Circuit Switched FallBack (CSFB) is a technology whereby voice and SMS services are delivered to

LTE devices through the use of GSM or another circuit-switched network.

Circuit Switched FallBack is needed because LTE is a packet-based all-IP network that cannot
support circuit-switched calls. When an LTE device is used to make or receive a voice call or SMS,
the device "falls back" to the GERAN or UTRAN network to complete the call or to deliver the SMS
text message. To support moving back from GERAN/UTRAN to LTE, functionality in GERAN/UTRAN
is required.

CSFB was specified in 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) Release 8. CSFB requires a
software upgrade of the operators core and radio network.

CSFB is often seen as an interim solution for LTE operators. Voice over LTE (VoLTE) is considered to
be the long-term goal for the delivery of voice services on LTE networks.
In CSFB, upon a voice all origination attempt or when receiving a page for CS voice(via SGs interface),
the UE is moved to UMTS/GSM and the voice is sent over one of these access networks. The page
response is sent over the new RAT on the Iu or A interface. The UE will return to LTE after call
completion if LTE is preferred and coverage exists.