Vodafone Australia has contracted Ericsson to modernize the operator's core network, to pave the way for new services including VoLTE.
The operator said the network upgrade will allow the operator to commence VoLTE trials later this year and roll out services later this year.
“No Australian network is offering voice calls on its 4G network, and our new core network will enable us to do that,” Vodafone Australia CTO Benoit Hanssen said.
The upgrade forms part of Vodafone's multi-billion dollar network investment in Australia. Vodafone has been pouring money into its Australian operations for years, because a few years ago the network had developed a reputation for poor service quality.
The company last month set a target of achieving 95% metropolitan population coverage with its 4G network by the end of the year by taking advantage of its existing 850-MHz spectrum.
Vodafone Australia separately launched a new roaming plan for travelers to New Zealand. Subscribers to the operator's Red plans will be given the option of paying $5 extra per day to use the full allocation from their home plan while in New Zealand.
New Zealand is Australia's top international holiday destination, with over 1 million travelers to the country every year, the company said.