Top 10: Voice Over 5G (Vo5G) Providers

As the telecommunications industry pivots from 5G non-standalone (NSA) to standalone (SA) architectures, the evolution of voice services has reached a critical juncture. Voice over 5G (Vo5G) – specifically Voice over New Radio (VoNR) – is emerging as a commercial differentiator for operators seeking to decommission legacy 2G and 3G networks. 

For the modern telco, VoNR represents the definitive shift toward a fully cloud-native IMS core, offering lower latency, superior audio quality and the ability to maintain high-speed data sessions during voice calls. 

This transition allows service providers to unlock sophisticated network slicing capabilities and ultra-reliable low-latency communications (URLLC).

From infrastructure giants providing the core logic to global operators executing massive deployments, these are the key players defining the future of voice in the 5G era.

10. Vodafone Group

• CEO: Margherita Della Valle
• Founded: 1984
• Location: United Kingdom

Vodafone has been a vocal proponent of 5G Standalone (SA) across its European and African footprints. By launching the UK’s first 5G SA network, the operator has paved the way for VoNR services that offer improved battery life for handsets and faster call setup times. 

Vodafone continues to work closely with various hardware vendors to ensure interoperability across its diverse markets. Its commitment to moving beyond the constraints of LTE ensures that voice remains a core, high-quality component of its digital-first strategy.

9. China Mobile

• CEO: He Biao
• Founded: 1997
• Location: China

As the world’s largest mobile operator by subscriber count, China Mobile’s influence on the Vo5G ecosystem is profound. 

The company has undertaken one of the most aggressive rollouts of 5G SA infrastructure globally, necessitating a massive transition to VoNR. 

By leveraging its vast scale, China Mobile has driven down the cost of Vo5G-compatible devices and helped standardise the technical requirements for seamless handovers between 5G and 4G networks, ensuring service continuity for hundreds of millions of enterprise and consumer users.

8. SK Telecom

• CEO: Jung Jai-hun
• Founded: 1984
• Location: South Korea

SK Telecom consistently remains at the cutting edge of mobile innovation, having been one of the first in the world to commercialise 5G services. 

The South Korean leader has focused heavily on the integration of Vo5G with advanced AI services. 

By utilising a cloud-native IMS core, SK Telecom provides ultra-high-definition voice quality that serves as the foundation for its metaverse and immersive media platforms. 

SK Telecom’s technical leadership in network virtualisation makes them a primary reference for operators transitioning to VoNR globally.

7. AT&T

• CEO: John Stankey
• Founded: 1983
• Location: United States

AT&T has taken a methodical approach to its 5G SA deployment, prioritising network stability and voice reliability. 

The US giant has focused on upgrading its core network to support VoNR, ensuring that voice services can coexist with the heavy data demands of its business and consumer segments. 

By collaborating with leading chipset and infrastructure partners, AT&T is ensuring that its Vo5G offering provides the necessary coverage and clarity required for the next generation of mission-critical IoT applications.

6. Verizon Communications

• CEO: Dan Schulman
• Founded: 2000
• Location: United States

Verizon has made significant strides in shifting its traffic to a cloud-native 5G core, a move that is essential for robust VoNR delivery. 

The operator’s focus on its "Network as a Service" platform relies on the seamless integration of voice and data over 5G SA. 

Verizon’s investment in C-Band spectrum has bolstered its Vo5G capacity, allowing for broader coverage and better indoor penetration. Its work in refining the hand-off between different spectrum layers ensures a consistent voice experience for high-value users.

5. Qualcomm

• CEO: Cristiano Amon
• Founded: 1985
• Location: United States

While not a network operator, Qualcomm is the fundamental enabler of Vo5G through its Snapdragon modem-RF systems. 

Qualcomm's chipsets provide the essential processing power for VoNR, supporting the complex codecs required for high-fidelity audio. It's innovations in power saving and signal processing allow smartphones to maintain 5G voice connections without significant battery drain. 

By working with almost every major OEM and infrastructure vendor, Qualcomm ensures that the global device ecosystem is ready for the widespread adoption of 5G standalone voice.

4. Cisco Systems

• CEO: Chuck Robbins
• Founded: 1984
• Location: United States

Cisco plays a pivotal role in the Vo5G landscape through its converged, cloud-native 5G core solutions. By providing the underlying software architecture that manages voice sessions, Cisco enables operators to transition away from hardware-centric legacy systems. 

The company’s focus on security and automated network management allows telcos to deploy VoNR with greater agility. Cisco’s "One Core" approach simplifies the complexity of managing voice services across 4G and 5G, making them a preferred partner for operators looking to streamline their infrastructure and reduce operational expenditure.

3. Huawei

• CEO: Ren Zhengfei
• Founded: 1987
• Location: China

Huawei remains a dominant force in the Vo5G sector, particularly in markets across Asia, the Middle East and Africa. 

The company offers a comprehensive end-to-end VoNR solution, ranging from the radio access network to the IMS core. Huawei’s New Calling initiative is particularly notable, as it adds interactive and video-based features to the standard voice call, such as real-time translation and screen sharing. 

This innovation transforms the traditional voice service into a rich, multimedia experience, proving Huawei’s technical prowess in the 5G Standalone era.

2. Nokia

• CEO: Justin Hotard
• Founded: 1865
• Location: Finland

Nokia is a global leader in the shift toward automated, cloud-native voice services. Its Cloud Communication Center provides a robust framework for operators to deploy Vo5G at scale, ensuring high availability and seamless interoperability. 

Nokia has been instrumental in helping European and North American carriers migrate their IMS workloads to the cloud, which is a prerequisite for successful VoNR. By focusing on software-defined networking and programmable cores, Nokia allows telcos to offer differentiated voice services. 

The company’s commitment to open standards and extensive trial successes makes them a cornerstone of the global Vo5G infrastructure market.

1. Ericsson

• CEO: Börje Ekholm
• Founded: 1876
• Location: Sweden

Ericsson sits at the pinnacle of the Vo5G market, having powered the majority of the world’s first commercial VoNR launches. 

Its dual-mode 5G Core is the industry benchmark, allowing for a smooth evolution from VoLTE to VoNR within a single, unified engine. 

Ericsson’s leadership is defined by its ability to deliver ultra-low latency and superior spectral efficiency, ensuring that voice services do not compromise 5G data performance. 

With a relentless focus on R&D and a massive portfolio of 5G patents, Ericsson provides the most reliable and scalable pathway for operators to achieve a fully 5G-native communication experience.