WTL says VoLTE will improve voice traffic growth

Despite the increasing takeover of calling and Short Message Service by over-the-top players, or apps, such as WhatsApp and Skype eating deep into voice revenue of telecommunications companies in Nigeria by as much as 50 %, World Telecoms Lab (WTL), believes voice over LTE (VoLTE) provides opportunity for growth.

Despite ongoing and surging data growth, voice will remain vital, particularly as VoLTE drives further voice traffic growth, said WTL, implying improved revenue generation on voice by operators.

“It’s essential that we remember this fact, even while pursuing new service innovation. In fact, we’ve seen the impact of this in regions where we have provided new coverage – voice traffic grows long before data consumption starts to soar.

“We expect that the success of Vivada at Amotel will unlock similar partnerships, bringing connectivity to more people who need it than ever before”.

According to its 2017 forecast, WTL said, at the same time, its LTE investments will help incumbent mobile network operators break out from their focus on metro areas and extend coverage.

WTL has continued its research which promises to provide yet more data to help unlock investments and overcome obstacles to connecting the unconnected.