VoLTE technology is an innovative development that allows voice transmission over the LTE network. Its use makes it possible to avoid switching the network mode from 4G (LTE) to 3G (UMTS) or 2G (GSM) when making calls. This allows not only to improve the quality of communication, because the throughput in the LTE network is 3 and 6 times higher than in UMTS and GSM, respectively. In addition to the quality of communication, the use of VoLTE technology allows you to maintain the speed of your Internet connection in 4G mode.
We recommend: Review of the family tariff WE MTS plus
What is Volte in a smartphone?
The term VoLTE represents a long-term evolution. We are talking about a new wireless connection. The innovative standard allows you to use the Internet at high speed, watch videos in HD format and simultaneously download large files.
The new network is designed for data transmission and has many advantages:
- High-quality transmission of sound waves. The interlocutor's voice will sound natural and clear. There are no distortions.
- Transfer of information. You can simultaneously receive data and transmit information.
- High connection speed. Support for the new network does not require switching to 3G, which speeds up dialing time.
Tariffing is carried out in the same way as in the case of 3G. The data that is transmitted is not included in Internet traffic accounting. This information should be previously clarified with the operator.
Regions where calls via MTS Connect are available
Actual information. Updated June 4, 2019
- Moscow and Moscow region;
- Abakan and the Republic Khakassia;
- Arkhangelsk and Arkhangelsk region;
- Barnaul and Altai Territory;
- Belgorod and region;
- Blagoveshchensk and Amur region;
- Bryansk and region;
- Vladivostok and Primorsky Krai;
- Vladikavkaz and rep. North Ossetia;
- Voronezh and region;
- Ivanovo and region;
- Kaluga and Kaluga region;
- Kostroma and region;
- Krasnoyarsk and Krasnoyarsk region;
- Kyzyl and rep. Tyva;
- Magadan and region;
- Maykop and republic Adygea;
- Makhachkala and the Republic Dagestan;
- Murmansk and region;
- Naryan-Mar and Nenets Autonomous Okrug;
- Novosibirsk and region;
- Omsk and Omsk region;
- Eagle and region;
- Petrozavodsk and rep. Karelia;
- Stavropol and Stavropol Territory;
- Syktyvkar and the Republic Komi;
- Tver and region;
- Tomsk and region;
- Tula and region;
- Ufa and the Republic Bashkiria;
- Khabarovsk and Khabarovsk Territory;
- Chita and Transbaikal region;
- Yakutsk and rep. Sakha;
- Yaroslavl and Yaroslavl region;
Volte in Russia
The 4G network is developing gradually. To implement the new standard, you need to update the network to improve the quality of signal reception. In order to use the new network, you must:
- modernize the network using the official services of the operator;
- take care of a stable signal, using additional equipment if necessary;
- use modern mobile devices that support the 4G network.
Many manufacturers do not indicate the presence of VoLTE in device functions. This option is not known to everyone, so it is not very popular.
Peculiarities
Customers do not always carefully study the information about the activated services, and then begin to complain due to a misunderstanding of a specific service. Let's consider what nuances of the service you need to know about:
- The service is not available to corporate clients with the M2M Manager option active due to technical limitations.
- For VoLTE to work, the “Mobile Internet” and “Internet calls” options must be activated on the number.
- After activating the service, setting up forwarding can only be done in your personal account on the operator’s website or application.
Currently, the service area is significantly limited. It includes only Moscow and Moscow Region, but the company is working on its expansion. Another limitation is related to the need to support the service on the subscriber device side. It is mainly available to iPhone owners.
Advantages and disadvantages
Volte mts has a lot of advantages:
- You can talk on the phone and use the network connection at the same time;
- charging is carried out at regular rates, which corresponds to the tariff plan;
- using Wi-Fi for conversations - you can make calls even if there is no mobile network.
Calls are redirected to broadband Internet. This approach eliminates the possibility of signal interruption during a conversation.
