#vowifi

As operators scale 5G-Advanced in 2026, the “Indoor Gap” remains a critical challenge due to high-frequency signal attenuation. To maintain voice service continuity, a Converged IMS (IP Multimedia Subsystem) serves as the essential service anchor. By integrating VoWiFi (Voice over Wi-Fi) via N3IWF or ePDG interfaces, the core network can treat any Wi-Fi access point as a micro-cell. This architecture enables seamless, “zero-drop” handovers between 5G NR and non-3GPP networks. IPLOOK focuses on this multi-access interworking, ensuring that session persistence and security remain consistent regardless of the radio environment, effectively reducing subscriber churn caused by indoor blind spots.

5G is incredibly fast, but physics is stubborn. High-frequency bands (like mmWave or even mid-band) struggle to penetrate thick concrete and modern glass. For a user, a 5G connection that drops the moment they walk into a basement or a home office isn’t “advanced”—it’s frustrating.

This is why we’re seeing a massive comeback for VoWiFi. It’s no longer just a “nice-to-have” backup; it’s a strategic layer of the 5G-A network.

How the “Invisible Handover” Works: The magic happens when the IMS Core acts as the universal anchor. It doesn’t care if you are on a 5G tower or a home router. By using a secure IPsec tunnel through the N3IWF (for 5G Core) or ePDG (for 4G/LTE), the call stays alive as you move.

The goal for 2026 isn’t just to provide coverage; it’s to make the transition between cellular and Wi-Fi completely invisible. If a subscriber has to check their signal bars before making a call, the network architecture hasn’t done its job.

At IPLOOK, our approach is simple: Consistency over Complexity. We spend our R&D cycles ensuring that the interworking between our 5G Core and Converged IMS is rock-solid. We believe that stability shouldn’t be a luxury dictated by your building’s architecture. By bridging the indoor gap with VoWiFi, we help operators build a resilient voice layer that simply works—anywhere.

IPLOOK concluded its showcase at Booth CS70 during MWC Barcelona 2026, highlighting deployment-ready core network solutions designed to meet the shifting demands of global operators and MVNOs. The focus remained on two high-impact areas: IMS-based VoWiFi and 4G/5G Converged Core architectures.

Expanding Voice Coverage via VoWiFi

The event featured technical demonstrations of IPLOOK’s carrier-grade VoWiFi solution, specifically addressing the industry-wide challenge of indoor coverage and “dead zones.”

In discussions with European operators, IPLOOK experts detailed how VoWiFi can be introduced into existing infrastructures without significant radio investment. The focus was on maintaining a native mobile dialing experience while ensuring service continuity between Wi-Fi and cellular networks—a critical factor for reducing roaming costs and improving subscriber retention in coverage-challenged environments.

Simplifying the Path to 5G: Converged Core Architecture

Managing multi-generational network infrastructure remains a primary cost driver for service providers. At the booth, IPLOOK highlighted its 4G/5G Converged Core, which utilizes a unified architecture to support both LTE and 5G through a single framework.

A key highlight was a deep-dive into a recent collaboration, this case study demonstrated how a converged approach enables unified subscriber management and elastic scalability. By consolidating the core, the partner successfully protected their 4G investments while establishing a streamlined, cost-effective migration path to 5G.

Driven by the IPLOOK Intelligent Core

Both solutions are powered by the IPLOOK Intelligent Core Network, which emphasizes automation, real-time visibility, and open APIs. These capabilities are designed to help operators adapt to market fluctuations and deploy services with greater speed and security.

We thank all the partners and industry leaders who visited us at MWC 2026 to discuss the future of converged connectivity.

As the digital economy becomes deeply ingrained in society, the urban-rural digital divide persists, with rural communication network coverage and quality acting as a key constraint on rural development. In February 2026, the GSMA released its Spectrum and Rural Connectivity report, affirming that sub-1 GHz low-band spectrum is central to enhancing rural network coverage and communication quality. Its rational allocation and utilization can narrow the urban-rural digital gap and fuel robust digital-driven growth in rural economies and societies.

