A weak signal does not always mean you have to step outside or move closer to a window to make a call. Your phone may be able to place the call through your internet connection instead.
You can have one bar of mobile signal in your bedroom, yet make a normal phone call through your home Wi-Fi. It can seem strange because your phone still shows the same number, you dial from the same place, and the person on the other end does not need a special app.
Wi-Fi calling works because the voice connection can switch from the mobile network to a Wi-Fi connection. Your phone needs compatible hardware and software, while your network provider must support Wi-Fi calling for your device and SIM.
What Wi-Fi calling is doing
A normal mobile call connects through your network’s cellular infrastructure. Wi-Fi calling gives your phone another route. Once your phone has a suitable Wi-Fi connection, the carrier can route the call through the internet connection instead of relying on a strong mobile signal.
Vodacom states that Wi-Fi calling can take over when cellular signal drops below a set threshold, provided the phone has a working Wi-Fi connection. Vodacom’s Wi-Fi Calling requirements also explain why a compatible device and provisioned service are necessary.
You do not need the person you are calling to have Wi-Fi calling. Your phone and network handle the connection on your side, while the call still works like an ordinary phone call. The useful part is the route your voice takes, not a special app on both phones.
A poor Wi-Fi connection can cause problems of its own. A congested or unreliable connection can affect whether the call connects or how well it sounds.
What you need before it works
Your phone needs to support Wi-Fi calling, your network provider must offer it for your device, and your SIM and account need the required service configuration. MTN, for example, states that compatible devices and LTE SIMs are part of its Wi-Fi calling requirements. MTN’s Wi-Fi Calling information also explains activation and billing. Your home Wi-Fi setup matters as well. If you already have a room where Wi-Fi struggles, Wi-Fi dead zones at home can affect more than streaming or browsing.
Liz Thorne
What happens when you make the call?
Your phone can select Wi-Fi calling when the cellular connection is weak and a suitable Wi-Fi connection is available. The exact conditions differ between networks and devices, which is why one phone can offer the feature while another does not.
ICASA notes that network coverage and dropped calls fall within its consumer-protection mandate, while coverage maps can help you assess whether a provider works in the places where you need it.
Wi-Fi calling does not make a weak mobile signal stronger. It gives your phone another route for a call when a suitable Wi-Fi connection is available. Your phone, SIM, network provider and Wi-Fi connection all need to support the setup.
A weak signal at home does not automatically mean you need a new network or a signal booster. Check whether your phone and provider support Wi-Fi calling first, then check the quality of the Wi-Fi connection in the rooms where calls usually fail. Your phone and its accounts also deserve protection if the handset is lost or stolen.
Lynette Spencer
Mariana Balt
Naomi Roebert
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