VoNR Uncovered: Testing the Future of Voice on 5G (VoNR)
- Susie S
- 7 hours ago
- 7 min read
A deep dive into the status, advantages, and challenges of VoNR — and how 5G voice performs in real-world tests.
5G has largely been adopted as a “data network” — the early 5G deployment modes were Non-Standalone (NSA), which piggyback on 4G LTE infrastructure for control plane and fall back to LTE (or earlier) for voice calls. But as operators roll out 5G Standalone (SA) cores and more complete 5G networks, the next frontier is VoNR — Voice over New Radio — i.e. native voice calls over 5G without relying on legacy networks.
What is VoNR (Voice over New Radio)?
VoNR (sometimes called “5G Calling,” “Voice over 5G Standalone,” or simply Vo5G) refers to the capability to carry voice (and SMS/other communication services) entirely over a 5G network (i.e. 5G RAN + 5G core + IMS) without having to fall back to 4G/3G for voice.
In the 3GPP and GSMA frameworks, VoNR is a natural evolution from VoLTE: the voice is delivered over an IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS) but using 5G radio.
In practice, for VoNR to work, several prerequisites must be in place:
5G Standalone (SA) deployment (i.e., decoupled from LTE)
Radio coverage and capacity across frequency bands, especially in lower bands for broad coverage.
Devices (smartphones, modules) with firmware and hardware support for VoNR
Operator network support on IMS, radio, signaling, fallback mechanisms, etc.
Because many existing 5G deployments are still NSA or mix 4G/5G, full VoNR readiness is a multi-phase transition.
Current Status & Deployment (Mid-2025)
Here’s a snapshot of where VoNR stands today:
Global progress
According to GSA’s “Global Progress to Voice over New Radio” report (October 2021), of many operators globally:
Some are evaluating or trialing VoNR
A smaller number are planning deployment
Only a few have soft-launched or deployed VoNR in a limited capacity
Many operators are still relying on intermediate fallback solutions such as EPS Fallback (EPS-FB) or hybrid mode, until coverage and maturity of 5G SA is adequate.
Some regions with more advanced 5G SA deployment (e.g. parts of China, USA, and Singapore) have begun rolling out VoNR or testing it in live networks.
UK / Europe
In the UK, operators such as EE have already made public moves toward enabling VoNR / “5G Calling.” EE, for example, has set up a “5G+” branded network and provides instructions for enabling VoNR (5G Calling) on compatible devices. EE reportedly enabled “VoNR or 5G Calling” as of 6 June 2025 for devices that meet certain criteria (SIM, handset, plan) in areas with 5G+ coverage. However, coverage is still limited and selective; not all geographic areas or devices are yet supported, but an initial list can be found here.
In Europe more broadly, some operators in Germany, for instance, Vodafone, have activated VoNR in certain cities.
United States
In the United States, T-Mobile US was the first carrier to launch commercial Voice over New Radio (VoNR) services back in June 2022, marking a significant milestone in 5G evolution. Since then, T-Mobile has expanded VoNR availability across multiple cities — including New York, Seattle, Cincinnati, and New Orleans — while continuing to strengthen its 5G Standalone (SA) core capabilities. DISH Wireless (Boost) has positioned itself as a VoNR leader, claiming coverage of more than 200 million POPs with native 5G voice supported across its nationwide network.
AT&T followed by announcing nationwide 5G SA in October 2025, progressively migrating customers onto the new core “in select areas every day.” This rollout lays the groundwork for AT&T to enable VoNR on a broader scale, though its FirstNet public safety network has yet to transition to SA. Meanwhile, Verizon continues building out its 5G SA infrastructure — already deploying public-safety network slicing nationwide — and has successfully demonstrated VoNR sessions in partnership with Ericsson and MediaTek, including RedCap device testing. Although Verizon has not yet detailed commercial VoNR availability, its infrastructure progress indicates readiness for eventual deployment.
Canada
In Canada, Bell became one of the first to activate VoNR for iPhone users in select areas such as the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) as of August 2025. TELUS has also gone live with 5G Standalone in parts of Western Canada, with early users reporting VoNR availability in limited regions. Rogers, while heavily promoting 5G-Advanced features and continued SA expansion, has been less vocal about its VoNR deployment status. Together, these rollouts signal that North America is entering the next phase of 5G voice maturity, with the U.S. leading on commercial scale and Canada steadily following suit.
So, while VoNR is no longer just a concept, it is still in an early/transition stage — with selective deployment, limited coverage, and device constraints.
Advantages & Promised Benefits of VoNR
VoNR brings several compelling advantages compared to legacy voice mechanisms (CS fallback, VoLTE, etc.). Some of them overlap with VoLTE’s improvements over 2G/3G, but VoNR can push further due to 5G’s capabilities.
Improved user experience & voice quality
Use of modern codecs (e.g. EVS, Adaptive Multi-Rate Wideband) allows high-definition (HD) or even “super HD” voice, with better clarity, lower distortion, and improved robustness under poor radio conditions.
Faster call setup times (reduced latency in signaling) thanks to more direct paths in 5G network functions.
