The 5G Voice Revolution
With the massive rollout of 5G in France and Europe, a major shift is occurring in mobile telephony: the transition from circuit-switched voice (2G/3G/4G) to 5G Voice over IP, also known as VoNR (Voice over New Radio).
This technological evolution is not just about audio quality: it completely redefines the anti-spam infrastructure. For the first time, calls become true IP data flows, opening the door to authentication and filtering mechanisms previously impossible.
VoNR vs VoLTE: Understanding the Difference
For several years, French operators have offered VoLTE (Voice over LTE), which allows calls over 4G instead of falling back to 2G/3G networks. But VoNR goes further:
- Reduced latency: call setup time cut in half
- Superior audio quality: EVS codec (Enhanced Voice Services) with better compression
- All-IP architecture: no circuit gateway, everything goes through 5G data network
- STIR/SHAKEN interoperability: native call authentication
In 2026, all new 5G-compatible smartphones support VoNR, and French operators (Orange, Free, SFR, Bouygues) are gradually deploying this technology on their networks.
STIR/SHAKEN: Call Authentication Finally Arrives
One of the biggest advantages of 5G VoIP is native compatibility with STIR/SHAKEN, the international call authentication standard developed in the United States and Canada.
How does it work?
- Each call is digitally signed by the originating operator
- The receiving operator verifies this signature before presenting the call
- If the signature is valid, the number is authenticated
- If the signature is absent or invalid, the call is marked as suspicious
In Europe, ARCEP (French Electronic Communications Regulatory Authority) and European regulators are actively working on adopting STIR/SHAKEN on 5G networks. By late 2026, the first commercial deployments are expected in France.
Technical Challenges of 5G VoIP
While 5G offers new opportunities, it also presents new security challenges:
Sophisticated VoIP Attacks
The shift to IP opens the door to classic network attacks:
- SIP flooding: SIP protocol saturation with thousands of fake calls
- Man-in-the-middle: audio stream interception between two parties
- Toll fraud: line hijacking to make premium-rate calls
- RTP injection: malicious audio content injection
Operators must therefore deploy SIP firewalls and intrusion detection systems specific to VoIP.
Standards Fragmentation
Unlike highly standardized 2G/3G/4G networks, 5G VoIP still suffers from implementation differences between operators. Some use the SIP protocol, others use proprietary variants.
This fragmentation complicates STIR/SHAKEN interoperability between countries and operators.
Impact for Call Centers and Prospecting
For call centers and phone prospecting teams, 5G is a game-changer:
Mandatory Authentication
With STIR/SHAKEN, unauthenticated numbers will be automatically flagged as suspicious. Companies will need to:
- Ensure their SIP operator supports STIR/SHAKEN
- Register their numbers in telephone identity databases
- Use certified SIP trunks
End of Easy Spoofing
Caller ID spoofing, a technique used by spammers but also sometimes by call centers to display a local number, will become technically impossible on authenticated 5G networks.
Real-Time Monitoring
The IP nature of 5G enables granular monitoring of phone reputation. Each call generates detailed metadata (quality, duration, number of attempts) that can be leveraged to improve campaigns.
HUHU and 5G: Ready for the Future
At HUHU, we anticipate these technological developments. Our instant verification system is compatible with modern VoIP architectures and will be ready for STIR/SHAKEN integration as soon as it's deployed in France.
Our call center clients can already benefit from an integration API compatible with major 5G SIP trunking providers.