Wi-Fi router 4G+
An MTS modem and Wi-Fi router are indispensable when traveling.
The device is an improved version of a wireless modem with Wi-Fi support. A router is purchased for use at home or in the office. The advantage of the model is the connection to the mobile Internet while traveling.
Description of the router
The modem is similar in functionality to the PowerBank device. Wireless Internet is implemented on a GSM basis with the creation of an active Wi-Fi distribution point. The only difference between the “4G+ router” kit is the absence of a port for charging third-party devices. Otherwise, the technical characteristics of the models are identical.
The router is presented in the form of a rectangular block. The case is equipped with a screen with which you can monitor network parameters. The modem is capable of distributing the Internet to 16 devices simultaneously, which is why its purchase is recommended for owners of small offices and shops.
Technical specifications
The main parameters of the modem are shown in the table.
| Type | Portable (portable) |
| Dimensions | 86 x 56 x 15 mm |
| Communication standards | GSM/UMS/LTE |
| Internet | GPRS, EDGE, UMTS, LTE |
| Connection speed | Up to 150/300 Mbit/s |
| SIM support | 1 PC. |
| Battery capacity | 3000 mAh |
| Battery life | Up to 10 hours in active mode |
| Communication protocol | 802.11 a/b/g/n |
| Maximum number of devices to connect | 16 |
| Memory slot for SD drives | No |
The modem comes with a power adapter and user manual.
Additional features on the tariff
The delivery set includes a SIM card with the basic tariff “MTS Connect-4”. When connecting the “100 GB per day” or “Internet for 14 days” options, the data transfer speed increases to 300 Mbit/s. An additional bonus for the tariff is free access to MTS TV.
Router cost
The base price of the set is RUB 3,300. The tariff is paid separately.
What to do if Volte MTS does not work?
The service is provided to subscribers free of charge. If there are problems with communication, it becomes necessary to make adjustments. There are several ways to stay online. An icon should appear on the top bar of the screen. If the icon is present, then the service is activated.
To make calls via the Internet, you need to dial the number using the number 8 or enter the full access code. Please note that the service is not available for international travel.
Voice as a threat: VoLTE technology allows you to do bad things to cellular networks
While leading developers of cellular communication solutions still cannot finally agree on what fifth-generation networks should be like, operators continue to implement those technologies that are already available within the framework of fourth-generation network specifications.
One such technology is voice over data, known as Voice over LTE, or VoLTE. What is its essence? Modern cellular networks can be divided into three layers: data layer, voice layer and control layer.
The first is used for what we used to call the mobile Internet, the second for voice calls, and the third, in general terms, for managing what happens at the first and second levels.
It turns out that cellular networks are seriously vulnerable: you can intercept traffic and impersonate another subscriber - https://t.co/VXLbyz0rpf
— Kaspersky Lab (@Kaspersky_ru) February 10, 2015
In traditional cellular networks, the second layer requires dedicated lines. However, one of the main innovations of 4G was the ability to transmit voice in the form of packets at the data level, but with a higher priority - this is called VoLTE. Control layer packets have even higher priority. Essentially, VoLTE is IP telephony (VoIP), only with some features associated with the design of cellular networks.
Switching to VoLTE immediately brings a lot of benefits. Firstly, in the future, the widespread introduction of VoLTE will eliminate the need to support 2G/3G infrastructure, which is currently used for calls. Secondly, VoLTE provides greater bandwidth than 3G networks (and even more so than 2G), which allows you to transmit voice in better quality.
5G cellular networks: how they will work, why they are needed and when they will be available - https://t.co/27iaXMktJE pic.twitter.com/wnkjiuaos9
— Kaspersky Lab (@Kaspersky_ru) May 22, 2015
Thirdly, video calls are possible with VoLTE. Finally, according to operators, VoLTE provides better protection against eavesdropping and faster connections. In general, it’s a very promising technology, everywhere you look there are only advantages. But this is at first glance.
