PCCW-HKT said it will launch voice over LTE (VoLTE) service by the end of the year, making it the first 4G mobile operator in the city to do so.
The announcement came after the company completed a trial of VoLTE with its 4G vendor Huawei, which has integrated an end-to-end VoLTE solution to HKT’s LTE network.
HKT said it began the technical deployment early this year with the introduction of an IMS core infrastructure on top of the LTE network. This, HKT added, enables the operator to migrate customers from existing circuit-switched based voice and SMS services to an all-IP environment via the adoption of VoLTE.
Adam Wong, head of engineering at HKT’s wireless business, said the deployment of VoLTE allows the company to better serve its customers with HD voice, fast call set-up, and multi-media calls.
“We are looking forward to the availability of VoLTE devices so that customers can enjoy the unparalleled user experience of voice and data on LTE network,” Wong said in an announcement.
Separately the telco said it will expand its 4G LTE coverage to include the MTR’s East Rail Line, West Rail Line, and Ma On Shan Line.
Starting from midnight tonight, PCCW-HKT will activate its 4G LTE network coverage at Tsimshatsui East station, followed by further expansion plans for the East Rail Line, West Rail Line and Ma On Shan Line, which are expected to be completed by mid-December 2013.
In addition, PCCW-HKT plans to further expand its 4G/3G network coverage to MTR stations along the West Island Line (Sheung Wan to Kennedy Town), South Island-East (Admiralty to South Horizons) and Kwun Tong Line (Yau Ma Tei to Whampoa), which are still under construction. This coverage expansion is expected to be completed between 2014 and 2015, the company added.