Apart from Reliance Jio – Airtel, Idea and Vodafone may soon launch VoLTE services in India. Airtel has signed with Nokia, Idea and Vodafone recently won spectrum in an auction. Airtel has been testing the technology for quite some time.
Airtel and Nokia has signed Pan-India deal (Rs. 402 crore) for VoLTE technology. Vodafone will be using Nokia’s IMS solution for VoLTE, Idea is still in talks with Nokia & Ericsson. With VoLTE services users will be able to use voice and data simultaneously without switching bands.
It all started with Reliance Jio. Jio 4G plans are quite attractive though commercially they will go live from 1st January 2017, or after few months in 2017. Reliance might extend the welcome offer that end on 31st December 2016 until March 2017. With Reliance offering free SIM, data and voice with its Welcome Offer the demand for 4G enabled phones have increased drastically.
Reliance Jio needs 4G networks. When Airtel launches its VoLTE services it will provide that as a complimentary service to its users. Airtel has an advantage when they go VoLTE – if the phone does not support VoLTE or in case the service is not available in a particular area, Airtel will switch to lower technology like 3G / 2G.
But ultimately everything will come down to the 4G plan tariff.