Airtel, Vodafone & Idea to soon launch VoLTE to protect low-end subscriber base

  • Thread starter Thread starter rahul1117kumar
  • Start date Start date
  • Replies Replies: Replies 2
  • Views Views: Views 906
Joined
21 Jun 2013
Messages
10,365
Reaction score
11,058
By September end, most mobile phone users across operators will be able to experience HD calling, courtesy voice over LTE (VoLTE ) technology.

With low-cost 4G feature phones set to enter the market, incumbents Bharti Airtel , Vodafone and Idea are set to roll out VoLTE services – which offers voice in a data format - likely by end of September, with the timing coinciding with a critical mass of low-cost VoLTE-ready devices being available in the market.

“Airtel’s VoLTE plans are on track having kicked off field or commercial trials in Mumbai and Delhi, and it will soon launch the service commercially in India,” a person familiar with the matter told ET. Another person said that Vodafone did basic trials of the technology, and will launch VoLTE services soon.

An Airtel spokesperson said that the telco is piloting VoLTE in a few places, but didn’t comment on launch timelines. Vodafone and Idea didn't comment on ET queries, but Idea managing director Himanshu Kapania recently said that the No. 3 telco would introduce VoLTE over the next two quarters. “We are initially planning to be able to build VoLTE for about 20-25 million customers, which is sufficient enough to be able to take care of our 4G expectations in volume in India. Having finished testing, Idea Cellular expects to launch its VoLTE services by the second quarter (July-September) of this fiscal and cover 20-25 million customers.

Airtel, Vodafone & Idea to soon launch VoLTE to protect low-end subscriber base - ET Telecom - Launching such services could become critical to...
 
Back
Top Bottom