Rural Connectivity Status: Shortfalls in Both Coverage and Quality

Despite major advances in global telecom network development, rural areas face acute connectivity challenges. GSMA data shows rural populations are 28% less likely to use mobile internet and 30% less inclined to access regular online services like messaging, banking and education than urban dwellers. Even in covered rural regions, poor network quality—such as cell edge congestion and slow download speeds—hampers digital service adoption, preventing full participation in the digital economy.

This stems from rural geography: low population density and scattered buildings make mid-to-high band spectrum, with its short transmission range and weak penetration, unviable for low-cost wide coverage. Low-band spectrum, however, is a natural solution to this problem.

Core Advantages of Low-Band Spectrum: A Perfect Fit for Rural Connectivity

Sub-1 GHz low-band spectrum is a cornerstone of rural connectivity due to its unique propagation traits, setting it apart from mid-to-high band spectrum. Technically, its longer electromagnetic wavelengths deliver superior diffraction and penetration, enabling longer signal transmission and stable connectivity even in remote rural areas or behind building obstructions.

GSMA Intelligence analysis confirms this: rural users spend more than twice as much time on low-band 4G and 5G as urban users, highlighting rural connectivity’s heavy reliance on these frequencies. In short, low-band spectrum is the foundation of rural mobile networks—high-quality rural communication is impossible without sufficient low-band resources.

The Value of Low-Band Spectrum: Measurable Gains for Connectivity and Economy

Increased allocation of sub-1 GHz low-band spectrum drives quantifiable, all-round improvements in rural connectivity, including coverage, speed and user experience.

The report quantifies this link: each additional 50 MHz of sub-1 GHz spectrum lifts rural 4G coverage by 7 percentage points and 5G coverage by 11 percentage points. It also boosts rural download speeds by up to 8% and eases cell edge congestion, fundamentally enhancing rural users’ communication experience.

Low-band spectrum’s value extends far beyond connectivity, directly spurring rural economic and social development. A 10 percentage-point drop in the spectrum cost-to-revenue ratio frees up operators’ capital for rural network expansion and upgrades. Meanwhile, high-quality rural networks expand access to education, healthcare and financial services, and boost productivity in core rural sectors like agriculture and transportation. This connects rural communities to broader markets and unlocks the endogenous growth potential of rural economies.

Unlocking Low-Band Spectrum Potential: Four Key Government-Industry Actions

Unleashing low-band spectrum’s value demands collaboration between governments, regulators and operators, supported by science-based policies and market guidance. The GSMA outlines four core recommendations:

Prioritize allocation: Fast-track the assignment of all low-band spectrum for mobile services, focusing on rural coverage to expand 4G and 5G networks rapidly.

Set affordable pricing: Align spectrum pricing with economic fundamentals to reduce operator costs and ensure sustainable rural network investment.

Guarantee long-term regulatory certainty: Match spectrum access regulations to the long lifecycle of rural network assets, giving operators confidence for long-term investment.

Lower sharing barriers: Reduce regulatory hurdles to voluntary network sharing and cut costs for planning and site access, improving the economic efficiency of rural network deployment.

Conclusion: Fostering Urban-Rural Digital Inclusion via Spectrum Policy

Radio spectrum is a scarce, non-renewable resource, and low-band spectrum is a golden asset for rural digital transformation. The GSMA report proves that sound spectrum policies directly improve rural connectivity, which in turn amplifies network effects and elevates the overall social value of digital connectivity.

By placing low-band spectrum at the core of national strategies to bridge the digital divide, and through government-industry collaboration to deliver these resources to rural areas, we can ensure rural populations have equal digital opportunities as urban residents. This will turn digital technology into a new engine for rural growth, drive inclusive economic development and realize true urban-rural digital inclusion.

As the digital economy becomes deeply ingrained in society, the urban-rural digital divide persists, with rural communication network coverage and quality acting as a key constraint on rural development. In February 2026, the GSMA released its Spectrum and Rural Connectivity report, affirming that sub-1 GHz low-band spectrum is central to enhancing rural network coverage and communication quality. Its rational allocation and utilization can narrow the urban-rural digital gap and fuel robust digital-driven growth in rural economies and societies.

Rural Connectivity Status: Shortfalls in Both Coverage and Quality

Despite major advances in global telecom network development, rural areas face acute connectivity challenges. GSMA data shows rural populations are 28% less likely to use mobile internet and 30% less inclined to access regular online services like messaging, banking and education than urban dwellers. Even in covered rural regions, poor network quality—such as cell edge congestion and slow download speeds—hampers digital service adoption, preventing full participation in the digital economy.

