Landmark achieved on China Mobile TD-LTE network in Guangzhou, leveraging ZTE’s 4G technology and Marvell-powered terminals

7 June 2013, Shenzhen, China – ZTE Corporation (“ZTE”) (H share stock code: 0763.HK / A share stock code: 000063.SZ), a publicly-listed global provider of telecommunications equipment, network solutions and mobile devices, is pleased to complete the world’s first end-to-end voice-over TD-LTE (VoTD-LTE) call in partnership with China Mobile and Marvell Technology Group.

The VoTD-LTE call was conducted on China Mobile’s network in Guangzhou, which deploys ZTE’s TD-LTE technology and core IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS) platform. The global industry’s first terminal-to-core network, end-to-end VoTD-LTE call was successfully carried out using 5-mode, 13-band smartphones powered by Marvell’s chipsets. A delegation of engineering experts from the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology personally experienced the VoTD-LTE service during their mission to Guangzhou to study 4G networks.

At present, there are three main methods to offer voice services to LTE users: CS Fall Back (CSFB), dual standby and VoLTE. The CSFB solution requires operators to hand off voice calls to slower 2G or 3G networks. The dual standby solution requires terminals to support the 2G/3G and 4G services simultaneously, with the 2G/3G network dedicated to provide voice services. VoLTE is an IMS-based voice service, with voice transmitted as IP data, and can be entirely supported by the LTE network, without 2G or 3G networks. Compared with the CSFB and dual standby solutions, the VoLTE solution offers superior voice quality and lower latency, with improved energy consumption for terminals, delivering a better user experience for 4G services.

Therefore, VoLTE is considered as the ultimate goal of evolution of LTE voice solution.

Compared with 2G and 3G networks, VoLTE features higher spectral efficiency in voice services, which enables operators to support a greater number of voice users for the same amount of spectrum. Although the voice data is transmitted through IP packet data, VoLTE offers better user experience than 2G and 3G voice service. Performance is also superior to over-the-top (OTT) services, as VoLTE features carrier-class QoS and HD codec technology. For operators, VoLTE enables the integration of data and voice services in a network, helping operators reduce complexity of Operation Support System(OSS), and achieve greater efficiency.

The VoTD-LTE breakthrough in Guangzhou will help accelerate the adoption of voice services on TD-LTE networks, and usher in the TD-LTE full-service era, aligning the TD-LTE industry with the FDD-LTE industry. As the development of mobile devices, TD-LTE wireless networks and IMS platforms become more mature, more VoLTE services will be deployed.

ZTE is committed to innovation and optimization of TD-LTE solutions, and aims to promote increased TD-LTE network deployments globally together with industry partners. The successful VoTD-LTE demonstration with China Mobile was an important step toward future commercial deployment. As of early 2013, ZTE had established TD-LTE field trials and commercial networks for 48 leading operators in 33 countries, including deployments in Europe, India, CIS, Asia-Pacific, and Southeast Asia.