Voice-over-LTE trial set for Henan province
ZTE launched a voice-over-LTE trial with China Unicom in China’s Henan province. The deployment calls for ZTE to deploy an end-to-end VoLTE solution including voice over Wi-Fi, VoLTE high-definition video and audio, and rich communications services.
The VoLTE project is one of seven trial sites in China and is the first province to realize VoLTE commercialization for China Unicom. ZTE said construction of the trial site successfully passed tests in multiple phases.
ZTE said it has received more than 210 contracts for commercial and trial IP multimedia subsystem networks with a combined capacity for 220 million subscribers across the world, including deployments in North America, Spain, Singapore, Poland, Saudi Arabia and the Philippines.
China Unicom said it ended January with a 257.5 million subscribers, including 49.4 million LTE subscribers.
Thai telco Jasmine fails to pay for 4G spectrum
In other APAC news, Thai mobile operator Jasmine International missed the deadline to pay the first installment of the THB 75 billion ($2.1 billion) it owed for a spectrum license in the 900 MHz band. The telco had until March 21 to make the initial payment.
Thailand’s telecom regulator NBTC threatened to file a lawsuit against Jasmine International if the company failed to pay for the spectrum. The regulator said it planned to hold another round of auctioning for mobile spectrum in late June, and that it will review starting price for the 900 MHz spectrum. Existing operators including True, which last year won spectrum in the 900 MHz band, will have the right to participate in the auction.
According to press reports, Jasmine was holding negotiations with a Chinese partner, which is still awaiting for the final approval of the venture in Thailand by Chinese regulatory authorities. Jasmine had requested the NBTC to extend the deadline, but the regulator said it was not possible to change the deadline or ease payment conditions.