As usual, every promising technology has its own problems, and employees of the University of California, together with colleagues from Shanghai Zhao Tong University and Ohio University, used the example of two large American cellular operators to show how VoLTE can be used by attackers
.
Researchers discover new attacks amid VoLTE rollout https://t.co/WDoE6Aitai pic.twitter.com/WU3tm7tptO
— The Verge (@verge) October 22, 2015
For example, in order to drop the victim’s calls, force him to pay huge sums for transferred data, or, conversely, not pay anything for the data. You don’t need to hack the network for this, no supernatural equipment is required: for some things, just a smartphone is enough, for others you will need to get root rights on it.
The main finding of the researchers is that VoLTE can be deceived and ordinary data packets can be slipped in under the guise of voice or control (signaling) packets. This gives a potential attacker unprecedented freedom. Data at the signal level is not charged - by wrapping regular data packets in such a wrapper, you can not pay a penny for mobile Internet. To check, the researchers, among other things, talked for 10 minutes on Skype - and, from the operator’s point of view, did not use Internet access at all.
VoLTE technology allows you to do bad things to cellular networks #security
Tweet
The signal level has the highest priority, and this opens up interesting possibilities. If you fill the channel with packets pretending to be managers, then there simply won’t be enough bandwidth for the rest. In this way, you can, for example, cut off someone’s access to the Internet or simply “damage” the network by loading it with fake signaling packets.
Finally, attackers can similarly overwhelm the victim with regular data packages, and if he does not have unlimited Internet access, this can cost the subscriber a pretty penny. Moreover, attacks of this kind remain invisible to all kinds of firewalls that try to cut off malicious traffic from the Internet. This also uses internal cellular network traffic, which is not monitored by firewalls.
A spyware virus has been discovered that can penetrate cellular networks and monitor subscribers https://t.co/A3pFy8cIkY
— Evgeny Kaspersky (@e_kaspersky_ru) November 25, 2014
The above was about transferring data packets to the signaling layer, but much the same can be done with the voice layer. For example, researchers were able to jam a voice call over VoLTE: the victim could receive the call, but could not hear anything due to the loss of voice packets in a network overloaded with fake signaling packets.
Researchers have proposed several solutions that at least partially avoid these problems, and both operators that demonstrated the vulnerabilities have already implemented some of these solutions.
The #Regin platform turned out to be the first malware capable of penetrating GSM cellular networks https://t.co/Wl8I05MA9v pic.twitter.com/ljO7hGArqU
— Kaspersky Lab (@Kaspersky_ru) December 2, 2014
However, in many countries, for example in Germany and Russia, VoLTE is just beginning to be deployed, and it is not at all a fact that all operators will patch the corresponding holes in their networks as quickly.
Unfortunately, some vulnerabilities cannot be eliminated without changes directly to the VoLTE standard. Yes, operators can monitor more closely what is happening on their networks and, for example, prevent the transmission of signaling traffic between any devices except the phone and the signaling server, but this is not always enough.
“Cellular operators want power over the user, but do not want to bear the responsibility that always comes with this power” #SAS2013
— Kaspersky Lab (@Kaspersky_ru) February 4, 2013
Finally addressing VoLTE vulnerabilities requires a collaborative effort between device and chipset manufacturers, carriers, and standards bodies.
Therefore, a group of researchers seeks to draw public attention to this problem: the more public it becomes, the more efforts, I want to believe, will be made to solve it.
Here's how hackers can spy on you through cell towers: https://t.co/VnqUcNfy
— Kaspersky Lab (@Kaspersky_ru) December 27, 2012
Users should be more attentive to the security of their devices: in order to carry out the most dangerous attacks described in this article, it is necessary to install a malicious application on the device, which with a high probability can be recognized by an antivirus.
Finally, so far most popular devices and most already operating fourth-generation networks do not support VoLTE at all. Hopefully, by the time VoLTE support becomes more widespread, the security situation will improve.
