VoWi-Fi and VoLTE news from APAC region
Singapore telecom operator M1 Limited said it launched the country’s first voice-over-Wi-Fi trial, bolstered by heterogeneous network technology. The service provides for voice calls using a handset’s native dialer and direct access to the device’s contacts list without the user having to install or use a separate calling application.
M1’s offer is said to allow customers to make calls to and from fixed numbers, unlike over-the-top calling apps, which only allow calls between handsets with the same calling software. The service also supports two-way mobility between Wi-Fi and mobile networks, which allows customers to place uninterrupted two-direction, high-definition voice calls across M1’s cellular and Wi-Fi networks.
The telco said the VoWi-Fi service is currently available to the Infocomm Development Authority of Singapore’s national HetNet Trial users at M1’s Wi-Fi sites within the Jurong Lake District.
M1 commercially launched services in the Asian nation in 1997, and currently offers mobile and fixed services to nearly 2 million subscribers. The telco initially launched LTE services in 2011, and currently provides the service through spectrum in the 1800 MHz and 2.6 GHz bands. M1 also launched voice-over-LTE technology in April 2015.
Optus starts VoLTE rollout
Also in APAC, Australian operator Optus has rolled out VoLTE technology in some cities across the country. Optus said that the initial roll out will focus on the central business district areas of Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide, Perth and Canberra.
Optus said the VoLTE service will be available on the Samsung Galaxy S7 and S7 Edge smartphones.
“Optus will continue to add capability to other devices and remains focused on expanding our VoLTE footprint to further locations, particularly in regional Australia,” said Dennis Wong, acting managing director of networks at Optus.
“VoLTE provides customers a number of benefits including high-definition quality voice calls, faster call connections and the ability for customers to multitask on their device while browsing and making a call over a ‘4G’ connection.”
Optus, a subsidiary of Singapore operator Singtel, provides fixed and mobile services, and is the second largest operator after incumbent Telstra.
