Telcos support for VoNR

[maumu]

I just joined Singtel SIM only 5G. The network status shows 5G, and I confirm have 5G+ because I can see both 4G and NR bands active on developer mode.

However, the phone status shows VoLTE instead of VoNR.

Previously, it showed VoNR when I was on M1 5G and Starhub 5G.

How come lydat ah?

 

[xiaofan]

I just joined Singtel SIM only 5G. The network status shows 5G, and I confirm have 5G+ because I can see both 4G and NR bands active on developer mode.

However, the phone status shows VoLTE instead of VoNR.

Previously, it showed VoNR when I was on M1 5G and Starhub 5G.

How come lydat ah?

As of now, Singtel only supports VoNR selected phones, like iPhone and some flagship Android Phones.

 

[Fellowes]

As of now, Singtel only supports VoNR selected phones, like iPhone and some flagship Android Phones.

Same for A56 getting VoNR. I think recently mid-range models to flagship start to get VoNR

 

[sacredrays]

is it phone software side or telco side to activate vonr?

 

[froztheart]

is it phone software side or telco side to activate vonr?

Believe both need to support.

 

[tkte_85]

For me since in e past, Nubia and their gaming redmagic phones have support for VoNR. Cannot rmb it was since which release, I used to own redmagic 8, 9 and 10 and Nubia z60ultra and current z80ultra and can confirm z80 and redmagic 10 pro support VoNR

 

[Kitaro9202]

Interesting zero1 prompt me to change sim card
After that mine have vonr
Using vivo x300 pro

 

[Jurong640]

Interesting zero1 prompt me to change sim card
After that mine have vonr
Using vivo x300 pro

Welcome. I'm also on X300 Pro and Zero1 5G SA with VoNR. Now I can hear people's inner voice.

 

[Fellowes]

Interesting zero1 prompt me to change sim card
After that mine have vonr
Using vivo x300 pro

With VoNR mean connected to 5G SA for zero1.

Cry for GOMO still 5G NSA

 

[lenkiatleong]

Does anyone knows why the authorities does not enforce full 5G SA yet? Isn't the deadline was 1 Jan 2026? So sad to see my Simba still showing NSA and LTE on my Samsung A36. I want call quality like Jurong640 to hear the other party's inner voice too.

 

[xiaofan]

Does anyone knows why the authorities does not enforce full 5G SA yet? Isn't the deadline was 1 Jan 2026? So sad to see my Simba still showing NSA and LTE on my Samsung A36. I want call quality like Jurong640 to hear the other party's inner voice too.

SIMBA is exempted from 5G NSA network shutdown deadline. So you need to move out of SIMBA if you really want 5G SA.

For SingTel MVNOs the target date has been moved to end of Q1 2026 (31 March 2026) as per some reports.

 

[lenkiatleong]

I have another Poco C75 4G on Simba. Does it means this C75 will not work anymore if Simba fully migrate to 5G SA network?
Can SA fallback to support it?

 

[xiaofan]

I have another Poco C75 4G on Simba. Does it means this C75 will not work anymore if Simba fully migrate to 5G SA network?
Can SA fallback to support it?

It will work.

4G LTE network will be there for very long, say to 2030 and beyond, say in 2032 or even 2035.

6G Mobile may only really start at 2028 even though it is more like an incremental upgrade of 5G.

 

[crystalnox]

Actually is everyone misunderstanding IMDA's requirement of 5G SA being fully available by end-2025 as 5G NSA being shut down by end-2025? So many "mandates", "directives" quotes but all seem to be from MVNO announcements and not anywhere authoritative.

The only requirement is for "nationwide outdoor coverage (at least 95%) by end-2025" from the NEXT WAVE OF 5G GROWTH & DEPLOYMENT IN SINGAPORE 26 JULY 2021 IMDA.

 

[xiaofan]

Actually is everyone misunderstanding IMDA's requirement of 5G SA being fully available by end-2025 as 5G NSA being shut down by end-2025? So many "mandates", "directives" quotes but all seem to be from MVNO announcements and not anywhere authoritative.

The only requirement is for "nationwide outdoor coverage (at least 95%) by end-2025" from the NEXT WAVE OF 5G GROWTH & DEPLOYMENT IN SINGAPORE 26 JULY 2021 IMDA.

You can check out the original source from IMDA.

What you mentioned is covered by Clause 4. But then there is also Clause 71. You can of course interprete that end-2025 is not a hard requirement but rather "policy preference" of IMDA. That is why I like to use "target date" and not "deadline".

https://www.imda.gov.sg/-/media/imd...n--21-ghz-policy-and-regulatory-framework.pdf

4. To achieve these policy objectives, IMDA’s 5G Decision indicated that IMDA would facilitate 5G networks that were based on Standalone (SA) network architecture. Given the limited amount of spectrum in the 3.5 GHz band which was issued as part of IMDA’s 5G Call for Proposal (CFP), IMDA had facilitated the deployment of two nationwide 5G SA networks for a start. Deployments of these two nationwide 5G SA networks, one by Singtel Mobile Singapore Pte Ltd (Singtel) and the other by a Joint-Venture Consortium formed by M1 Limited (M1) and StarHub Mobile Pte Ltd (StarHub), are ongoing and are making progress towards achieving at least 50% outdoor coverage by end2022 and nationwide outdoor coverage (at least 95%) by end-2025.

