Though many people see China as one of the leading countries in 5G technology, the truth is the country's 4G network is still unfinished.
Here's the proof. There are three major carriers in China and China Telecom (CT) has the longest history. But the company only started VoLTE trial runs on Thursday.
In addition to fast data connection, VoLTE is also a crucial part of 4G. It's a service that moves voice calls from 2G networks to 4G ones.
It may sound normal to make 4G calls on a 4G network. But the carriers need to upgrade all the signal towers to make it possible, which is obviously a lot of work.
A voice call with VoLTE enabled. Note the "HD" mark in the top-right corner. /CGTN Photo
VoLTE brings many advantages to Chinese smartphone users.
- Faster connection speed. With VoLTE, the waiting time between hitting the green button to actual ringing is shortened from about 6 seconds to almost none.
- Better sound quality. Thanks to the high speed 4G network, the voice calls can now transmit clearer sounds.
- Less telephone scams. The "fake mobile tower" scam only works on 2G networks. If you move the voice function to 4G, no fake towers can reach you.
VoLTE has been in the U.S. for more than six years. So if you are trying to compare U.S. mobile networks to Chinese ones, make sure you know all the details before drawing any conclusion.
(Top photo: The headquarters of China Telecom in Beijing /VCG Phpto)