This stems from rural geography: low population density and scattered buildings make mid-to-high band spectrum, with its short transmission range and weak penetration, unviable for low-cost wide coverage. Low-band spectrum, however, is a natural solution to this problem.

Core Advantages of Low-Band Spectrum: A Perfect Fit for Rural Connectivity

Sub-1 GHz low-band spectrum is a cornerstone of rural connectivity due to its unique propagation traits, setting it apart from mid-to-high band spectrum. Technically, its longer electromagnetic wavelengths deliver superior diffraction and penetration, enabling longer signal transmission and stable connectivity even in remote rural areas or behind building obstructions.

GSMA Intelligence analysis confirms this: rural users spend more than twice as much time on low-band 4G and 5G as urban users, highlighting rural connectivity’s heavy reliance on these frequencies. In short, low-band spectrum is the foundation of rural mobile networks—high-quality rural communication is impossible without sufficient low-band resources.

The Value of Low-Band Spectrum: Measurable Gains for Connectivity and Economy

Increased allocation of sub-1 GHz low-band spectrum drives quantifiable, all-round improvements in rural connectivity, including coverage, speed and user experience.

The report quantifies this link: each additional 50 MHz of sub-1 GHz spectrum lifts rural 4G coverage by 7 percentage points and 5G coverage by 11 percentage points. It also boosts rural download speeds by up to 8% and eases cell edge congestion, fundamentally enhancing rural users’ communication experience.

Low-band spectrum’s value extends far beyond connectivity, directly spurring rural economic and social development. A 10 percentage-point drop in the spectrum cost-to-revenue ratio frees up operators’ capital for rural network expansion and upgrades. Meanwhile, high-quality rural networks expand access to education, healthcare and financial services, and boost productivity in core rural sectors like agriculture and transportation. This connects rural communities to broader markets and unlocks the endogenous growth potential of rural economies.

Unlocking Low-Band Spectrum Potential: Four Key Government-Industry Actions

Unleashing low-band spectrum’s value demands collaboration between governments, regulators and operators, supported by science-based policies and market guidance. The GSMA outlines four core recommendations:

Prioritize allocation: Fast-track the assignment of all low-band spectrum for mobile services, focusing on rural coverage to expand 4G and 5G networks rapidly.

Set affordable pricing: Align spectrum pricing with economic fundamentals to reduce operator costs and ensure sustainable rural network investment.

Guarantee long-term regulatory certainty: Match spectrum access regulations to the long lifecycle of rural network assets, giving operators confidence for long-term investment.

Lower sharing barriers: Reduce regulatory hurdles to voluntary network sharing and cut costs for planning and site access, improving the economic efficiency of rural network deployment.

Conclusion: Fostering Urban-Rural Digital Inclusion via Spectrum Policy

Radio spectrum is a scarce, non-renewable resource, and low-band spectrum is a golden asset for rural digital transformation. The GSMA report proves that sound spectrum policies directly improve rural connectivity, which in turn amplifies network effects and elevates the overall social value of digital connectivity.

By placing low-band spectrum at the core of national strategies to bridge the digital divide, and through government-industry collaboration to deliver these resources to rural areas, we can ensure rural populations have equal digital opportunities as urban residents. This will turn digital technology into a new engine for rural growth, drive inclusive economic development and realize true urban-rural digital inclusion.

IPLOOK is bringing its latest core network innovations to MWC Barcelona 2026, inviting operators, MVNOs, and industry partners to Booth CS70 to experience powerful, deployment-ready solutions designed for today’s evolving connectivity demands.

This year, IPLOOK puts the spotlight on two high-impact offerings — its carrier-grade VoWiFi solution and 4G/5G Converged Core Network — both demonstrated through live, real-world scenarios that highlight how service providers can expand coverage, simplify operations, and accelerate network evolution.

Expand Voice Coverage with Confidence

IPLOOK’s IMS-based VoWiFi solution enables operators to deliver seamless, high-quality voice services wherever subscribers are — especially indoors and in coverage-challenged environments. Visitors will see how VoWiFi can be rapidly introduced without major radio investment while maintaining a native mobile dialing experience.

