[Shenzhen, China, Jan.8, 2016] With Huawei's support, HKT has recently completed VoLTE network migration, the most complex and difficult phase of the HKT-CSL network convergence project.

This migration is the first of its kind in the world and involves migration of IMS and CS domains, including the core 2G/3G/4G/IMS home subscriber server (HSS). Using only two days and without support from original device vendors, Huawei completed lossless migration of 2G/3G/4G CN and cutover of data of several millions of subscribes as well as VoLTE and CSFB services to its newly built CN. A key accomplishment was the signaling migration process, which lasted barely 2 minutes and remained unnoticed by most subscribers.

Huawei Is HKT's Preferred Partner for Network Convergence

HKT had chosen Huawei in June 2015 to provide an end-to-end solution for HKT-CSL network migration. This decision was motivated by Huawei's future-oriented network evolution planning in conjunction with its carrier aggregation (CA), IMS centralized services (ICS), web real-time communication (WebRTC), and other cutting-edge products and solutions. The final factor in this decision was Huawei's extensive seamless migration and integration experience and long-term outstanding performance in the Hong Kong communications market.

HKT's acquisition of CSL has made it the largest operator in Hong Kong's wireless market, with an estimated share of over 40% and served several million 2G/3G/4G subscribers. The three biggest challenges became apparent: rapid network convergence without affecting subscribers, appropriate asset configuration, and OPEX reduction. Knowing that the CN is a key to network convergence, coupled with both years of experience in 2G/3G/4G CN and in-depth analysis of the call flow of all live CSL network services, Huawei proposed a lossless migration solution. The leading solutions provider worked with HKT to conduct successful PoC tests, proving feasibility and security of the solution. During the migration, Huawei used Mediation caching for service data updates from terminals and provisioning systems to migrate the 2G/3G/4G/IMS HSS without losses or external assistance. This success is reflected in a stably running CN with normal KPIs, including registration success, call completion, and call drop rate.

HKT & Huawei joint team celebrating project success

Multiple executives from HKT and Huawei had provided onsite guidance for this key project, and both parties were satisfied with the performance of the convergent network. "HKT-CSL network convergence has been Huawei CN's most complex migration because it required collaboration of PS, CS, and notably IMS domains. No one else has ever attempted VoLTE migration," Wang Yongde, vice president of Huawei's CN Product Line, pointed out. "Huawei has worked independently to achieve HKT's lossless migration of 2G/3G/4G CN, and fully demonstrated our strengths, especially in the VoLTE field." In response, HKT took the opportunity at its Christmas annual meeting to award Huawei's CN R&D team with "Excellence in HKT Mobile Network Integration Core network 2015."

HKT presenting special award to Huawei

HKT-Huawei Partnership Continues to Lead the Hong Kong 4G Market

Both leaders are committed to advancing the local telecommunications market with their history of cooperation and innovation. HKT launched CSFB back in 2012 to resolve voice issues in the initial 4G phase and accelerate the deployment of commercial 4G networks. In May 2014, HKT became the first Hong Kong operator with commercial VoLTE services. In April 2015, Huawei and HKT jointly launched 4G commercial networks using inter-eNodeB three-carrier aggregation, with a theoretical rate of up to 450 Mbit/s and breaking the world record for 4G network speeds. At the LTE World Summit 2015 two months later, world-leading consultancy firm Informa announced that Huawei and HKT had won its "Best VoLTE Innovation" award.

VoLTE network convergence is just the beginning. Huawei and HKT plan to deploy the LTE900 solution for better VoLTE service experience among 4G subscribers. Using ICS architecture to smoothly migrate existing 2G/3G subscribers to 4G networks, Huawei and HKT will succeed in both VoLTE commercialization and spectrum resource release for LTE service development. The SmartCare solution will refine VoLTE network O&M and establish the HKT network as a global benchmark of 4G convergent communications quality.