To be able to make calls on some of the new rural cell towers your phone must support “VoLTE”. Approximately 75% of new phones sold support this new feature.
So in some regions you would be unable to even make a 111 call if you didn’t have a VoLTE enabled phone.
Some phones even required you to explicitly turn on VoLTE.
In 2017 the Rural Connectivity Group (RCG) was formed to fast track rural mobile phone and mobile broadband connectivity into areas without coverage. Many of the RCG towers are “VoLTE” only. VoLTE capable phones vary depending on which provider’s network you are using.
There is further info and tech tips here.
To find out whether your phone is VoLTE capable and how to enable it, visit:
Spark: www.spark.co.nz/help/mobile/understand/volte/
One/Vodafone: https://one.nz/our-networks/volte/
2degrees: www.2degrees.nz/help/mobile-help/calling-features/find-out-about-volte
Skinny: www.skinny.co.nz/volte
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