South Korean mobile network operator KT Corp has confirmed that it expects to launch commercial voice-over-Long Term Evolution (VoLTE) services in October this year, the JoongAng Daily reports. According to the local news source, KT will launch trials of the service this weekend, with around 300 people across the country selected for the pilot. Prices for the service will be unveiled closer to launch, it is understood. Commenting on the plans, KT Corp president Pyo Hyun-myung was cited as saying: ‘VoLTE shortens the phone connection speed and offers better voice quality’.
Meanwhile, amid customer complaints that its monthly LTE plans do not offer unlimited access to data, KT has also revealed it will shortly introduce two new packages that will make it possible for subscribers to roll over unused data to the following month. The new tariffs, which will go live at the start of September 2012, will cost KRW65,000 (USD57) and KRW125,000 a month for 6GB and 25GB of data usage respectively. Pyo noted that KT is hoping to attract around 2.6 million more LTE subscribers before the end of the year in order to meet its self-imposed target of four million 4G customers by end-2012.