High VoLTEage: 4G calling comes to Optus

Optus has begun its Voice over LTE (VoLTE) deployment across Australia's major capital cities. Also known as 4G calling, the technology will allow post-paid customers with compatible handsets to make calls using Optus' 4G network.

Currently, the majority of smartphones default back to a telco's 3G network when users make a phone call. By staying on 4G, connection time decreases and call quality can improve. Optus Acting Managing Director of Networks Dennis Wong says VoLTE will also make it easier for subscribers to multi-task.

"We’ve all been on a call when we’ve needed to quickly look up the address of a restaurant or download a file from an email," said Wong. "With VoLTE, this will all be a lot faster and easier because you’ll stay on a 4G connection."

At launch, Samsung's Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 Edge will be the only devices compatible with Optus VoLTE, but the company plans to support other handsets in the future. CBDs and metro areas in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide, Perth and Canberra will be the first to see Optus VoLTE go live. Following this, Wong says the company has plans to take the technology to regional Australia.

Telstra and Vodafone both started offering VoLTE from the end of last year.

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