband voice services without
requiring any feature enhancements. If the voice quality of single-rate AMR-NB services needs
to be further improved, you are advised to enable the TFO/TrFO feature on both the CN and
RAN sides. The following table describes requirements on solution implementation.
Scenario
CN
RAN
UE
Remarks
To ensure
basic
performance
Configure rate set 7.
None
To reduce the
number of
encoding/
decoding to
improve the
voice quality
Configure rate set 7

and enable the TFO/
TrFO feature.
Enable the
TFO/TrFO
feature.
The TFO/TrFO
feature is
recommended for
improving the MOS
of voice services.
The following is an example of solution implementation.

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1.
It is recommended that the CN configure rate set 7 (12.2 kbit/s) for all the RNCs on the
network.
2.
If the voice quality needs to be further improved, you are advised to enable the TFO/TrFO
feature for both the CN and RAN.
NOTE
l If the CN configures different rate sets for different RNCs, call drops may occur during interRNC relocations after the TFO/TrFO feature is enabled.
l You are advised to enable the TFO/TrFO feature first for the RNC and then for the CN. Otherwise,
calls may fail to be set up.
Deployment and activation of each feature will not be described in this document and will be
3.1.2 Sub-scenario 2: Multi-Rate AMR-NB

In multi-rate AMR-NB scenarios, multiple data rates are used, such as rate set
1/8/9/10/11/12/13/14/15 in the following table. The recommended rate set is rate set 1 (including
12.2 kbit/s, 7.4 kbit/s, 5.9 kbit/s, and 4.75 kbit/s).
Set
tin
g
Rat
e
Set
0
Rat
e
Set
1
Rat
e
Set
2
Rat
e
Set
3
Rat
e
Set
4
Rat
e
Set
5
Rat
e
Set
6
Rat
e
Set
7
Rat
e
Set
8
Rat
e
Set
9
Rat
e
Set
10
Rat
e
Set
11
Rat
e
Set
12
Rat
e
Set
13
Rat
e
Set
14
Rat
e
Set
15
12.
2
kbit
/s
(1)
10.
2
kbit
/s
7.9
5
kbit
/s
7.4
0
kbit
/s
6.7
0
kbit
/s
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Set
tin
g
Rat
e
Set
0
Rat
e
Set
1
Rat
e
Set
2
Rat
e
Set
3
Rat
e
Set
4
Rat
e
Set
5
Rat
e
Set
6
Rat
e
Set
7
Rat
e
Set
8
Rat
e
Set
9
Rat
e
Set
10
Rat
e
Set
11
Rat
e
Set
12
Rat
e
Set
13
Rat
e
Set
14
Rat
e
Set
15
5.9
0
kbit
/s
5.1
5
kbit
/s
4.7
5
kbit
/s
OM
NOTE
1 indicates that a rate set contains the rate. (1) indicates that the rate is optional in a rate set. - indicates that
a rate set does not contain the rate.

The multi-rate AMR-NB solution provides narrowband voice services with optimal
performance. Compared with the single-rate AMR-NB solution, multi-rate AMR-NB enables
UEs to adapt to the complicated radio environment by using a lower data rate, thereby improving
the coverage and performance of voice services.

The following table lists the features involved in the solution for scenarios of multi-rate AMRNB services.
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Feature ID
Feature
Name
Introduced in
Reference Document
WRFD-0116
00
TFO/TrFO
RAN3.0

Description

WCDMA RAN
Feature ID
Feature
Name
Introduced in
Reference Document
WRFD-0207
01
AMR/WBAMR Speech
Rates Control
RAN2.0

Description

The following table describes the features involved in the solution for scenarios of multi-rate
AMR-NB services.
Feature ID
Feature Name
Feature Description
WRFD-011600
TFO/TrFO

therefore improves the MOS of AMR
services.
WRFD-020701
AMR/WB-AMR Speech
Rates Control
This feature gradually adjusts the rate of

