Telus is preparing for the launch of additional 4G LTE services with the deployment of IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS) systems from Ericsson. (See Canada's Telus Partners With Ericsson .)

The Canadian operator, which launched its initial 4G services in early 2012, has deployed a set of Ericsson AB (Nasdaq: ERIC) core network elements that will enable it to launch voice-over-LTE (VoLTE) and rich communication services (RCS). (See Telus Launches LTE in 14 Metro Areas.)

The vendor notes that the IMS applications will enable the operator to launch a number of new services to fixed as well as wireless customers, including high-definition voice and video calling over LTE.

Telus Corp. (NYSE: TU; Toronto: T) announced last week that its LTE service now covers 80% of Canada's population.

Why this matters
Operators the world over are looking for ways of offering enhanced services to all their customers, particularly over mobile broadband connections, which are dominated by third-party over-the-top (OTT) applications such as YouTube and social media.

But question marks remain over VoLTE and, particularly, RCS. Many in the industry believe VoLTE services will be launched in multiple markets during 2014 but will likely not reach any meaningful scale, in terms of user uptake, until at least 2016.

As for RCS, the prognosis is not so promising. Despite heavy promotion from the GSM Association (GSMA) and support, including service launches, from a number of operators, it is increasingly being regarded as peripheral by service provider and vendor executives alike.

For more on IMS, VoLTE, and RCS:

— Ray Le Maistre, Editor-in-Chief, Light Reading