Live demonstrations will showcase how operators can enhance user satisfaction, reduce roaming dependency, and ensure service continuity across Wi-Fi and cellular networks. The solution is engineered for interoperability and reliability, helping providers improve service reach while optimizing network resources.

Simplify Evolution with a 4G/5G Converged Core

As the industry transitions toward 5G, managing multiple generations of network infrastructure can drive complexity and cost. IPLOOK’s 4G/5G Converged Core addresses this challenge with a unified architecture that supports both LTE and 5G, enabling a smoother, more efficient migration path.

At the booth, attendees can explore how convergence enables unified subscriber management, streamlined network design, elastic scalability, and faster service rollout. The approach not only protects existing investments but also builds a flexible foundation for future growth.

Built on an Intelligent Core

These solutions are powered by the IPLOOK Intelligent Core Network, featuring automation, real-time visibility, strong security, and open APIs aligned with major industry standards. Together, these capabilities help operators deploy services faster, operate more efficiently, and adapt quickly to changing market demands.

AfricaCom 2025 has successfully concluded, and IPLOOK emerged as one of the spotlight innovators, showcasing its cutting-edge 4G/5G Core, MVNO, and VoWiFi solutions to operators, service providers, and enterprises from around the world. As a global Mobile Core Network Expert, IPLOOK demonstrated how its cloud-native technologies are shaping the future of mobile connectivity—regionally and globally. Driving the Next Wave of Mobile Network TransformationWith the telecom industry rapidly advancing toward cloud-native, high-performance, and scalable architectures, operators worldwide are seeking solutions that accelerate network evolution while optimizing investment and operations. At AfricaCom 2025, IPLOOK highlighted how its core network platform empowers customers to:

1.Deploy flexible and cost-efficient mobile core networks 2.Scale seamlessly to meet growing traffic and service demands 3.Transition smoothly from 4G to 5G 4.Deliver exceptional quality of experience to end users

From nationwide deployments to private networks and enterprise solutions, IPLOOK’s portfolio continues to bring measurable value to diverse markets around the globe.

Throughout the exhibition, IPLOOK engaged with international partners, illustrating real deployment scenarios and demonstrating how its technologies accelerate network evolution in both established and emerging markets. The strong interest from attendees reaffirmed IPLOOK’s expanding role as a trusted provider in the global telecom ecosystem.

Looking Ahead: Empowering a Smarter Digital Future

As AfricaCom 2025 draws to a close, IPLOOK continues to strengthen its global footprint, driving the advancement of mobile core networks with innovative, cloud-native technologies. With a focus on agility, reliability, and performance, IPLOOK remains committed to empowering operators and enterprises worldwide as they build smarter, faster, and more resilient digital ecosystems.

For years, traditional MVNOs have been constrained by their heavy reliance on Mobile Network Operators’ (MNOs) cellular infrastructure—resulting in high network leasing costs, limited profit margins, and restricted control over network quality and service differentiation. To stay competitive, more MVNOs are shifting from “dependent operations” to building lightweight, self-owned coverage networks. VoWiFi stands at the center of this strategic transformation.  

How VoWiFi Drives MVNO Operational Excellence?

1. Significant Cost Reduction: Leveraging existing Wi-Fi hotspots in malls, airports, and office buildings eliminates the need for expensive cellular base station construction and spectrum leasing, cutting operational costs significantly.

2. Enhanced User Experience: Supporting HD Voice and low-latency calls, VoWiFi seamlessly switches to Wi-Fi in weak cellular areas (e.g., basements, elevators), resolving call drop issues and boosting user loyalty.

3. Flexible Scalability: Enables rapid deployment of localized Wi-Fi networks for campuses, industrial parks, and business districts. Combined with SD-WAN and cloud management platforms, it allows centralized resource control and dynamic scheduling to adapt to business growth.

4. Integrated Service Capabilities: Integrates SMS, data plans, and IoT connectivity to deliver one-stop communication solutions for SMEs, chain brands, and educational institutions, expanding business boundaries.  

As a leading provider of end-to-end, cloud-based mobile core network solutions, IPLOOK delivers an end-to-end VoWiFi solution, helping MVNOs rapidly build reliable, low-cost networks using unlicensed spectrum and capture emerging market value.