AMR-WB services. In areas with weak
coverage, decreasing the data rate improves
the MOS of voice services and reduces the
call drop rate. In scenarios where resources
are insufficient, rate adjustment and
reconfiguration help relieve the congestion
and provide better voice services.
The multi-rate AMR-NB solution provides common narrowband voice services without
requiring any feature enhancements. You are only required to configure the recommended rate
set on the CN side. To improve the voice quality of multi-rate AMR-NB services, you are advised
to enable the TFO/TrFO feature on both the CN and RAN sides. To improve the coverage and
capacity of multi-rate AMR-NB services, you are advised to enable the AMR/AMR-WB Speech
Rates Control feature on the RAN side. The following table describes requirements on solution
implementation.
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Scenario
CN
RAN
UE
Remarks
To ensure
basic
performance
Configure rate
set 1.
Rate set 1 must be configured on

the CN side. If the AMR/AMRWB Speech Rates Control feature
is not enabled on the RAN side, the
actual data rate is only 12.2 kbit/s,
which is the same as that in singlerate AMR-NB scenarios.

10
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Scenario
CN
RAN
UE
Remarks
To reduce
the number
of encoding/
decoding to
improve the
voice quality
Configure rate
set 1 and enable
the TFO/TrFO
feature.
Enable the
TFO/TrFO
feature.
The TFO/TrFO feature is

recommended for improving the
MOS of voice services.
To use a
lower data
rate to
improve the
coverage
and capacity
for voice
services
Configure rate
set 1.
Enable the
AMR/WBAMR
Speech
Rates
Control
feature.
Low-rate voice services consume

less power and code resources,
thereby improving coverage and
capacity for voice services.

1.
It is recommended that the CN configure rate set 1 (including 12.2 kbit/s, 7.4 kbit/s, 5.9
kbit/s, and 4.75 kbit/s) for all the RNCs on the network.
NOTE
If the CN configures different rate sets for different RNCs, call drops may occur during inter-RNC
relocations after the TFO/TrFO feature is enabled.
2.
If the voice quality needs to be further improved, you are advised to enable the TFO/TrFO
feature.
NOTE
l Enable the TFO/TrFO feature first for the RNC and then for the CN. Otherwise, calls may fail
to be set up.
l It is recommended that the CN configure different AMR multi-rates for the GSM and UMTS
networks. Otherwise, one-way audio may occur in GSM networks if a TFO/TrFO call is initiated
between the two networks. The reason is as follows: After a channel switch from full-rate to halfrate is performed in the GSM network, services can no longer be carried over high-rate channels.
In this case, the GSM network initiates a rate adjustment request to the UMTS network. If the
UE in the UMTS network is undergoing a non-stable procedure such as a handover, the UE cannot
respond to the rate adjustment request and as a result, the RNC returns a rate adjustment failure
to the BSC, leading to possible one-way audio in the GSM network. In the GSM network, only
AMR-NB services are carried over half-rate channels and one-way audio occurs only to AMRNB services.
3.
If you need to further improve the coverage and capacity for voice services, enable the
AMR/AMR-WB Speech Rates Control feature on the RAN side.
3.2 Scenario 2: HD Voice Services

HD voice services refer to AMR-WB services. The AMR-WB technique expands the usable
frequency band from 300-3400 Hz (supported by AMR-NB) to 50-7000 Hz. The added low
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band of 50-300 Hz makes voices sound more natural and comfortable to listen to while the added
high band of 3400-7000 Hz makes voices clearer. Compared with AMR-NB, AMR-WB
significantly increases the voice quality and makes it easier to recognize the caller.
HD voice services can be further divided into common AMR-WB (12.65 kbit/s) and optimized
AMR-WB (23.85 kbit/s) based on the AMR rates configured by the CN for RAN.
3.2.1 Sub-Scenario 1: Common AMR-WB Scenarios (12.65 kbit/s)

In common AMR-WB scenarios, the CN supports AMR-WB services and the maximum rate of
AMR-WB services is 12.65 kbit/s. The recommended rate set is 0 (including 12.65 kbit/s, 8.85
kbit/s, and 6.6 kbit/s).
Setting
Rate Set 0
Rate Set 1
Rate Set 2
Rate Set 3
Rate Set 4
Rate Set 5
23.85 kbit/
s
15.85 kbit/
s
12.65 kbit/
s
8.85 kbit/s
6.6 kbit/s
OM
NOTE
1 indicates that a rate set contains the rate. - indicates that a rate set does not contain the rate.

