At the start of the new year, the government-owned Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) rolled out Voice over WiFi (VoWiFi), or Wi-Fi Calling facility for its users. The Ministry of Communications said that this service will be available to all BSNL customers across all telecom circles in the country.
VoWiFi will allow customers to exchange voice calls and messages over a Wi-Fi network. This will ensure clear and reliable connectivity in areas with weak signals, such as basements and remote locations. VoWiFi is an IMS-based service that enables seamless handovers between Wi-Fi and mobile networks. The facility is convenient as customers can make VoWiFi calls with their existing mobile number and phone dialer. No third-party applications are needed for this.
The service will work in areas where a stable Wi-Fi connection is available, including BSNL Bharat Fibre or other broadband services. VoWiFi is offered free of cost, with no additional charges for Wi-Fi calls. It is supported on most modern smartphones and customers only need to enable Wi-Fi Calling in their handset settings. The service will help to reduce network congestion.
“The launch of VoWiFi is an important step in BSNL’s network modernisation programme and its commitment to improving connectivity across the country, especially in underserved areas,” the Ministry said.
The BSNL will soon launch its 5G services, for which a pilot project has been completed.
