Ookla Study in Manila: Carrier VoLTE Networks Outperform OTT Apps in Voice Quality and Reliability
A controlled network test by Ookla in Manila, Philippines, evaluated voice quality and reliability of carrier VoLTE networks versus OTT apps like WhatsApp. The study tested networks of Smart Communications, Globe Telecom, and DITO Telecommunity. Results showed operator VoLTE calls consistently delivered HD-grade audio (MOS > 4.0), while OTT calls only achieved 'Fair' quality (MOS < 4.0). Under weak signal conditions (RSRP ≤ -100 dBm), VoLTE maintained HD clarity, whereas OTT calls degraded to 'Poor' or 'Bad' ranges. VoLTE also demonstrated significantly lower call setup failure rates; for example, Globe's VoLTE block rate was 0.47% versus 1.64% for OTT. The report highlights that VoLTE's dedicated high-priority bearers and optimized signaling protocols provide superior performance over best-effort OTT data delivery. The study comes as the Philippine NTC mandates a 3G sunset by December 2026, emphasizing the need for comprehensive VoLTE coverage as a foundation for future AI-driven voice services.
Editorial responsibility
- No named human review is recorded for this page.
- Reports are grouped by semantic similarity and deterministic rules. Language models may assist titles, summaries, translation and cross-source analysis; the page itself is projected from evidence records.
- Current automated evidence projection