Hong Kong mobile carrier CSL announced Thursday it has deployed voice over LTE (VoLTE) on its 4G network, with commercial service expected in the first half of 2014.
CSL CEO Phil Mottram said one of the key advantages of VoLTE is that it allows customers to enjoy faster call setup speeds compared with 3G, clear voice and high definition video calls.
VoLTE calls will connect in one to two seconds compared with the 5-10 seconds on circuit-switched networks. Customers can also use 4G mobile data services simultaneously, while they are conducting VoLTE calls.
The technology is enabled via the deployment of the eSRVCC (enhanced Single Radio Voice Call Continuity) solution in an IMS platform provided by ZTE, the 4G vendor of CSL.
Mottram said VoLTE is also more efficient from both a network and spectrum perspective, allowing CSL to use less bandwidth and put more customers on its LTE network.
As VoLTE requires the installation of new software inside carrier networks and inside the phones themselves, commercial service won’t be available until the first half of 2014, when the LTE handsets support the technology hit the market.
CSL is still with testing the technology with Samsung’s VoLTE handset and will unveil pricing for the service in the next few months, Mottram added.