The solution for common AMR-NB (12.2 kbit/s) increases the MOS without compromising cell
coverage or capacity.

The following table lists the features involved in the solution for scenarios of 12.65 kbit/s AMRWB services.
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Feature ID
Feature
Name
Introduced in
Reference Document
WRFD-0106
13
AMR-WB
(Adaptive
Multi Rate
Wide Band)
RAN6.0

Description
WRFD-0116
00
TFO/TrFO
RAN3.0

Description
WRFD-0207
01
AMR/WBAMR Speech
Rates Control
RAN2.0

Description

The following table describes the features involved in the solution for scenarios of 12.65 kbit/s
AMR-WB services.
Feature ID
Feature Name
Feature Description
WRFD-010613
AMR-WB (Adaptive
Multi Rate Wide Band)
This feature provides AMR-WB services.
WRFD-011600
TFO/TrFO

therefore improves the MOS of AMR-WB
services.
WRFD-020701
AMR/WB-AMR Speech
Rates Control

When 12.65 kbit/s AMR-WB services are activated, the TFO/TrFO feature must be enabled for
both the CN and RAN to achieve end-to-end HD voices. Before a call is set up, the TFO/TrFO
feature negotiates the encoding/decoding codes for the calling party and called party. AMR-WB
services can be set up only when both the two parties support AMR-WB services. Otherwise,
the two parties cannot enjoy HD voices. To implement rate adjustment among multiple AMRWB services, you are advised to enable the AMR/AMR-WB Speech Rates Control feature. The
following table describes requirements on solution implementation.
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Scenario
CN
RAN
UE
Remarks
To ensure
basic
performance
Configure rate
set 0 and enable
the AMR-WB
and TFO/TrFO
features.
Enable the
AMR-WB
and TFO/
TrFO
features.
l The CN configures rate set 0

and the TFO/TrFO feature
must be enabled for both the
CN and RAN.
Configure rate
set 0 and enable
the AMR-WB
and TFO/TrFO
features.
Enable the
AMR-WB,
TFO/TrFO,
and AMR/
AMR-WB
Speech
Rates
Control
features.
To use a
lower data
rate to
improve the
coverage
and capacity
for voice
services
l If the AMR/AMR-WB Speech

Rates Control feature is not
enabled on the RAN side, the
actual data rate can only reach
12.65 kbit/s.
Low-rate voice services consume
less power and code resources,
thereby improving coverage and
capacity for voice services.

1.
If the AMR-WB feature is enabled for both the CN and RAN, it is recommended that the
CN configure rate set 0 (including 12.65 kbit/s, 8.85 kbit/s, and 6.6 kbit/s) for all the RNCs
on the network.
NOTE
l You are advised to enable the AMR-WB feature first for the RNC and then for the CN. Otherwise,
2.
To enjoy true HD voices during AMR-WB calls, it is recommended that the TFO/TrFO
feature be enabled for both the CN and RAN.
NOTE
You are advised to enable the TFO/TrFO feature first for the RNC and then for the CN. Otherwise,
3.
If you need to further improve the coverage and capacity for voice services, enable the
AMR/AMR-WB Speech Rates Control feature on the RAN side.
3.2.2 Sub-Scenario 2: Optimized AMR-WB Scenarios (23.85 kbit/s)
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In optimized AMR-WB scenarios, the CN supports AMR-WB services and the maximum rate
of AMR-WB services is 23.85 kbit/s. The recommended rate set is 4 (including 23.85 kbit/s,
12.65 kbit/s, 8.85 kbit/s, and 6.6 kbit/s).
Setting
Rate Set 0
Rate Set 1
Rate Set 2
Rate Set 3
Rate Set 4
Rate Set 5
23.85 kbit/
s
15.85 kbit/
s
12.65 kbit/
s
8.85 kbit/s
6.6 kbit/s
OM
NOTE
1 indicates that a rate set contains the rate. - indicates that a rate set does not contain the rate.

