CSL goes global with 4G service

The two leading wireless network operators in Hong Kong and South Korea are set to introduce next month the world's first 4G international mobile roaming service between the two markets.

CSL, the first mobile carrier in the city to launch a 4G network based on the technology called long-term evolution (LTE) in November 2010, and Korean wireless market leader SK Telecom yesterday said their landmark service would be available from July 1 and pave the way for more roaming agreements among existing 4G LTE operators.

'This is a significant milestone for the telecommunications industry, which continues to debate the feasibility of 4G LTE international roaming,' said CSL chief technology officer Christian Daigneault. 'Our pioneering partnership with SK Telecom is proof that 4G LTE international roaming will be a reality worldwide - sooner rather than later.'

CSL and SK Telecom will support their high-speed 4G mobile roaming service on the 1.8-gigahertz band, the radio spectrum on which the two carriers' compatible LTE networks run.

Advanced 4G networks have theoretical internet download speeds of up to 100 megabits per second. The fastest existing 3G networks run at 42Mbps.

The LTE networks of CSL and SK Telecom are based on the widely adopted frequency division duplex (FDD) standard. The other recognised LTE standard is called time-division duplex, which is being championed by China Mobile.