New data from MTS research shows a clear shift in how voices are carried over cellular networks. By the end of 2023, high quality voice transmission through VoLTE accounted for more than one third of all calls on the MTS network, rising to 38.4 percent. This marks a notable increase from the year before, where VoLTE constituted 29.2 percent of calls at the end of 2022. The trend underscores a broad move toward faster, clearer voice communication on LTE networks as operators deploy advanced data services across their footprints.
In addition to the shift in call transport mode, MTS highlights a significant rise in overall call duration on the LTE network. Throughout 2023, total time spent on calls over LTE increased by 43.8 percent, indicating higher usage of high speed voice services and a growing reliance on data enriched voice conversations. The figures point to customers embracing VoLTE as a standard option for everyday communication rather than a premium feature.
Regional dynamics reveal notable leadership in VoLTE usage. December 2023 saw the Moscow region take the lead with VoLTE traffic sharing 50.7 percent of voice traffic, an increase of 7.2 percent versus 2022. This suggests strong network performance in the capital region and a rapid adoption of VoLTE among users there. The urban center of St. Petersburg and the surrounding Leningrad region also registered a substantial share, with VoLTE accounting for 43.1 percent of traffic and overall traffic rising by 17.9 percent during the year, illustrating vigorous growth in northern metropolitan areas.
Looking across other large regions, MTS notes extremely strong growth in VoLTE usage in several territorial zones. VoLTE traffic rose sharply in the Ural, Siberia, Volga, Central regions outside Moscow, and the Far East, with increases of 121.2 percent, 71.8 percent, 70.9 percent, 46.3 percent, and 71.8 percent respectively. The regional picture confirms that improved voice quality through LTE networks is spreading across diverse parts of the country, driven by consumer demand for reliable and crisp voice connections even in less densely populated areas, and by operators expanding VoLTE support beyond major cities.
When ranking the federal regions by December 2023 for shares of VoLTE traffic, Siberia led with 42.8 percent, followed by the Northwest at 39.2 percent, the Far East at 38.8 percent, and both Central regions outside Moscow and the Ural region closely matching with 38.6 percent each. These figures underscore a nationwide shift toward VoLTE adoption, with regional differences reflecting population density, network investment, and user preferences. The measured gains in VoLTE adoption across these regions align with broader nationwide trends toward higher quality voice services and more efficient use of LTE networks.
VoLTE, or voice over LTE, represents a modern approach to transmitting voice data over the 4G LTE network. It delivers clearer, higher quality voice calls compared with traditional 2G and 3G services and supports data services simultaneously during a call. For customers, the practical impact is crisper conversations, reduced call drops in many scenarios, and faster call setup. For network operators, VoLTE helps optimize spectrum efficiency and service quality, supporting a more seamless user experience as mobile data demands continue to grow. The expansion of VoLTE usage across multiple regions signals a broader pattern in which customers gravitate toward voice solutions that leverage data networks to enhance clarity and reliability in daily communications.