Compared with the cell coverage and capacity for 12.2 kbit/s AMR-NB services, the cell
coverage and capacity for 23.85 kbit/s AMR-WB services are much smaller because 23.85 kbit/
s AMR-WB services consume more code and power resources. With AMRC, the cell coverage
is enlarged and congestion is relieved when the uplink coverage is limited, or the downlink code
or power resources are insufficient. With TFO/TrFO, the optimum voice quality is ensured.
Therefore, with the solution for optimized AMR-WB scenarios, the voice quality of 23.85 kbit/
s AMR-WB services is improved, and the cell coverage and capacity for 23.85 kbit/s AMR-WB
services are increased to the same level as those for 12.2 kbit/s AMR-NB services.

The following table lists the features involved in the solution for scenarios of 23.85 kbit/s AMRWB services.
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Feature ID
Feature
Name
Introduced in
Reference Document
WRFD-0106
13
AMR-WB
(Adaptive
Multi Rate
Wide Band)
RAN6.0

Description
WRFD-0116
00
TFO/TrFO
RAN3.0

Description
WRFD-0207
01
AMR/WBAMR Speech
Rates Control
RAN2.0

Description

The following table describes the features involved in the solution for scenarios of 23.85 kbit/s
AMR-WB services.
Feature ID
Feature Name
Feature Description
WRFD-010613
AMR-WB (Adaptive
This feature provides AMR-WB services.
WRFD-011600
TFO/TrFO

therefore improves the MOS of AMR-WB
services.
WRFD-020701
AMR/WB-AMR Speech
Rates Control

When 23.85 kbit/s AMR-WB services are enabled, the TFO/TrFO feature must be enabled for
both the CN and RAN to achieve end-to-end HD voices. Before a call is set up, the TFO/TrFO
feature negotiates the encoding/decoding codes for the calling party and called party. AMR-WB
services can be set up only when both the two parties support AMR-WB services. Otherwise,
the two parties cannot enjoy HD voices. Compared with 12.2 kbit/s AMR-NB, 23.85 kbit/s
AMR-WB consumes more power resources and code resources, which undermine the coverage
and capacity of voice services. Therefore, the AMR/AMR-WB Speech Rates Control feature
must be enabled on the RAN side. This feature prevents voice service capacity and coverage
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from degrading when rate adjustment is performed in the case of insufficient resources. The
following table describes requirements on solution implementation.
Scenario
CN
RAN
UE
Remarks
To ensure
basic
performance
Configure rate
set 0 and enable
the AMR-WB
and TFO/TrFO
features.
Enable the
AMR-WB,
TFO/TrFO,
and AMR/
AMR-WB
Speech
Rates
Control
features.
l The CN configures rate set 0

and the TFO/TrFO feature
must be enabled for both the
CN and RAN.
l To prevent voice service
coverage and capacity from
degrading, the AMR/AMRWB Speech Rates Control
feature must be enabled on the
RAN side.

1.
If the AMR-WB feature is enabled for both the CN and RAN, it is recommended that the
CN configure rate set 4 (including data rates of 23.85 kbit/s, 12.65 kbit/s, 8.85 kbit/s, and
6.6 kbit/s) for all the RNCs on the network.
NOTE
l You are advised to enable the AMR-WB feature first for the RNC and then for the CN. Otherwise,
2.
To enjoy true HD voices during AMR-WB calls, it is recommended that the TFO/TrFO
feature be enabled for both the CN and RAN.
NOTE
You are advised to enable the TFO/TrFO feature first for the RNC and then for the CN. Otherwise,
3.
To prevent the impact of 23.85 kbit/s AMR-WB services on coverage and capacity, the
AMR/AMR-WB Speech Rates Control feature must be enabled on the RAN side.
3.3 Scenario 3: Optimal Voice Experience

3.3.1 Scenario Description
This solution improves the MOS of AMR-NB or AMR-WB services.
3.3.2 Solution Purpose

The average block error rate (BLER) is about 1% in the UMTS network. In some weak coverage
areas, the BLER may be higher than 5%, which leads to a low MOS (less than 3) and severely
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degrades the user experience. This solution aims to reduce the BLER over the Uu interface for
voice services by improving the performance of voice channels and eventually improve the
MOS.
3.3.3 Solution Description

This solution improves speech decoding performance, which therefore reduces the BLER in the
uplink without increasing the UE transmit power.

