The VoLTE (Voice over LTE) penetration in Nepal is increasing but still under 30%, which is still far behind that of neighboring countries. If a call happens in VoLTE, your phone does not need to fall back to 2G, 3G making better experience. This eliminates the need of such legacy network for call and makes them irrelevant. So, VoLTE is essential for the not only better-quality call but also to let go legacy 2G, 3G networks. For which, government need to ban the import of such 2G, 3G, non-VoLTE 4G phones in Nepal, here we will point out the reasons why.
While 2G feature phones still remain at a large proportion, it hinders the telcos dream of a lean, efficient network. If the regulator ensures that non-VoLTE phones (including feature phones) are not being imported, it is beneficial for both telecom operators and customers. Similarly, the regulator also needs to check on the compatible bands for 4G and upcoming 5G, while providing approval for import. It is also favorable for a country as a whole as it enables future ready users with the adoption of digital services as aimed by the government.
1. Phase out 2G/3G legacy networks
4G/5G technologies are faster and efficient than legacy 2G/3G. So, telcos prefer users to latch on to 4G/5G network. As non-VoLTE phone needs 2G/3G for calling, telcos need to maintain such legacy network with more maintenance cost and inefficient spectrum usage. Hence, mobile operators are seeking to shut down 2G, 3G and focus on 4G/5G with more resources like spectrum. If only VoLTE handsets reach the ultimate maximum, telcos can switch off 2G, 3G either one by one or at once. Ncell has already announced to switch off 3G network while Nepal Telecom may do the same in some time. And 2G will remain for some time and requires cent percent VoLTE users before its dismisal.
2. Better user experience in Calling and Data
As VoLTE provides HD quality calling, faster call setup time and does not switch to 2G, 3G, you will have enhanced user experience. Also, you can use high speed data while making VoLTE calls, enabling you to do multi-tasking. Call drops in VoLTE is also not that frequent which helps the telcos to elevate user experience. Check out the top features of VoLTE for better user experience.
3. Efficient resources management and higher capacity
VoLTE uses less resources on the 4G while comparing to that of 2G, 3G calls. So having higher VoLTE penetration can put less pressure for handling calls, making it efficient. While telcos can free up spectrum from such 2G, 3G to use it for 4G/5G, it will bring more capacity to handle more users for higher speed and quality.
Check out: How to check 4G, 5G band support on your phone?
4. Longer Battery life
Non-VoLTE phones switch back to 2G, 3G which consumes more battery in terms of more network measurements and handover. Such frequent change in networks drain more battery of your device. While VoLTE ensures you remain on 4G as long as it is available, it enables better battery life of your device.
5. Encourage future evolution to 5G and beyond
VoLTE is one of the pre-requisites for using 5G network, as it relies on VoLTE, VoNR (Voice over New Radio) for calling. If a country bans the import of non-VoLTE phones, more people will latch to 4G, 5G which encourages telcos to upgrade their network for next generation technologies. So, if you need 5G in Nepal, you need to use VoLTE and encourage others as well.
Do read: 2G, 3G, 4G, 5G mobile network explained simply
6. Accelerate Digital Service Adoption
Government has planned to accelerate the digital services like e-governance, digital financial services, online education, e-commerce etc. Feature phones or 2G/3G or non-VoLTE phones having no or unreliable data fails to support such services. However, increasing 4G and VoLTE users can help government’s effort in reaching all of its people digitally enabling more innovation.
Do read: 4G vs 5G mobile network; Which one to prefer?
7. Telecom Sector Growth
Having non-VoLTE phones in the network requires to maintain 2G, 3G network, which incurs high costs for such inefficient network. While laying off 2G, 3G network empowers telcos to reduce maintenance costs, use spectrum for efficient 4G/5G, increase revenue with more data usage, focus on 4G/5G, fosters the whole telecom sector’s growth. It could be one of the turning points to tackle the challenges for the telecom industry of Nepal.
Please take a time to read this, if you have a VoLTE enabled handset but not using it. Here is how to enable VoLTE in Ntc. Likewise, find how to activate Ncell VoLTE.
Hence, adopting the ban on import of non-VoLTE phones and feature phones, have multiple benefits for the consumers, telcos and the country. It also helps the telcos to focus on modernization of the telecom infrastructure for 4G/5G rather than entangled with the outdated 2G/3G. So, let’s all support the telecom industry by using VoLTE over 4G/5G phone instead of 2G/3G.