The ability to stay entirely on 5G: a VoNR call does not force a fallback to 4G or older. This is especially beneficial when there’s background data or simultaneous usage of data services (maps, messaging, etc.) during calls.
Network and architectural benefits
Eventually, operators can phase out older technologies (2G/3G) more cleanly, reducing operational costs and complexity of maintaining aging networks. VoNR is an essential step in that migration. Learn more about the status of the network Sunsetting
Simplification: When voice, data, messaging, and other services all run over a unified 5G/IMS infrastructure, there is less need for interworking between separate legacy systems, potentially reducing integration overhead.
Better utilization of spectrum and radio resources: voice traffic in VoNR can benefit from 5G’s scheduling, beamforming, interference management, and dynamic allocation, making voice more efficient.
Enhanced opportunities for value-added services: Because voice runs in the same domain as data, more tightly integrated features (video calling, conferencing, real-time collaboration, augmented reality voice + data combining) are easier to implement.
For the operator, VoNR supports “future-proofing” and eventual decommissioning of legacy systems.
Challenges, Risks & Limitations of VoNR
The path to widespread VoNR deployment is not trivial. Below are key hurdles, some technical, some operational/business, and some strategic.
Technical & engineering challenges
Coverage & propagation constraints
To deliver voice everywhere, the 5G network must provide broad coverage (especially in rural / indoor / edge areas). Lower frequency bands (e.g. < 1 GHz) are required for deep coverage, but deployment and spectrum availability may lag.
In areas where 5G is weak or intermittent, fallback to 4G/VoLTE or earlier is still required. Ensuring seamless and reliable handover is non-trivial.
Interworking and handover complexity
VoNR must interwork with VoLTE, 2G/3G (while they still exist), and WiFi/VoWiFi as needed. Seamless handovers between these domains (while maintaining call continuity) is difficult.
Dual connectivity (5G + LTE) and fallback mechanisms need careful design to avoid drops or service loss.
Device and chipset support -
Not all smartphones currently on the market support VoNR (or support it fully). Some require firmware updates or hardware that meets certain 5G SA and IMS requirements.
Power consumption: use of 5G for voice may increase battery use in certain bands or conditions (especially if radios frequently switch).
Ensuring backward compatibility with non-VoNR devices in the same network is a burden.
IMS, signaling, and core network upgrades
Operators need to upgrade their IMS infrastructure, ensure compatibility with new 5G core network functions, support quality control, and handle new interfaces (e.g. “N5” / HTTP/2 interfaces as optional enhancements).
Ensuring end-to-end QoS (quality of service) and stability for voice flows over 5G is more demanding (because voice is latency-sensitive).
More stringent real-time performance, monitoring and optimization are needed.
Latency, jitter, and reliability under mobility / varying load
5G networks, especially early deployments, may have variable performance across cell edges, mobility, or under congestion. Maintaining high voice quality in such dynamics is challenging.
Packet loss, delay, and jitter can degrade voice unless well mitigated.
How Smartviser Supports the 5G and VoNR Journey
Implementing 5G Standalone (SA) and Voice over New Radio (VoNR) comes with many challenges — from testing coverage to ensuring voice quality. Smartviser helps operators, device makers, and chipset vendors address these challenges efficiently through its Viser test automation platform.
With Smartviser, you can:
Automate testing across multiple technologies — 5G, LTE, Wi-Fi, and VoWiFi — to validate coverage and connectivity.
Verify seamless handovers and interworking between 5G and legacy networks (VoLTE, EPS fallback) to prevent call drops or service loss.
Test devices and chipsets to confirm full compatibility with VoNR standards — crucial for smartphone manufacturers and network operators.
Measure and optimize power consumption, ensuring new 5G devices manage battery life effectively under VoNR operation.
Assess voice quality and user experience using reliable metrics like MOS and POLQA to guarantee crystal-clear voice calls.
Monitor Quality of Experience (QoE) and Quality of Service (QoS) end-to-end to maintain consistent network performance.
Accelerate deployment by automating repetitive testing tasks, reducing time to market, and ensuring higher reliability.
See the Results in Action
To demonstrate how VoNR performs in real-world conditions, Smartviser put the Xiaomi 15 5G through a series of controlled field tests using its Viser automation platform. These tests compared VoNR and VoLTE performance across live networks, measuring:
MOS voice quality and clarity
Call setup time and latency
Jitter, packet loss, and connection stability
Handover performance between 5G and LTE
The results reveal how 5G Standalone and VoNR deliver measurable improvements in user experience — and where further optimization is still needed.
Please submit your interest and the report will be sent by email.
Susie Siouti is the Chief Commercial Officer for SmartViser helping organisations in the Telecommunications industry offer superior end-user quality of experience and service with the introduction of innovative test automation products. Susie has 20 years of experience in the Telecoms industry and in that time has led teams across the world mainly in Testing and Compliance. Holding an MBA from Henley Business School brings a diverse set of skills and expertise, including business acumen, strategic thinking, financial management, sales and marketing expertise, leadership, and innovation.
Susie joined SmartViser in 2016, is part of the internal steering committee, responsible for developing and implementing the company's commercial strategy and encouraging a customer-centric culture. The main mission is to help organizations to create value by offering better quality products and services by improving operational efficiency and innovation.
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