The following table lists the features involved in the optimal voice experience solution.
Feature ID
Feature
Name
Introduced in
Reference Document
WRFD-1402
01
AMR Voice
Quality
Improvement
Based on
PLVA
RAN14.0
AMR Voice Quality Improvement

Based on PLVA Feature
Parameter Description
WRFD-1602
04
CS Voice
Precise
Power
Control
RAN16.0
CS Voice Precise Power Control

Feature Parameter Description
WRFD-1702
01
Seamless
Crystal Voice
RAN17.1
Seamless Crystal Voice Feature

WRFD-1712
01
Crystal Voice
in Deep
Coverage
RAN17.1
Crystal Voice in Deep Coverage


The following table describes the features involved in the optimal voice experience solution.
Issue 01 (2015-04-20)
Feature ID
Feature Name
Feature Description
WRFD-140201
AMR Voice Quality

Improvement Based on
PLVA
This feature helps improve the decoding

performance of voice frames in the uplink
and reduces the BLER for voice frames in
the uplink. There are many bit errors in
voice frames in weak coverage areas and
this feature can correct these bit errors.

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WCDMA RAN
Feature ID
Feature Name
Feature Description
WRFD-160204
CS Voice Precise Power

Control
This feature adjusts and controls the uplink

transmit power of UEs according to changes
of the channel environment and quality of
received signals, thereby reducing the
BLER for voice frames in the uplink.
WRFD-170201
Seamless Crystal Voice
With this feature, a channel decoder is

deployed on the RNC. When a CS AMR
voice service experiences a soft handover, a
softer combination is performed on multiple
soft handover tributaries, which improves
the voice quality in the soft handover area.
WRFD-171201
Crystal Voice in Deep

Coverage
This feature deploys a high-order channel

decoding algorithm (with the number of
decoding reaching 64 times) to perform
high-order channel decoding again on voice
frames that experienced a low-order channel
decoding failure. This reduces the BLER
and improves the voice quality in deep
coverage scenarios.
3.3.4 Implementation
The optimal voice experience solution does not require the support from the CN or UE. The
features and functions involved in this solution are independent of each other. These features
and functions have different dependencies on the NodeB or RNC hardware. For details, see the
corresponding feature parameter description document. If allowed by hardware, it is
recommended that these features and functions be enabled at the same time to improve the MOS
of voice services. The following table describes requirements on solution implementation.
Scenarios
CN
RAN
UE
Remarks
To increase
the MOS in
the cell
center
The following features must

be enabled:
This feature reduces

the BLER of uplink
voice frames when
UEs in the cell center
have the same
transmit power.
l AMR Voice Quality

PLVA
l CS Voice Precise Power
Control
l Crystal Voice in Deep
Coverage
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Scenarios
CN
RAN
UE
Remarks
To increase
the MOS at
the cell edge
The following features must

be enabled:
UE transmit power
reaches the maximum
at the cell edge, which
paralyzes the power
control function.
Therefore, the CS
Voice Precise Power
Control feature
cannot increase the
MOS at the cell edge
as expected. The
Seamless Crystal
Voice feature
increases the MOS in
the soft handover
area.
l AMR Voice Quality

PLVA
l Seamless Crystal Voice
l Crystal Voice in Deep
Coverage
3.4 Scenario 4: Fast Voice Service Establishment

3.4.1 Scenario Description
When a UE in the UMTS network initiates a voice service, this solution reduces the end-to-end
access delay. That is, the calling party hears the ring earlier.
3.4.2 Solution Purpose

This solution reduces the service access delay using the following functions during service
establishment: fast radio bearer (RB) setup, adaptive SRB rate, and parallel procedure
processing.

