With the development of digital technologies, it is no wonder even an experienced user gets confused in the names and terms. What can we say about the rest. The topic of this article will be VoLTE - what is it on the phone and how to disable it. Is such technology needed, how can one determine if it is in a smartphone? All these and other questions will be resolved. You will learn all the details, and you will also be able to decide for yourself whether you need to turn it off.
A Brief History of VoLTE Technology
The first VoLTE service appeared in Singapore in 2014, it worked only on the Samsung Galaxy Note 3 smartphone. The development was carried out by SingTel. A month later, in June of the same year, the cellular operator KT from South Korea organized cross-border roaming using Voive over LTE technology, and in October this type of communication was used in almost all developed countries of Asia.
In most European countries, voice transmission over the Internet was launched in 2014-2015, and in Russia the MTS company became a pioneer. She was the first to launch in the local market, which includes calls over LTE and Wi-Fi. Later, other Russian mobile operators joined in.
What is VoLTE
VoLTE stands for Voice over Long Term Evolution (voice over LTE). LTE is a data exchange protocol in wireless Internet networks, several times faster than 3G connections in speed. With its help, you can watch videos in HD quality and quickly download large files.
Previously, LTE technology was used only for data transmission and communication between the subscriber and the Internet. With the advent of VoLTE, voice transmission over the high-speed Internet connection available on mobile phones has become possible.
VoLTE is based on the IMS (IP Multimedia Subsystem) architecture, which is designed specifically for transmitting multimedia using the IP protocol in a cellular environment.
The SIM card must support an LTE network to access VoLTE capabilities. If the smartphone supports SMSoIP, then sending SMS via VoLTE is possible.
Why is VoLTE needed?
VoLTE mainly solves the problems of quality and speed of voice communication on mobile phones. Previously, a smartphone connected to a 4G/LTE network to use the Internet would switch to the 2G/3G network when an incoming or outgoing call was made. Now calls can be made on the same LTE network, which reduces connection delay and improves sound quality due to higher bandwidth and modern voice protocols. At the same time, calls via VoLTE are charged like regular calls, Internet traffic is not consumed.
Currently, many cellular operators are actively introducing VoLTE into their infrastructures in order to retain customers and compete with various VoIP applications that smartphone owners install to make calls over the Internet.
According to the Ministry of Digital Development, Communications and Mass Communications, voice traffic in Russia is declining as the number of smartphones increases, and users are increasingly using alternative channels for communication.
Difficulties with voice communication
Initially, cell phones were intended only for making calls; even the ability to exchange SMS messages did not appear immediately. The first generation cellular networks actually transmitted only voice, most often even in unencrypted form. Only with the advent of the 2G era did different data transmission standards appear, including the familiar GPRS. But priority in those days continued to be given to voice communications; very few mobile phone owners were still using the Internet connection.
Now the situation has changed dramatically. Each new cellular communication standard is designed for ever-increasing data transfer speeds. It has gotten to the point that the fourth generation (LTE) is completely designed only for the transmission of Internet traffic. Voice calls are currently made via 2G or 3G, there are no other options. It wasn't until recently.
Pros and cons of using VoLTE
Voice over LTE has a number of advantages. However, this technology also has disadvantages. All this must be taken into account in order to optimally use communication services. In some situations you cannot do without VoLTE, while in others it will be more rational to use a connection via 3G or 2G networks.
Advantages of VoLTE
- fast connection to other subscribers due to the absence of delay due to switching to a 2G/3G network when making a call;
- high quality sound transmission due to support for a set of HD Voice codecs. When calling via VoLTE, the audio frequency range increases to 7 kHz versus 3.4 kHz when using regular telephony;
- simultaneous calls and work with Internet data.
Disadvantages of VoLTE
- poor 4G coverage outside major cities;
- If you move to a zone without 4G, you will have to switch your smartphone to 2G/3G manually;
- not all smartphone models and not all operators support VoLTE;
- rapid battery drain . Using an LTE network increases the load on the smartphone, which reduces its battery life.
As a result, before using VoLTE in practice, you need to take into account that the sound when making a call will be of high quality, but at the same time, during long conversations, the smartphone’s battery will begin to discharge faster. This is why enabling this technology is not recommended in all scenarios.
