4G voice telephony (VoLTE)

Use 4G voice telephony (VoLTE) with sipgate – better voice quality and faster call setup over LTE.

What is 4G voice calling?

This refers to telephony over the 4G/LTE mobile network, also known as Voice over LTE (VoLTE). This gives you shorter call setup times and improved voice quality. In addition, during a 4G call you can continue using the internet with your smartphone, which is not possible with conventional 2G voice telephony.

How can I use 4G voice calling from sipgate?

Most devices manufactured since 2016 are VoLTE-capable. VoLTE must also be enabled in the settings. On most devices, this is preset. Your device must also be connected to the 4G/LTE network or 5G.

To determine whether you are calling over the 4G network with sipgate, you can check the following: Use your mobile phone to call the test number 86583 You will hear a recorded message informing you whether you are calling over 4G. The number is free of charge for you.

Is 4G voice calling available for all sipgate customers?

Since the end of March 2024, the VoLTE feature has been enabled for all sipgate customers. However, a small number still have to do without it because these devices are not compatible with the technology used. We continue to work on supporting as many VoLTE-capable smartphones as possible.

How do I configure my phone for VoLTE?

As a rule, VoLTE is preset and you do not need to do anything. However, you can check whether VoLTE is enabled on your device:

iPhone

On iPhone 12 models or newer, VoLTE is always active, provided it is available on the network side. As a user, you have no way to turn this on or off. As soon as sipgate enables VoLTE for you, your iPhone will use this feature. This option only appears when roaming. For older iPhones or when roaming, set the following configuration:

1. Go to Settings and click on Mobile network.

2. Next, select the Data options.

3. Click on Voice & Data.

4. As soon as you have VoLTE enabled with a toggle, you can use 4G voice calling with sipgate.

Android

On most Android devices, VoLTE is enabled by default, so you usually do not need to do anything. The navigation path is similar in most cases, but may vary on some devices. As an example, we have described the steps to enable VoLTE for a Samsung Galaxy S21+ 5G here:

1. In your phone’s settings, go to Connections.

2. Then navigate to Mobile networks.

3. Enable the VoLTE calls function for your SIM.

My device is VoLTE-capable - why does it still not work?

First you need to check whether you can use VoLTE with sipgate. If your device is from 2018 or newer and you still cannot use sipgate VoLTE, please contact us for investigation via the customer support. There are some devices that are generally VoLTE-capable, but do not want to speak VoLTE with sipgate. This mainly affects devices manufactured at a time when E-Plus still existed as a mobile provider. In our experience, this includes some devices from before 2018.

Does calling over 4G cost me extra?

No, there are no additional usage costs.

Does 4G voice calling also work outside Germany?

In principle, it also works abroad, but sipgate depends here on Telefonica’s (O2) roaming agreements. In which countries and networks you can call over the 4G network can be found in this document (PDF) from Telefonica (O2).

What about WiFi calling (Voice over WiFi / WLAN calls)?

Unfortunately, sipgate cannot yet offer WiFi calling. This feature is currently in the research phase.

What about emergency calls?

Emergency calls continue to work. As soon as you call 112 or 110, you will be connected to the correct emergency dispatch center for your location.