This solution reduces the end-to-end access delay using functions or features unique to Huawei.
It implements fast voice service establishment without sacrificing the service setup success rate.
l
Procedure optimization: Asynchronous reconfiguration is used during RB setups. This

function shortens the RB setup duration and reduces the access delay for voice services.
Signaling bearer: After the function of adaptive SRB rate is enabled, during the access
procedure, signaling rates of UEs in well-covered areas are improved when signaling is
carried over dedicated channels. Signaling rates of UEs are adaptively adjusted based on
the signal quality in places where UEs are located. In this way, user experience in wellcovered areas is improved without sacrificing the service setup success rate.
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WCDMA RAN
Parallel procedure processing: This function implements parallel processing of the Iu and
Uu paging procedures, parallel processing of the Iu setup and Uu security mode procedures,
and parallel processing of the ringing and RAB setup procedures. This reduces the waiting
time of each process and achieves the ultrafast access of voice services.
It is recommended that the preceding functions or features be enabled to ensure better user
experience.

The following table lists the features and functions involved in this solution.
Feature ID
Feature Name
Introduced in
Reference Document
WRFD-1601
06
Fast Radio Bearer

Setup
RAN16.0
Fast Radio Bearer Setup Feature

N/A
Adaptive SRB
rate
RAN16.0
Radio Bears Feature Parameter

Description
WRFD-1712
02
Ultrafast CS Call
Setup
RAN17.1
Ultrafast CS Call Setup Feature


The following table describes the features and functions involved in the solution for scenarios
of fast voice service establishment.
Issue 01 (2015-04-20)
Feature ID
Feature Name
Feature Description
WRFD-160106
Fast Radio Bearer Setup
With this feature, asynchronous

reconfiguration is used during RB setups.
This shortens the RB setup duration and
reduces the access delay for voice services.
NA
Adaptive SRB rate
With this function, signaling rates of UEs

are adaptively adjusted based on the signal
quality in places where UEs are located. In
this way, user experience in well-covered
areas is improved without sacrificing the
service setup success rate.
WRFD-171202
Ultrafast CS Call Setup
This feature optimizes the AMR voice

service access procedure. That is, it changes
serial processing to parallel processing,
which reduces the waiting time of each
process and accelerates the access
especially for a call involving two UMTS
UEs.

21
WCDMA RAN
The features and functions involved in this solution are independent of each other. It is
recommended that all these features and functions be enabled at the same time to reduce the
access delay for voice services.
The WRFD-160106 Fast Radio Bearer Setup feature requires support from UEs. If some UEs
do not support this feature, add these UEs to the blacklist. For details about this feature, see Fast
Radio Bearer Setup Feature Parameter Description. Before enabling the WRFD-171202
Ultrafast CS Call Setup feature, you are advised to enable the TFO/TrFO function for intraUMTS calls on the CN side and enable the WRFD-011600 TFO/TrFO feature on the RNC side
to ensure the gains provided by parallel processing of paging procedures. The following table
describes requirements on solution implementation.
Issue 01 (2015-04-20)
Scenario
CN
RAN
UE
Remarks
To accelerate the
access for UMTS
users acting as the
calling or called
party (the called
party is a UMTS
user)
Enable
the
TFO/
TrFO
feature.
The following features

must be enabled:
For a call involving two

UMTS users, the gains
provided by the
feature include those
provided by the Fast
Radio Bearer Setup
feature. In this case, it is
recommended that the
Fast Radio Bearer
Setup feature be
disabled.
To accelerate the
access for UMTS
users acting as the
calling party (the
called party is a
user belonging to
another operator)
No
requirem
ents (add
UEs with
compatib
ility
issues to
the
blacklist)
It is recommended that
all these features or
functions be enabled.
l TFO/TrFO
l Adaptive SRB rate
l Ultrafast CS Call
Setup

must be enabled:
l Fast Radio Bearer
Setup
l Adaptive SRB rate
l Ultrafast CS Call
Setup

