What is WiFi Calling and when will it be available in Egypt?
Although Wi-Fi calling service has been known and applied in many countries of the world for a long time, it has recently gained great fame on many Egyptian media platforms. This comes after news circulated about telecommunications companies in Egypt starting to conduct technical tests in preparation for launching the service before the end of this year, but not many people know the nature of Wi-Fi calls and their benefits, so in the following lines we will discuss in detail how Wi-Fi calls work and their importance.
Mobile phone users in Egypt face major challenges due to poor network coverage and difficulty in receiving and sending calls in many different areas, as a result of the spread of smuggled signal boosters that cause significant interference to telecommunications towers in various governorates. Therefore, companies are moving towards providing Wi-Fi calling service as a solution to this problem.
Wi-Fi Calling service allows users to make traditional phone calls over Wi-Fi instead of relying on the mobile network, which contributes to improving the signal quality inside homes, especially in densely populated areas or in high-rise buildings or even in places below ground level, and the cost of the service will be similar to the cost of traditional calls according to the available subscription plans.
WiFi calling is a feature that allows you to make calls and send text messages using a WiFi network instead of a mobile network. You can take advantage of this feature at home or when you are in public WiFi hotspots even if you are far from the cell towers of mobile companies.
Advantages of making Wi-Fi calls
There are many advantages that Wi-Fi calls provide, including:
- Improve voice quality in areas with poor cellular coverage.
- There are no additional user fees.
- Ease of use without the need for additional services or special plans.
- Use the same phone number without having to log in to other apps .
- Increased battery life because the phone is not constantly searching for a cellular network to make a call.
- Low bandwidth consumption, with voice calls consuming around 1MB per minute and video calls between 6-8MB per minute.
Wifi Calling Features
Wi-Fi calling technology has been spreading remarkably in developed countries for a long time, but it has been late in reaching some developing countries due to technical challenges and varying infrastructure. However, the need for this service has become urgent in countries like Egypt, where traditional networks suffer from multiple problems, most notably interference resulting from unlicensed signal boosters and increasing population density in urban areas.
Background on the problem in Egypt
In recent years, mobile phone users in Egypt have faced a noticeable deterioration in the quality of communication, which has led to a significant increase in user complaints. In addition to the interference caused by smuggled signal boosters, there is also the problem of weak telecommunications network infrastructure, especially in rural or new areas that are not yet adequately covered.
Impact of launching Wi-Fi calling on the Egyptian market
The launch of Wi-Fi calling service in Egypt is expected to have a significant impact on the telecom market. On the one hand, it will improve the user experience, which may enhance customer loyalty to the companies providing the service. On the other hand, it may push companies to invest more in improving public and private Wi-Fi networks, which will open the door to other technical improvements in the future.
Potential challenges
Despite the many benefits of this service, there are some challenges that companies in Egypt may face when launching Wi-Fi calls. The most prominent of these challenges is ensuring the continuity of communication and quality of service under the current infrastructure. Users may also face some difficulties in adapting to the new technology at first, especially if the service activation settings require some technical steps that may be unfamiliar to many.
Digital transformation and its role in supporting the service
The launch of Wi-Fi calls comes within the framework of the digital transformation sought by the Egyptian government and telecommunications companies. With the increasing reliance on the Internet and digital solutions, it has become necessary to provide technical solutions that contribute to improving communications and facilitating the lives of citizens. Wi-Fi calls are an important step towards achieving this goal, especially in light of the trend towards making the Internet an essential part of people’s daily lives.
With the expected success of the launch of Wi-Fi calling service in Egypt, the market is likely to witness the entry of new technologies such as 5G calls or even the use of satellite internet in remote areas. These improvements will not only improve the quality of calls but may also lead to improving other services such as home internet and digital applications.
How to activate Wi-Fi calling
On Android devices:
- Open Settings.
- Select Networks & Internet, then Mobile Network.
- Enable Wi-Fi calling.
On iPhone:
- Go to settings.
- Select Cellular and then Wi-Fi Calling.
- Enable Wi-Fi Calling.
If your device is old and doesn't support this feature, you can use apps like Skype or WhatsApp to make calls and send text messages over the internet, but keep in mind that these apps can't automatically transfer calls to the cellular network if you go out of Wi-Fi range, as is the case with the original Wi-Fi connection.
The important role of Wi-Fi calls cannot be overlooked, especially in areas with weak communications networks. At a time when communications have become a basic need, especially in light of circumstances that may impose social distancing, as happened with the Corona pandemic, this service provides a guaranteed means of communication between individuals regardless of their location or the quality of the cellular network in their area.
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