Editing Voice over LTE (section)

==VoLTE emergency calling==
[[File:VoLTE Emergency Calling Android 8.0.png|thumb|391x391px|VoLTE Emergency Calling Android]]
Not all devices that have been sold as 'VoLTE capable' support making calls to Emergency Numbers over 4G/LTE with VoLTE.<ref name=":2" /> Some carriers and manufacturers have disabled the ability for phones to call Emergency Services with VoLTE and the devices reliant on 2G or 3G Networks to make calls to Emergency Services.<ref>[https://eena.org/knowledge-hub/press-releases/the-potential-perils-of-2g-and-3g-switch-offs/ "The Potential Perils of 2G and 3G Switch Offs"]. ''EENA''. 12 September 2022. Retrieved 7 August 2024.</ref>

In 2022 at the European Emergency Number Association (EENA) Conference, Telecoms Expert Rudolf van der Berg made a presentation to the Conference outlining serious compatibility issues with VoLTE Calling and Emergency Calling. One of the major issues he raised is that many 4G/LTE Phones (both European & International) are completely unable to call (911/112) Emergency services without the presence of 2G/3G (Circuit Switched Calling) Networks.<ref name="EENA2022" />

These issues are not well known to the general public. However, in his EENA presentation, he said these issues are '''''“Common Knowledge”''''' in the industry and that '''''“..there is nobody who feels responsible to fix this."'''<sup>(16:45)</sup>'' <ref name="EENA2022" />

On a slide in his presentation, it said "'...[the] telecom sector will deny [there’s a problem], be angry over 5G investment, and bargain for half-baked measures..'"

A device can have working VoLTE calling (IMS Registration) on a network but may not be able to successfully make calls to emergency numbers over 4G. For Android devices, there are methods to test a device for 4G Emergency Calling support; however, such testing may require third-party software and tools to perform. Simply dialing an Emergency Number on a 4G device is '''not''' sufficient to test if a device can make VoLTE Emergency Calls.<ref name=":0" />

Depending on signal strength and other factors, a device may default to 2G or 3G networks (if available). Furthermore, a 4G/LTE device may say ''“Emergency Calls Only”'' within the system settings or notifications area, but that message does not prove the device can actually make an Emergency call over 4G/LTE.<ref name=":0" /> Additionally, a device may be configured for 4G Emergency Calls in a given region but fail to connect when placing a 4G Call in another country or on another network. These devices will generally get stuck on 'calling' and the call will never go through, even though a 2G or 3G network is available.

Prior to the March 2024 Switch-off of 3G Networks in Australia, the Federal Government announced that more than 740,000 4G VoLTE enabled phones would no longer be able to call Emergency Services after the 3G Networks were switched off.<ref>[https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-04-08/million-iphone-android-devices-caught-out-3g-shutdown/103673864 "More than a million older 4G mobile phones at risk of being blocked from making triple-0 calls in 3G shutdown"]. ''ABC News Australia''. 8 April 2024. Retrieved 7 August 2024.</ref> In early April 2024, this number was increased to more than 1 million devices.

Telstra was originally set to switch off their 3G Network on 30 June 2024. Telstra extended their switch off to 31 August in early May 2024.<ref>[https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-05-06/telstra-to-extend-3g-network-shutdown/103808110 "Telstra to Extend 3G Shutdown' - Jane Norman – 6 May 2024"]. ''ABC News''. 6 May 2024. Retrieved 7 August 2024.</ref> On 14 August 2024, Telstra and Optus further extended the 3G switch off date to 28 October 2024.<ref>[https://www.optus.com.au/about/media-centre/media-releases/2024/08/optus-and-telstra-announce-extension-to-3g-network-closures "Telstra and Optus announce extension to 3G network closures"]. ''optus.com.au''. 14 August 2024.</ref> Vodafone completed their 3G switch off in early January 2024.<ref>[https://www.vodafone.com.au/support/network/3g-closure "We have switched off our 3G network"]. ''Vodafone Australia''. Retrieved 2024-09-02.</ref>