22
WCDMA RAN
Scenario
CN
RAN
UE
Remarks
To accelerate the
access for UMTS
users acting as the
called party (the
calling party is a
user belonging to
another operator)

must be enabled:
For a call initiated by a

user belonging to
another operator to a
UMTS user, the gains
provided by the
feature include those
provided by the Fast
Radio Bearer Setup
feature. In this case, it is
recommended that the
Fast Radio Bearer
Setup feature be
disabled.
l Adaptive SRB rate

l Ultrafast CS Call
Setup

1.
It is recommended that the TFO/TrFO function be enabled for intra-UMTS calls on both
the CN and RNC sides.
NOTE
If this function is not enabled, the gains provided by parallel processing of paging procedures cannot
be ensured and the optimal access performance cannot be fulfilled.
2.
Enable the feature and function involved in the fast voice service setup solution one by one.
The features and functions involved in this solution are independent of each other and can
be enabled at the same time. Deployment and activation of each feature will not be described
in this document and will be included in the corresponding feature parameter description.
3.
If some UEs do not support the Fast Radio Bearer Setup feature, add these UEs to the
blacklist.
3.5 Scenario 5: Speech Quality Assessment, Test, and

Maintenance
This solution uses the EVQI to assess the speech quality of voice services. It also uses the Garbled
Noise Detection and Correction of AMR Voice feature to detect and correct garbled voices
caused by inconsistent settings for encryption parameters.

The following table lists the features and functions involved in this solution.
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WCDMA RAN
Feature ID
Feature Name
Introduced in
Reference Document
WRFD-160102
Garbled Noise
Detection and
Correction of
AMR Voice
RAN16.0
Garbled Noise Detection and

Correction of AMR Voice
N/A
EVQI
RAN16.0

Description

The following table describes the features and functions involved in this solution.
Feature ID
Feature Name
Feature Description
WRFD-160102
Garbled Noise
Detection and
Correction of AMR
Voice
For AMR-WB and AMR-NB services,

inconsistent settings for encryption
parameters cause garbled voices, greatly
affecting user experience. With this
feature, the RNC can detect and correct
garbled voices in the uplink or downlink.
N/A
EVQI
The MOS is used to evaluate the voice

quality on the entire network. The EVQI
is used to evaluate voice quality over the
air interface and suitable for routine voice
quality monitoring.
The features and functions involved in this solution are independent of each other. It is
recommended that these features and functions be enabled at the same time. The following table
describes requirements on solution implementation.
Issue 01 (2015-04-20)
Scenarios
CN
RAN
UE
Remarks
To evaluate
the MOS of
voice quality
on the entire
network (for
the air
interface
only)
Enable the EVQI

function.
Downlink BLER is
required for downlink
EVQI evaluation.
Therefore, the UE
must send the
measurement report.

24
WCDMA RAN
Scenarios
CN
RAN
UE
Remarks
Garbled
Noise
Detection
and
Correction of
AMR Voice
Garbled Noise
Detection and
Correction of AMR
Voice
None
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WCDMA RAN
4 List of Features Involved in Solution
List of Features Involved in Solution
Feature ID
Feature Name
Introduced
in
Reference Document
WRFD-010613
AMR-WB (Adaptive
RAN6.0
AMR Feature Parameter Description
WRFD-011600
TFO/TrFO
RAN3.0
WRFD-020701
AMR/WB-AMR Speech
Rates Control
RAN2.0
WRFD-140201
AMR Voice Quality

PLVA
RAN14.0
AMR Voice Quality Improvement Based on

PLVA Feature Parameter Description
WRFD-160204
CS Voice Precise Power

Control
RAN16.0
CS Voice Precise Power Control Feature

WRFD-160106
Fast Radio Bearer Setup
RAN16.0
Fast Radio Bearer Setup Feature Parameter

