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What Is VoLTE and How Does It Improve Your Calls?
VoLTE is a technology that allows you to make voice calls over the 4G network. Discover what it is, how it works, and how it can make your calls clearer and faster.
Have you heard about VoLTE? It lets you make voice calls using the 4G network. Sounds simple, but behind it lies a big shift in how your voice travels through the mobile network. Let’s take a closer look at what VoLTE is, how it works, and why it improves the overall calling experience.
What Is VoLTE?
VoLTE (Voice over LTE) is a technology that enables you to make voice calls over the high-speed 4G (LTE) network. In practice, this means faster connections, HD-quality voice calls, the ability to use data and voice simultaneously, and improved battery efficiency.
With VoLTE, voice calls no longer travel through the old 2G or 3G networks—they’re transmitted over the same 4G network you already use for browsing.
A key point: VoLTE calls don’t consume your mobile data. Even though they use 4G, they’re managed as a separate service within the operator’s network.
How Does VoLTE Work?
LTE (Long Term Evolution) was originally designed for data only, not voice. To overcome that limitation, engineers developed IMS (IP Multimedia Subsystem)—a framework that allows voice and other services to be delivered over IP. VoLTE is based on this system.
Practically speaking, unlike traditional calls, when you make a VoLTE call your phone sends a signal to the operator’s IMS server, which then establishes the connection between the caller and the recipient.
That server also negotiates audio quality, usually using advanced codecs like AMR-WB (Adaptive Multi-Rate Wideband), which enables HD Voice. The difference is clear: in 3G networks, voice frequencies ranged from about 300 Hz to 3.4 kHz. With VoLTE, calls can cover up to 7 kHz or more—making voices sound much closer to how they do in person.
VoLTE also avoids network switching. Before, a 4G phone had to drop down to 3G to make a call—a process that took several seconds and drained the battery. With VoLTE, everything happens within 4G, seamlessly and efficiently.
Advantages of VoLTE
Here are the main benefits of VoLTE technology:
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HD Voice quality, even in noisy environments like airports or cafés.
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Faster call setup: Calls connect much quicker than on traditional networks.
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Greater stability: Fewer call drops and less interference.
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Seamless handover from Wi-Fi to 4G: Start a call on your home Wi-Fi and continue it outside without interruptions.
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Simultaneous voice and data: Browse, chat, or watch videos while on a call—4G data stays active with no slowdown.
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Better energy efficiency: Lower battery consumption since your phone doesn’t switch between networks (like 4G to 3G).
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Wider coverage in 4G areas: Clear calls even where 2G/3G signal is weak.
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Less network congestion: More efficient traffic distribution across the 4G network.
Which Devices Support VoLTE?
Most smartphones manufactured from 2022 onwards come with VoLTE enabled by default. Brands such as Apple, Samsung, Xiaomi, OPPO, Huawei, and OnePlus support it in their recent models.
For iPhone, VoLTE is available from the iPhone 6 onward. On Android, compatibility depends on the brand and software version, though nearly all updated models support VoLTE.
If your phone is older, you may need to enable it manually in the settings—or it may not support the feature.
How to Activate VoLTE on Your Phone
On most modern smartphones, VoLTE is enabled automatically. If your device is from 2020 or newer and your operator supports the technology, you don’t need to do anything—it just works.
For older phones or if the option appears disabled, you can check it manually in your network settings:
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iPhone: Settings → Mobile Data → Options → Voice & Data → Enable VoLTE
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Samsung: Settings → Connections → Mobile Networks → VoLTE Calls
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Xiaomi/Redmi/POCO: Settings → SIM Cards & Mobile Networks → Enable VoLTE
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Huawei: Settings → Mobile Network → VoLTE Calls
If you can’t find the option, your device most likely already has it enabled by default. And if your operator hasn’t activated VoLTE on your line yet, contact customer support to confirm availability.
What If You Want to Turn Off VoLTE?
Although not recommended, some users might prefer to disable VoLTE—for example, if they experience rare compatibility issues with calls or network coverage.
The process is the same as activation, but simply uncheck the VoLTE option in your network settings.
VoLTE: A Step Forward in Olin’s Mobile Service
Olin is a broadband and mobile operator born on the Costa del Sol, expanding its network with the latest technology in the telecom industry. Our nationwide 4G network now supports VoLTE, which means clearer, more stable calls for our customers.
Because VoLTE isn’t just a technical term—it’s a real improvement in the way we talk on the phone: faster, clearer, and with lower battery consumption.
If you’re part of the Olin network, you’re already enjoying this upgrade to make your calls better than ever.
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