Telstra turning on Wi-Fi Calling

Telstra is progressively deploying Wi-Fi Calling - also known as "Voice over Wi-Fi" to all mobile customers with a compatible device and a fixed-line broadband connection.

Wi-Fi Calling technology is designed to let people make and receive phone calls over their household Wi-Fi networks, to help address situations where one may live in a mobile blackspot or not have cellular coverage in certain parts of their home.

Telstra mobile customers who also have a Telstra fixed-line broadband connection will be able to use Wi-Fi Calling without eating into their home broadband data allowance.

Telstra Wi-Fi Calling will only kick in when there's insufficient network coverage to make or receive a phone call. Notably, if you've got Wi-Fi Calling enabled, your phone will be able seamlessly handover from cellular to Wi-Fi (or vice-versa) when coverage is insufficient. Wi-Fi Calling only works with calls, SMS and MMS messages still require a 3G or 4G connection.

At present, Samsung's Galaxy S6 Edge is the only smartphone that works with Telstra Wi-Fi Calling. Telstra also says that you'll need either a Telstra Gateway modem or a modem that is less than four years old for Wi-Fi Calling to work.

If you've got a Galaxy S6 Edge, Telstra Wi-Fi Calling is available, and you're in a Wi-Fi coverage area, you’ll see the icon for Telstra Wi-Fi Calling in the status bar next to your Wi-Fi signal strength indicator. Wi-Fi calling can be enabled and disabled in the dialler app's settings.

Alex Choros

Managing Editor + Group Telco Editor | X | Instagram | Threads | LinkedIn

Alex Choros is the Managing Editor of WhistleOut Australia and an award-winning journalist. He's been writing about consumer technology for over a decade and is an expert on the Australian telco sector, to the point where he knows far too many phone and internet plans by heart. In addition to leading the WhistleOut editorial team, Alex is responsible for ruining the office Sonos with his troubled taste in music.

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