Description
NA
Adaptive SRB rate
RAN16.0
Radio Bears Feature Parameter Description
WRFD-160102
Garbled Noise Detection

and Correction of AMR
Voice
RAN16.0
Garbled Noise Detection and Correction of

AMR Voice Feature Parameter Description
WRFD-170201
Seamless Crystal Voice
RAN17.1
Seamless Crystal Voice Feature Parameter

Description
WRFD-171201
Crystal Voice in Deep

Coverage
RAN17.1
Crystal Voice in Deep Coverage Feature

WRFD-171202
RAN17.1
Ultrafast CS Call Setup Feature Parameter

Description
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WCDMA RAN
Issue 01 (2015-04-20)
5 Acronyms and Abbreviations
Acronyms and Abbreviations
Acronym and
Abbreviation
Full Name
HD
High Definition
AMR-WB
Adaptive Multirate Wide Band
AMR-NB
Adaptive Multirate Narrow Band
MOS
Mean Opinion Score
PLVA
Parallel List Viterbi Algorithm
CN
Core Network
TFO/TrFO
Tandem Free Operation/Transcoder Free Operation
AMRC
AMR Rate Control
LDR
Load Reshuffling
BLER
Block Error Rate
RSCP
Received Signal Code Power
UE
User Equipment
UMTS
Universal Mobile Telecommunications System

27
WCDMA RAN
6 Reference Documents
Reference Documents
1.
2.
AMR Voice Quality Improvement Based on PLVA Feature Parameter Description
3.
CS Voice Precise Power Control Feature Parameter Description
4.
Fast Radio Bearer Setup Feature Parameter Description
5.
Procedure Optimization Feature Parameter Description
6.
Radio Bears Feature Parameter Description
7.
Garbled Noise Detection and Correction of AMR Voice Feature Parameter Description
8.
Seamless Crystal Voice Feature Parameter Description
9.
Crystal Voice in Deep Coverage Feature Parameter Description
10. Ultrafast CS Call Setup Feature Parameter Description
Issue 01 (2015-04-20)

28

UMTS Voice Quality Improvement Solution (RAN17.1 - 01)

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WCDMA RAN

UMTS Voice Quality Improvement

HUAWEI TECHNOLOGIES CO., LTD.

Copyright Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd. 2015. All rights reserved.

Trademarks and Permissions

Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd.

Huawei Industrial Base

Huawei Proprietary and Confidential

3 Solution Application Guidelines...............................................................................................5

Huawei Proprietary and Confidential

3.3.1 Scenario Description..................................................................................................................................................17

4 List of Features Involved in Solution......................................................................................26

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1 About This Document

About This Document

1.2 Intended Audience

Need to understand voice quality improvement solutions

Work with Huawei products

1.3 Change History

Added solutions to the scenario of narrowband voice services.

Huawei Proprietary and Confidential

2.2 Application Scenarios

Scenario 1: narrowband voice services

Scenario 2: high-definition (HD) voice services

Huawei Proprietary and Confidential

Scenario 3: optimal voice experience

Scenario 4: fast voice service establishment

Scenario 5: speech quality assessment, test, and maintenance

2.3 Overall Solution

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Figure 2-1 Overall solution for voice quality improvement

Huawei Proprietary and Confidential

3 Solution Application Guidelines

Solution Application Guidelines

3.1 Scenario 1: Narrowband Voice Services

3.1.1 Sub-scenario 1: Single-Rate AMR-NB

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3 Solution Application Guidelines

3.1.1.2 Solution Purpose

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3 Solution Application Guidelines

3.1.1.3 Solution Description

AMR Feature Parameter

Description of Features Involved in the Solution

This feature helps reduce the signal loss

Configure rate set 7.

Configure rate set 7

The following is an example of solution implementation.

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3 Solution Application Guidelines

3.1.2 Sub-scenario 2: Multi-Rate AMR-NB

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3 Solution Application Guidelines

3.1.2.2 Solution Purpose

3.1.2.3 Solution Description

AMR Feature Parameter

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3 Solution Application Guidelines

AMR Feature Parameter

Description of Features Involved in the Solution

This feature helps reduce the signal loss

This feature gradually adjusts the rate of

Rate set 1 must be configured on