The benefits of a new way of communication for ordinary people
In addition to the amazing financial benefits that this standard provides to people, which may well lead to a reduction in the cost of all tariffs from mobile operators in the future, this technology has other advantages:
- Almost instantaneous dialing to your interlocutor. Usually, when a person calls another person using standard mobile networks, some time passes before the second one hears the call - at this moment the connection occurs. When using VoLTE, communication is established almost immediately. And sometimes this can be very important for users;
- The highest quality of communication. No third-party sounds, poor audibility, speech interruptions and other unpleasant effects that people may have already become accustomed to, but clearly want to get rid of;
- When using this standard for communication, the Internet does not turn off simultaneously with the start of a conversation. But this is precisely what many people who are connected to standard 4G complain about. Now you can talk on the phone and calmly conduct parallel communication, for example, on social networks.
What does the VoLTE icon mean on a smartphone?
As a rule, an icon with the word VoLTE is displayed in the notification bar of the smartphone, where it is adjacent to icons such as time, battery charge, and so on.
VoLTE on Samsung Galaxy S7
VoLTE icon on phone
The icon is not always lit, but only at the moment when the VoLTE Internet telephony option is activated on the device. If you see the corresponding icon on your smartphone during a call, it means the call is made via VoLTE.
Deactivation
Let's start with phones with the Android operating system. For example, how to disable VoLTE on Huawei:
- Return through the settings menu to the “Connections” section;
- Click on the item “Mobile networks”;
- Move the slider next to the corresponding sentence to the inactive state.
On iPhones, deactivation occurs like this:
- Settings – cellular communications – data parameters;
- Click on the function that connects the technology that the person does not need;
- Select “Data” and click on “Disable”.
When this standard is active, its abbreviation will always be displayed next to the 4G icon at the top of the mobile device screen.
How to enable or disable VoLTE on your phone
Before you start using Internet telephony, you need to make sure that your smartphone supports this function. You can check this by studying the characteristics in the instructions or on the manufacturer’s website. In addition, the presence of VoLTE is indicated in the settings, where the technology is turned on.
For Android smartphones
To enable Voice over LTE on an Android smartphone, you need to open the settings, go to the “ Options ” section and move the slider opposite the corresponding item to the active position. Accordingly, to disable it you will need to move the slider back. Depending on the model you are using, the location of the function may vary.
VoLTE on Android
VoLTE on Xiaomi
For iOS smartphones
On the Apple iPhone, the activation process occurs differently. The iPhone owner needs to open the settings, and then go to the “ Cellular ” section and select “ Enable LTE ”. To enable high quality communication, you will need to set the value to “ Voice and data ”, and to disable it, you can simply change the parameter to “ Data only ”.
VoLTE on iPhone
VoLTE enabled on iPhone
List of the most popular smartphones that support VoLTE
VoLTE is available on many modern gadgets. However, one of the disadvantages of Voice over LTE is that the technology does not work on every device. Below is a list of some popular smartphone models that support the feature:
- Redmi Note 8 Pro;
- Xiaomi Mi 9T;
- Samsung Galaxy A51;
- Samsung Galaxy S10;
- iPhone 11;
- iPhone SE (2020).
And even if the phone you need is not on the list, don’t despair. Almost every modern device that supports 4G and was released after 2016 has support for voice transmission over the LTE network.
Which providers support the technology and in which regions?
In addition to the fact that VoLTE does not work on all smartphones, it is also not supported by all operators and not in every region. But most providers have been using the Internet telephony function for several years:
- Megaphone;
- MTS;
- Beeline;
- Tele2;
- Motive.
MegaFon and MTS provide access to Voice over LTE in all regions where 4G equipment is installed. Beeline operates using the VoLTE protocol in two capitals and the Kaluga region, and Tele2 provides a high-quality signal only in Moscow and St. Petersburg. Motive launched modern technology in the Sverdlovsk and Kurgan regions, as well as in the Yamal-Nenets Autonomous Okrug and Khanty-Mansi Autonomous Okrug.
Call tariffing
In your home region and when traveling within Russia, incoming calls when using the new service will be absolutely free. Outgoing calls will be charged at standard prices, which depend on the tariff plan selected by the user.
Internet calls are not eligible for benefits or optimization features. You will have to pay for them at the regular price according to the plan.
For most clients, connecting the technology will not lead to additional costs. Exceptions to this number will be those who choose archival or rare tariffs that are little known.
