Verizon not launching voice over LTE anytime soon

08.05.2012
NEW ORLEANS -- Verizon may be for data, but that doesn't mean it's going to start pushing it for voice services anytime soon.

During an interview with Network World today, Verizon Vice President of Network Hans Leutenegger said that the carrier won't be deploying any voice over LTE (VoLTE) services on its network until late next year at the very earliest. The reason for this, he said, is that Verizon is already largely satisfied with its current voice network and doesn't see the need to push both handset manufacturers and its own customers to use a new technology just yet.

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"The time frames [for switching to VoLTE] will be up to when vendors and device manufacturers are ready," he said. "I don't see it around the corner and I wouldn't be surprised if it doesn't come until well into next year."

Verizon first started testing out VoLTE technology , although the company has been relatively quiet about the technology ever since. To date no major U.S. carriers have announced plans to implement VoLTE over their networks anytime in the near future.