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It has been a very long time coming, but now all customers of Giffgaff – both existing and new – will be able to use Wi-Fi Calling and 4G Calling (also known as VoLTE or Voice over LTE).
These technologies are largely what they sound – allowing you to make and receive calls over Wi-Fi and 4G, as well as send and receive text messages over these connections. It’s a seamless experience, working with your usual phone number, dialler, and SMS app.
These services also come at no extra cost, with your standard monthly allowances being used for them – or if you don’t have a plan then you’ll pay standard Pay As You Go rates.
Giffgaff actually started switching these services on back in April, but it only recently finished migrating all customers over to them.
It’s later than many networks at doing so, as Wi-Fi Calling and 4G Calling have been available on some networks for years, but better late than never, and this is a substantial upgrade – one that means you’ll be able to keep communicating in places that don’t have any mobile signal, as long as they have Wi-Fi.
Call over 4G because there soon won't be any 3G
The 4G Calling aspect though could be even more useful, since the UK’s networks are in the process of switching 3G off, so being able to call over 4G will soon be extremely important. In the case of Giffgaff, it’s using O2’s infrastructure, and O2 plans to start switching 3G off next year.
Note though that to make use of Wi-Fi Calling and 4G Calling you’ll need a compatible device. Fortunately, a large number of phones are compatible. You can see the full list in Giffgaff’s Wi-Fi Calling and VoLTE guide, but its includes the likes of the iPhone XS through to the iPhone 16 series, the Samsung Galaxy S21 through to the Samsung Galaxy S24 lines, the Google Pixel 7 through to the Google Pixel 9, the Sony Xperia 1 V and onwards, and many other phones.
Note also that you might need to switch Wi-Fi Calling on before it will work. To do this on iPhone, head to Settings > Phone > WiFi Calling, and toggle it on. If you’re using an Android device, go to Settings > Connections > WiFi Calling, and enable it.
