Soon make free voice calls over public Wi-Fi networks
What's the story
According to reports, Indian telecom operators will soon allow users to make free voice calls over public Wi-Fi networks. The move will help bring down voice calling charges and boost connectivity in areas with a patchy network. Notably, internet telephony has been allowed in the country since 2008 but service providers are only getting to it now.
Internet calling
Telcos geared up to immediately offer Wi-Fi calling services
Vodafone already provides this service in the UK and Australia and is preparing to replicate it for "postpaid customers with compatible 4G VoLTE phones" in India. An Idea executive said, "The Wi-Fi calling option will have a beneficial impact on network congestion, reduce call drops, and expand our reach." While Reliance Jio has "successfully" tested internet calling, Airtel will start technical trials soon.
Details
Make calls even in the absence of mobile signals
The new service is "likely to be offered at no additional cost" and will "use up a postpaid customer's minutes allowance on his/her existing plan." It will come particularly handy when users are in areas with typically weak mobile signals like rural locations, old buildings with thick walls, underground garages, basements, and metro stations.
Details
Ushering in a new era of internet telephony
Recently, the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) tweaked its internet telephony rules. The updated rules allow licensed telecom operators to offer VoIP (voice over IP) calls to all mobile and landline numbers using any internet connection, essentially making it a voice over Wi-Fi service. Vodafone is planning to soon roll out the service in 13 markets where it has VoLTE coverage.
Information
Voice over Wi-Fi will work on 4G VoLTE devices
Further, the Department of Telecommunication (DoT) now allows carriers to allot a single mobile number for both cellular and internet telephony services. This means that to be able to get on board with the new offering, users won't have to take a new number.