Safaricom Rolls Out VoLTE

You can now send and receive voice calls on Safaricoms VoLTE service. This enables calls to be made over 4G networks as opposed to normal calls which use the popular 3G network.

VoLTE is a HD voice calling Service over 4G LTE rather than 2G/3G network present used. By using VoLTE users can make calls more faster than 2G/3G connections. It has an added advantages of Security and Quality of services.

So what are the benefits of VoLTE?

1. High-definition voice
2. Rich Communications Services or RCS- RCS services include things like video calling, file transferring, real time language translation, video voicemail and instant messaging without third party apps. VoLTE is that it lets you launch these services directly from the phone’s native dialer.
3. Enjoy Multitasking.-Having the flexibility of calling while browsing simultaneously

Safaricom had announced the Voice over LTE service in early July 2019 but went silent, however, it seems the telco experienced a few huddles before rolling out the sevice to the public.

Quietly Safaricom seems to have rolled out the service for users with LTE enabled sim cards. However there is a catch, the service doesn’t work on all smartphones. Below are a list of the Smartphones that support VoLTE.

The supported Samsung devices are: A2 Core, A10, A20, A30, A50, A70, A80, S10/S10+, S10e, Note10, Note10+, Note9, S9/S9+, Note8, S7, S7 Edge, A9 (2018), A7 (2018), A8+, A6+, J8, J6+, J6, J4+, J4

Huawei devices include : P30 Pro, P30, P30 Lite, P20 Pro, P20, P20 Lite, Mate 20 Pro, Mate 20, Mate 10 Pro, Mate 10, Y5 Lite, Y5 (2019), Y6 (2019), Y7(2019), Y9 (2019), Y9 Prime (2019)

HMD Global devices are the Nokia: 1, 1 Plus, 2.1, 3.1, 3.1 Plus, 3.2, 4.1, 4.1 Plus, 4.2, 5, 5.1, 5.1 Plus, 6, 6.1, 6.1 Plus, 7 Plus, 7.1, 8, 8.1, 9 Pureview

The Tecno camon 11 and Phantom 9, iTel A32 and the infinix S4 can also make calls over VoLTE

If your device is on the list, then you can proceed to activate VoLTE on your SIM card using the simple steps below:

1. First Enable VoLTE option from your phone’s settings: Network & Internet – Mobile Network – Activate Enhanced 4G LTE Mode (or VoLTE depending on your phone)
2. Then Dial *100*12#
3. Select option 3 then Enable VoLTE for your SIM card
4. You will receive a pop-up notification that VoLTE has been enabled for your SIM

The VoLTE icon should now appear on your status bar next to your network icon

VoLTE calls DO NOT use a data connection to make calls. They are billed with the normal tariffs as 3G calls. It also only works in areas with Safaricom 4G network.

Visit https://www.safaricom.co.ke/volte/ for more info