ViLTE: What is it and how do you get the service

By now, we’re all probably familiar with Short for Voice over Long-Term Evolution (VoLTE). But for those unaware, VoLTE is the reason why audio quality over calls is crisper, cleaner, and more stable in the past few years. Essentially, it is made accessible through 4G and 5G wireless channels and utilizes three times more voice and data capacity than 3G and 2G SIMs.

But, if you haven’t already heard, a new extension of VoLTE is already making its way to various SIMs and smartphones – one that is set to revolutionize not only higher quality audio calls, but video calls as well. And, here we introduce ViLTE.

Short for Video over Long-Term Evolution, ViLTE is an extension of VoLTE that allows you to migrate the same high-quality voice channel to video calls. And, because it has been optimized for the latest chipsets, you get excellent battery advantages compared to normal use of video calls over LTE. Simply put, you get an improved level of video call clarity as well as a decrease in battery level depletion.

So, does my phone have ViLTE?

In order to use ViLTE, both your phone and sim have to be compatible with VoLTE first. Essentially, it uses the same Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) and H.264 codec of VoLTE to deliver a vastly superior video quality over LTE wireless networks. Without the isolated channel of VoLTE, ViLTE is not possible.

Therefore, in order to get the benefits of ViLTE, your network provider and smartphone must be able to support VoLTE as well as the extension. Basically, you can think of it as most LTE sims have VoLTE, but not all sims have ViLTE. Although, we might see it become a cellular standard in the future – and sooner than we think.

OK, so how do I get ViLTE?

Luckily, in the Philippines, DITO has released SIMs that are compatible with ViLTE. However, before purchasing a DITO sim, you have to make sure that your phone is also compatible with both VoLTE and ViLTE.

As a matter of fact, DITO highly encourages its users to switch to VoLTE compatible phones to reap the full benefits that the telecommunications service provides. To further their initiative to employ VoLTE and ViLTE as a wireless communication standard in the Philippines, it offers ViLTE at the same rate as VoLTE – PHP 6.50USD 0.11INR 9EUR 0.11CNY 0.81/minute or bundled in your unlimited subscription service.

The only downside is that ViLTE is limited within DITO users, which means you can only use it with other people who have DITO sims. As well as a ViLTE compatible smartphone. Although, for those with lower end smartphones (lacking LTE or VoLTE/ViLTE compatibility), ViLTE is also enabled when using Google Duo. However, instead of reflecting against your DITO call subscription, it will consume mobile data balance.

If that’s the case, who really benefits from ViLTE?

Well, in essence, everyone does.

For consumers, you are not only ensured higher quality video calls over LTE, but also a single bill for all IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS) based services, which include audio and video calls. You’ll also benefit greatly from the security guaranteed by SIM-based authentication.

As for operators, they get the benefit of leveraging existing SIM-based security and authentication as VoLTE, while gaining a competitive edge in terms of video call clarity. Likewise, they’ll also garner the advantage of industry-agreed progression in voice services such as point-to-point videos and conference calls. Plus, of course, the added bonus of financial opportunities for stakeholders across the mobile industry.