Odd Txt Regarding Roaming And 3G

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Rickles

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#3202637 3-Mar-2024 12:21

@cokemaster ... thanks. Yes, I meant to put 'over the internet' in quotes simply to explain the difference between 4GLTE (data) and 4GVoLTE (data + calling).

I assist an organisation that supports seniors with technology, so getting it right in my own mind is key 😁

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#3202750 3-Mar-2024 14:28

One of the challenges with VoLTE is the implementation came after 4G was widely available (and with 4G handsets in the market). This had two major effects: A. Handsets were sold with no concept of VoLTE, and B. To enable VoLTE, you had to do extensive testing + deployment of profiles.
On the device front: With Apple - its arguably simpler however with Android based devices - its a tag team between the operators, the handset manufacturers and Google. Once a device is sold - there is little incentive providing extensive software updates. I know there are a few forums out there where people have been 'hacking' profiles/reflashing firmwares onto their devices to get VoLTE working (would not recommend this unless you know what you are doing).

This is quite different to CDMA, GSM, and WCDMA which firmly had their voice standards + codecs locked in advance of networks being deployed (a few of these networks were voice first, data second). Also owing to the technology back then, a lot of the heavy lifting was done through hardware as opposed to software.

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PolicyGuy

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#3202751 3-Mar-2024 14:49

All the information on the Spark website about "VoLTE Roaming" appears to be about inwards roaming - overseas people being able to use VoLTE in NZ.

I'm off to Australia in a few weeks, and would like to know if my phone (an Oppo A78 5G, Spark-supplied, on the Spark network) will work for phone calls and texts in the Sydney & Canberra metropolitan area.

Any ideas on how I can find out, or if I'll need to buy a real cheap phone on arrival in Sydney?

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#3202754 3-Mar-2024 15:00

Telstra and Optus still operate 3G networks, I’m 99% positive that Spark roams on Telstra.

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Rickles

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#3202756 3-Mar-2024 15:01

@PolicyGuy .... depending on how long you are in Oz, I still think the best deal is to get a Tourist/Traveller SIM on way out of AU airport. After a few days it outweighs the terrible daily roaming charge.

Last time (a year ago) I got an Optus Tourist SIM for about $35 which gave me 60GB for 28 days plus unlimited Calls and TXTs in Oz, and 400 minutes international. If I'd gone with daily roaming rates, I'd be over that cost in 4 days 😁

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#3202757 3-Mar-2024 15:05

You can also pop into a woolies or Cole’s and get exceptionally cheap service too :)

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#3202759 3-Mar-2024 15:07

PolicyGuy:
All the information on the Spark website about "VoLTE Roaming" appears to be about inwards roaming - overseas people being able to use VoLTE in NZ.

Im happy to be wrong but I believe it’s referring to Spark customer requirements. Inbound roamers are really dependent on their service providers to ensure that they have the right profiles and interconnections with the roaming operator (and they own all aspects of the customer experience).

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Rickles

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#3202760 3-Mar-2024 15:08

Best info I can find on Australia is -

Vodafone was the first company to switch off its 3G network December 2023.

Telstra will follow, with all its 3G services ending on June 30, 2024, while Optus will be the last to shut its 3G doors in September 2024.

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#3202762 3-Mar-2024 15:10

When I was last in Oz, there were over 8 small mobile providers at competitive rates .... including ALDI, TPG, Moose, Kogan and lots others.

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#3202763 3-Mar-2024 15:12

Correct… Vodafone AU were aggressively pushing out a similar SMS to what One NZ were doing, it was tailored to the device however:

Hi first person name, we've noticed your phone settings might need a small tweak to boost your mobile experience. By turning on VoLTE, not only could you save battery life and improve the quality of your calls, you'll also be able to make calls on our 4G network and surf the web from your phone at the same time - for no additional cost.

For a helpful guide to turning on VoLTE for an Apple phone head to vodafone.com.au/volteapple. Need more help? Call 1555 or head to store and our friendly team will be happy to help you. Thanks, Vodafone.

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andyb

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#3202993 4-Mar-2024 09:04

cokemaster:

Its important to note that this is not a NZ specific thing either. With the Australian operators, only Optus has VoLTE roaming with a New Zealand operator (Spark - but this is not necessarily the default steered provider).
Whilst its not as pronounced as NZ largely has 3G services... there are 4G only areas (rural connectivity group sites) where you won't be able to make calls if you are a Vodafone AU or Telstra customer... or an Optus customer connected to One NZ / 2 Degrees.

Actually not correct, we (Spark) bilateral VoLTE is in place with all 3 Aussie carriers.

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#3202995 4-Mar-2024 09:07

wellygary:

One have a bunch of stuff on Volte Roaming hera

https://one.nz/our-networks/volte/

The only interesting wrinkle might be

5. To use 4G Calling while roaming, you need to ensure you are on an eligible One NZ Pay Monthly plan. All of our current in-market plans include VoLTE roaming.

There is no provided list of "eligible" plans, so does this mean grandfathered plans don't provide for VOLTE roaming,??

Hi team

Got my clarification this morning. As I suspect as long as VoLTE is enabled on your plan (which it is by default), it does not matter if you are on a in market plan or not.

I will see if I can find the product owner of our website to change the wording.

Kind regards

Maxine

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PolicyGuy

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#3203000 4-Mar-2024 09:22

andyb:

... we (Spark) bilateral VoLTE is in place with all 3 Aussie carriers.

Thanks, @andyb, that's very good news. 😁

Whilst "Geekzone to the rescue, again!" is great, could you please arrange for that information to be clearly and unambiguously stated on the Spark website, on the VoLTE Roaming pages. If it's already on the website, I couldn't find it, and I did look quite hard.

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#3203029 4-Mar-2024 10:35

andyb:
Actually not correct, we (Spark) bilateral VoLTE is in place with all 3 Aussie carriers.

When I was last in NZ late December, Early Jan… I was only able to get Optus to do a call over VoLTE, all the others would drop down to 3G (I tried attaching to all three networks). All the sims were pay monthly and had VoLTE and roaming VoLTE enabled.

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andyb

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#3203064 4-Mar-2024 12:57

PolicyGuy:

andyb:

... we (Spark) bilateral VoLTE is in place with all 3 Aussie carriers.

Thanks, @andyb, that's very good news. 😁

Whilst "Geekzone to the rescue, again!" is great, could you please arrange for that information to be clearly and unambiguously stated on the Spark website, on the VoLTE Roaming pages. If it's already on the website, I couldn't find it, and I did look quite hard.

There are no plans to list VoLTE roaming capable carriers on our website at this stage. There will be exceptions ie when the USA or Aussie is entirely VoLTE only. At this point there is no need to list the carriers because roamers with a non VoLTE roaming capable device will be steered to a carrier that still has 2G/3G.

andyb

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