Telcos allowed to use Voice over Wi-Fi to improve call quality

The telecom regulator in Bangladesh has approved pilot deployment of Voice over Wi-Fi (VoWiFi) services for mobile operators, aiming to improve indoor coverage and ensure uninterrupted connectivity for users.

Grameenphone and Banglalink have received clearance to test the technology under specific conditions, paving the way for possible commercial launch later this year, according to official documents.

VoWiFi allows mobile users to make and receive calls using Wi-Fi instead of relying solely on cellular towers.

Considered a complementary service to Voice over LTE (VoLTE) and introduced in 2020, it routes calls through an operator's core network via a Wi-Fi access point—home broadband, public hotspots, or enterprise networks—rather than a traditional base station.

The service promises uninterrupted voice connectivity in places where mobile networks struggle—such as basements, high-rise flats, crowded neighbourhoods, or zones where tower installation is restricted.

Technically, VoWiFi uses the IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS), the same backbone as VoLTE, to deliver calls as IP packets.

Calls through VoWiFi remain fully integrated with operator systems, ensuring lawful interception, security, and smooth handover between Wi-Fi and LTE, shows the BTRC document.

Only VoWiFi-enabled VoLTE handsets will support the service.

For users, the benefit is clearer indoor calls.

For operators, it reduces pressure on spectrum, allows towers to serve more users at higher speeds, and lowers handset battery consumption when connecting through Wi-Fi rather than distant towers.

Globally, over 50 countries already use VoWiFi, including India, Pakistan, Malaysia, Saudi Arabia, and Turkey.

GRAMEENPHONE'S PILOT PROPOSAL

Grameenphone, the country's largest operator, first applied for VoWiFi approval in 2022. After several compliance checks with the National Telecommunication Monitoring Centre (NTMC), it submitted a pilot proposal on June 30, 2025.

The plan includes pilots with corporate clients such as PRAN-RFL in Dhaka and Gazipur, Anowara Group in Narayanganj, and residential areas like Bashundhara and Mirpur DOHS. GP employees, family members, regulators, and BTRC will also participate.

The pilot will cover device readiness, live demonstrations, a four-week test period, and evaluation. GP has committed to sharing call data records with the authority, ensuring interception compliance, and submitting bi-weekly updates.

VoWiFi will support voice, video, SMS, and handover between WiFi and LTE, but international roaming will remain restricted, and airplane mode calls will be prohibited.

In a statement, Grameenphone said that "to ensure seamless customer experience, we have already deployed handover capability between VoLTE and VoWiFi technology which will ensure call continuity between public Wifi and GP VoLTE network".

BANGLALINK'S READINESS FOR COMMERCIAL LAUNCH

Banglalink applied for approval in May 2023 and completed its proof-of-concept later that year.

On August 20, 2025, it demonstrated the service at its Dhaka headquarters in collaboration with a broadband operator, showcasing security compliance and end-to-end control.

After completing test scenarios, Banglalink declared itself "fully ready for commercial launch".

It proposed a two-phase rollout—a pilot from August to October 2025 across 500 business and consumer locations, followed by full-scale launch on November 1, 2025.

Banglalink said they "obtained approval from BTRC for a pilot phase, after which we will go commercial. We are already working with a few ISPs and some corporate customers on this".

CONDITIONS AND OVERSIGHT

BTRC has set strict conditions.

Both operators must limit pilots to business-to-business (B2B) and limited business-to-consumer (B2C) models.

All call records must be logged and shared with regulators, including device location, IP, and MAC addresses. VPN users will face whitelist restrictions.

Trials must take place in Dhaka and at least one location outside the capital to test performance. A BTRC committee will oversee the pilots and prepare a report to guide future decisions.

Other operators are expected to submit proposals soon under the same framework, the BTRC document states.