Overview

The HD Voice Number Feature enhances audio quality for PSTN calls made and received to and from eligible numbers within the United States. This feature is available at a monthly cost of $1 per number and is limited to specific US longcode numbers.

Note that this feature is limited to some geographic areas so may not be available to all US longcode numbers.

The HD Voice Number Feature enables customers to make and receive PSTN calls with high-definition (HD) audio quality.

In the context of HD Voice, which aims to enhance call quality by using wideband codecs, the codec negotiation process becomes even more crucial.

Unlike traditional PSTN calls that often use a fixed narrowband codec (such as G.711), HD Voice leverages wideband codecs like AMR-WB to deliver higher audio quality.

HD Voice calls require both endpoints to support and agree upon a compatible wideband codec during the negotiation process. This can be more complex when connection calls to PSTN, as not all networks or devices may be equipped to handle wideband codecs. Therefore, ensuring that both parties in a call support the same wideband codec is essential for a successful HD Voice call.

The negotiation process for HD Voice involves determining which wideband codec is supported by both ends of the call and selecting the highest quality option available. This negotiation considers factors like available bandwidth, device capabilities, and network conditions to optimize call quality.

While HD Voice offers superior audio quality, the challenge lies in ensuring that both ends of the call are equipped to handle wideband codecs.

This requires compatibility checks and, if necessary, fallback options to a suitable narrowband codec in case wideband support is not available.

The call must be destined or originated from one of the following carriers:

The call must be destined or originated on a mobile phone device that supports wideband codecs and is registered on a local 5G/LTE network.

Within the Telnyx portal, your SIP connection must have one of the following wideband codecs enabled: OPUS, G.722, or AMR-WB. Additionally, the SIP device involved in the call must also support the selected codec.

Codecs, short for coder-decoder, are essential tools in voice communication.

They encode and decode audio signals, compressing them for efficient transmission or storage.

In a voice call, a codec converts analog audio (what you hear during a call) into a digital format for network transmission, and then back to analog at the receiving end.

Different codecs have varying compression levels, audio quality, and bandwidth requirements. Some prioritize high-quality audio, while others are designed to conserve bandwidth for efficient transmission over networks.

Opus Codec: Opus is known for its adaptability and efficiency. It dynamically adjusts to varying network conditions, delivering exceptional audio quality even under less-than-ideal circumstances.

AMR-WB Codec: Adaptive Multi-Rate Wideband provides a broader frequency range, capturing more natural tonal nuances in speech for higher fidelity audio.

G.722 Codec: G.722 is a standard for high-quality speech and audio compression. It offers an extended frequency response range, ensuring crisp and clear voice reproduction even at lower bitrates.

Choosing the right codec ensures that audio quality matches the capabilities of HD voice technology.

This means experiencing conversations with utmost clarity, even in challenging network conditions.

Please note: While these conditions significantly increase the probability of experiencing HD audio, it's important to acknowledge that HD audio cannot be guaranteed due to the unpredictable nature of PSTN networks.

For inbound calls to have HD voice support, the following conditions must be met:

The incoming call must originate on an AMR-WB-enabled device located in a 4G/LTE coverage area from one of the following US carriers:

The call must be routed to a Telnyx number with the HD voice feature enabled.

HD Voice feature can be enabled on the Number Voice settings as depicted below:

In the My Numbers overview page, the HD Voice option will be enabled for that Number and is visible under the services column.

Customers can also search for HD Numbers in the Search and Buy section of the portal.

The call must be routed to a SIP Connection configured with AMR-WB, G722, or Opus HD voice codecs.
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You can configure SIP Connection codecs in the SIP Trunking > SIP Connections > Inbound configuration > Expert Settings:

The SIP device receiving the call must support one of the above-mentioned codecs.

For outbound calls to have HD voice support, the following conditions must be met:

The SIP device initiating the call must use one of the following codecs: AMR-WB, G722, or Opus.

The call must be received on an AMR-WB-enabled device located in a 4G/LTE coverage area from one of the following US carriers:

The Telnyx number used to make the outbound call must have HD Voice-enabled (also applied to CLI override)
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Instructions on how to enable a Telnyx number with HD voice can be found here.

The HD Voice Feature is enabled at the number level and it's available at a monthly cost of $1.

This feature is restricted to US numbers only.

While the conditions specified significantly increase the likelihood of HD audio, it's important to note that HD audio is not guaranteed due to the inherent unpredictability of PSTN networks.

I see a yellow banner above the toggle to enable the feature "This number is not HD Voice capable"?

This banner will appear for International, toll-free, and also some +1 US longcode numbers that are not currently supported.

Currently, this feature is only supported on +1 US longcode numbers. However, there are some cases where the feature cannot currently be enabled on specific +1 area codes but will be in the near future as the product offering expands.

Please use the feature toggle in the number search section of Mission Control to find numbers that are HD-Voice compatible at this time.

What carriers support HD Voice?

Can the HD Voice feature be enabled mid-month and, if so, will the cost be prorated?

Yes, just like any other feature with an MRC.

Are there any recommended SIP devices that are best suited for the HD Voice feature?

Any SIP device that supports one of the 3 supported HD Voice codecs are recommended.

What happens if a codec mismatch occurs during a call?

The call will be transcoded. If the mismatch is between two HD codecs (i.e. OPUS and AMR-WB) then the the audio quality will still be HD, but if the mismatch is between an HD codec and a non-HD codec (i.e. PCMU-AMR-WB) then the audio quality won’t be HD.

How will the system handle fallback to a narrowband codec if wideband support is unavailable?

By transcoding the audio.

Will there be any interruptions or will it be seamless?

Codecs are negotiated at the start of the call, so no interruptions.

What kind of bandwidth is required to comfortably use the HD Voice Feature?

HD Voice codecs have variable bit rates, but a high-speed internet connection is required for best results.

Are there plans to extend the list of carriers that support the HD Voice Feature in the future?

Yes.

Will international numbers have the capability to use the HD Voice feature in the future or will it always be restricted to US numbers?

We have no plans for expansion outside of the US at the moment.

How can customers check if their mobile device supports wideband codecs?

By reading the user manual and checking the section about supported codecs.

How will the billing be reflected on the customer's monthly statement, just an aggregate count of HD Voice-enabled?

It will be included in the MRC section together with the rest of the features that are charged on a monthly basis.