Brazil telco 1st in LatAm to launch voice over LTE

Telecom operator TIM Brasil began to transmit voice over LTE (VoLTE), a technology that allows high voice definition calls through 4G LTE networks.

The company, Brazil's second largest mobile carrier, claims to be the first in Latin America to commercially launch VoLTE. There have been trials and tests in the past, but no effective roll-out.

In Brazil, deployment will be gradual. The first city to receive the service is the capital Brasília, which will be followed by Rio de Janeiro, Recife, Fortaleza, Natal, Maceió, and Uberlândia by the end of the month. All those are cities where the 700Mhz band is already freed up and greenlighted for use.

By the end of the year, the technology should be in other municipalities where TIM is able to transmit 4G in the 700 MHz band, in addition to the main state capitals.

Usually, voice calls are automatically offloaded through 2G or 3G networks, even if the user is connected to a 4G one. The VoLTE ensures there is not traffic "diversion".

Over 4G LTE, calls tend to be cleaner and with greater quality. Other reported advantages are simultaneous navigation with the 4G, reduced battery consumption and shorter connection establishment time.

Because this is an upgrade of its network, rather than a new service, TIM said there will be no additional charges for users. The technology requires compatible phones to work.