Country's largest telecom player Bharti Airtel on Monday announced the launch of VoLTE (voice over LTE) services starting with Mumbai.
Airtel is the second operator after Mukesh Ambani-run Reliance Jio, a new entrant in the telecom space, to start such services in India.
The voice calls on VoLTE network are made using data but the company said there will be no additional data charges for VoLTE and calls will be billed as per the existing plan or pack benefits. Airtel has also deployed 4G advanced carrier aggregation technology in Mumbai that enables data speeds of up to 135 Mbps by combining spectrum capacities in 2300 MegaHertz (TD LTE) and 1800 MHz (FD LTE).
Airtel has about 260 million subscribers on its network.
Though Reliance Jio is offering voice calls on the 4G network using VoLTE technology across the country, other telecom players have been offering voice calls to their 4G customers along with other networks -- 2G and 3G.
"With the VoLTE compatible device ecosystem beginning to mature, we believe it's the right time to enable VoLTE calling as part of our service portfolio. Over the next few months, we will rapidly accelerate the deployment of VoLTE to cover all key geographies to bring HD quality calling to our customers," said Abhay Savargaonkar, director for networks at Bharti Airtel, in a statement.
The company said VoLTE calls made on its network will automatically fall back on the 3G/2G network to ensure that customers continue to stay connected at all times.
Gopal Vittal, MD and CEO (India and South Asia), Bharti Airtel, had earlier said that the company will roll out VoLTE service across India by the end of the current financial year.
The existing 4G customers need not change SIM for accessing the service. The customers will get a web link in the SMS which will lead to a software update for their connection that will enable them to use VoLTE service.
"Over the next few months, we will rapidly accelerate the deployment of VoLTE to cover all key geographies to bring HD-quality calling to our customers. We keenly look forward to our device partners enabling Airtel VoLTE on their smartphones," Savargaonkar said.
THE RIGHT CALL?
- RJio is offering voice calls on the 4G network using VoLTE technology
- Other players are offering voice calls to 4G customers along with 2G, 3G
- The existing 4G customers need not change SIM for accessing the service
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