Techniques for improving VoNR-to-VoLTE fallback

An apparatus for wireless communications by a user equipment (UE), comprising:

• at least one processor configured to:
• communicate with and camping on a next generation node B (gNB) in a 5G new radio (NR) system;
• initiate a voice call with the gNB;
• receive a 5G NR-to-long term evolution (LTE) handover command in response to initiating the voice call;
• perform a handover procedure in response to the handover command;
• detect a failure in the handover procedure;
• and
• take one or more actions in response to detecting the failure in the handover procedure, wherein:
• in order to take the one or more actions the processor is further configured to:
• perform a cell selection or re-selection procedure to determine a new cell to camp on, and
• exclude the gNB from being selected as the new cell based on an NR-to-LTE voice fallback indicator received in the handover command;
• and
• a memory coupled with the at least one processor.

A method for wireless communication by a base station, comprising:

• communicating with a user equipment (UE) in a 5G new radio (NR) system;
• initiating a voice call with the UE;
• transmitting a 5G NR-to-long term evolution (LTE) handover command in response to initiating the voice call;
• and
• reestablish communication with the UE, after a handover procedure based on the handover command fails, when the handover command includes an NR-to-LTE voice fallback indicator.

An apparatus for wireless communication by a base station, comprising:

• at least one processor configured to:
• communicate with a user equipment (UE) in a 5G new radio (NR) system;
• initiate a voice call with the UE;
• transmit a 5G NR-to-long term evolution (LTE) handover command in response to initiating the voice call;
• and
• reestablish communication with the UE, after a handover procedure based on the handover command fails, when the handover command includes an NR-to-LTE voice fallback indicator;
• and
• a memory coupled with the at least one processor.