71. Notwithstanding, IMDA reiterates that it considers NSA deployments to be transitory and for the short to medium term only. IMDA’s policy preference is for 5G NSA networks not to continue perpetually, especially after nationwide SA coverage has been achieved, i.e., by end-2025.

 

[neptunesea]

5G NSA will not be shut down anytime soon.

If it were to be, the millions of tourists coming here won't be able to enjoy 5G roaming, since SA roaming is yet to take off.

Also ST hi, gomo and SH eight, giga... still offer 4G plans for sale. There seems to be no mandate requiring telcos to discontinue 4G plans.

Looks like the practical execution of IMDA's "policy preference" is to move all local 5G subscribers over to SA, which only affects Singtel hi/MVNOs as Starhub and M1 have offered SA to all 5G subscribers for some time now.

 

[uncle_josh]

Policy on 5G SA vs. NSA:
5G Standalone (SA): The primary, required technology standard for nation-wide coverage.

5G Non-Standalone (NSA): Approved only for specific, interim, or supplemental use cases.

Recent Updates:
Spectrum Allocation: 2.1 GHz, 3.5 GHz, and mmWave bands (26/28 GHz) are used.

Usage Constraints: Any NSA deployment must not impede the 5G SA rollout.

Transition Plan: MNOs can use NSA in the interim, but must migrate to SA.

So much talk and hoo ha
No deadlines means Telco can take their own sweet time.

 

[Fellowes]

5G NSA will not be shut down anytime soon.

If it were to be, the millions of tourists coming here won't be able to enjoy 5G roaming, since SA roaming is yet to take off.

Also ST hi, gomo and SH eight, giga... still offer 4G plans for sale. There seems to be no mandate requiring telcos to discontinue 4G plans.

Looks like the practical execution of IMDA's "policy preference" is to move all local 5G subscribers over to SA, which only affects Singtel hi/MVNOs as Starhub and M1 have offered SA to all 5G subscribers for some time now.

2G and 3G
2G and 3G have been shutdown for public.

4G with VoLTE
4G will be here to stay for quite sometime. Likely as the following:
- Backup / Fallback
- Cheaper alternative plan
- For tourist

5G SA with VoNR
5G NSA will be shutdown which is the end state, so bandwidth can be free up to allocate more towards 5G SA network.

Once all telco be it MNO or MVNO fully onboard 5G SA, and shutdown 5G NSA as per IMDA requirement (God knows when is the date ) then we will be fully utilized VoNR which will bring improvement for voice and video call.

Of course our main telcos still have work to be done for underground shopping mall, carpark to MRT tunnels to further improve the 5G SA coverage and enable of 5G SA roaming so tourists can tap on when roaming.

5.5G, mmWave 5G and 6G
In future, will only have 4G and 5G SA and perhaps mid life upgrade to 5.5G (5G-Advanced) or CBD area with high speed mmWave 5G rollout before moving towards the next gen of mobile communication which is 6G. I think by then 4G will be shutdown (maybe by 2035).

 

[xiaofan]

5G NSA will not be shut down anytime soon.

If it were to be, the millions of tourists coming here won't be able to enjoy 5G roaming, since SA roaming is yet to take off.

Also ST hi, gomo and SH eight, giga... still offer 4G plans for sale. There seems to be no mandate requiring telcos to discontinue 4G plans.

Looks like the practical execution of IMDA's "policy preference" is to move all local 5G subscribers over to SA, which only affects Singtel hi/MVNOs as Starhub and M1 have offered SA to all 5G subscribers for some time now.

Clause 71 is very clear, 5G NSA network will be shut down.

4G network will be there for a long time, say to year 2032 or even year 2035. So tourist can use 4G network if they cannot use 5G SA.

Same for local users with 4G phones, they can still use 4G. And I believe the mobile service providers will continue to offer 4G plans to deal with the lower cost segment of the market, at least for the next few years, say until year 2030.

You can check out the original source from IMDA.

What you mentioned is covered by Clause 4. But then there is also Clause 71. You can of course interprete that end-2025 is not a hard requirement but rather "policy preference" of IMDA. That is why I like to use "target date" and not "deadline".

https://www.imda.gov.sg/-/media/imd...n--21-ghz-policy-and-regulatory-framework.pdf

4. To achieve these policy objectives, IMDA’s 5G Decision indicated that IMDA would facilitate 5G networks that were based on Standalone (SA) network architecture. Given the limited amount of spectrum in the 3.5 GHz band which was issued as part of IMDA’s 5G Call for Proposal (CFP), IMDA had facilitated the deployment of two nationwide 5G SA networks for a start. Deployments of these two nationwide 5G SA networks, one by Singtel Mobile Singapore Pte Ltd (Singtel) and the other by a Joint-Venture Consortium formed by M1 Limited (M1) and StarHub Mobile Pte Ltd (StarHub), are ongoing and are making progress towards achieving at least 50% outdoor coverage by end2022 and nationwide outdoor coverage (at least 95%) by end-2025.

71. Notwithstanding, IMDA reiterates that it considers NSA deployments to be transitory and for the short to medium term only. IMDA’s policy preference is for 5G NSA networks not to continue perpetually, especially after nationwide SA coverage has been achieved, i.e., by end-2025.

 

[xiaofan]

Clause 71 is very clear, 5G NSA network will be shut down.

But probably not in the end of March 2026, since ST MVNOs (including Gomo) and ST Prepaid users just got 5G SA recently.

Rather 5G NSA network will be there for a bit longer, maybe it will shut down only in the end of 2026.