Smart Communications completes roll out of the VoLTE or Voice over LTE service for both their prepaid and postpaid subscribers nationwide.
VoLTE, the first fully IP-based carrier-grade voice service, offers high-definition quality phone calls using LTE networks instead of legacy voice networks. As such, VoLTE-to-VoLTE calls are clearer, with almost no background noise.
Moreover, calls via VoLTE get the added benefit of being able to make or receive phone calls while using mobile data applications simultaneously — unlike the old setup, where devices shift from LTE network to 2G or 3G mobile networks during a voice call. VoLTE also connects calls faster.
To use VoLTE service, the caller and receiver should have a VoLTE-capable smartphone and a Smart LTE SIM. Subscribers would need to enable VoLTE in their phone’s settings. Once activated, you will see the VoLTE icon on the notification bar.
Aside from VoLTE, Smart has also rolled out Voice-over-Wifi (VoWiFi) or Wi-Fi calling service to subscribers, which lets users make and receive calls and text messages over any Wi-Fi connection using their smartphone’s native dialer, without having to install another app.
Calls made with VoLTE and VoWiFi will be charged like normal calls against the customer’s active subscription. For customers without an active subscription, local and international voice and text rates will apply.
In OpenSignal’s November 2020 Mobile Network Experience Report for the Philippines, Smart bagged five Mobile Experience Awards, including Best in 4G Availability, Best in 4G Coverage, Best in Video Experience; Best in Upload Speed Experience; and Best in Download Speed Experience.
