No Roaming or WiFi Calling on Telkom Mobile

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Duan

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I have just been in the US for work for a few weeks as I do from time to time.

Imagine no SMS from your bank, no 2FA via SMS, not being able to receive calls from family....

I have International roaming activated and have previously used it in the USA as well as various countries in Europe with only minor issues.

On my most recent trip (May 2023) I found that my phone refused to connect to any mobile network in the US. I were in several states and cities in the US.

The phone (iPhone 12) would just state "SOS only" where the name of the mobile operator would otherwise appear. I also tried my sim in another phone (Samsung Android) and it told me "Emergency calls only".

I have had a lot of very confusing messaging from @TelkomZA on the matter.

I am also unable to enable "Voice over WiFi (VoWiFi)" on my iPhone 12 or 14 using Telkom Mobile (although they claim it is available). Vodacom WiFi calling works fine.

Once again, there is confusing messaging from @TelkomZA who tells me the issue lies with Apple.

Does anyone have similar experiences or advice for me?
 

Attachments

You're missing a key point here.

Most of the world networks use Wi-Fi calling to help their customers reduce roaming costs. For example i have an EU network e-sim on my phone. It connects here in ZA over Wi-Fi calling so when I phone family in that country its either free or very cheap as its a local call.

In South Africa, and many other 3rd-world, the Telco's are out to milk you for as much money as possible. this is why, many, including Telkom DO NOT mention roaming in the Wi-Fi calling ads. They mention its for areas with bad coverage (basically their incompetence too).

To that end, they are thus probably blocking Wi-Fi calling connections not originating from South African IP spaces. Because they will rather you pay insane roaming fees than benefit from discounts afforded by Wi-Fi calling which ultimately means more money for them.

Its the same with MTN. I've been on 2 international trips since enabling Wi-Fi calling on my iPhone 13 and it will not connect to Wi-Fi calling on MTN from outside South Africa. Probably because they geo-block as per my reasons above. When i'm in South Africa on Wi-Fi with a local ISP it works fine.

Vodacom it seems, is the only network that's trying not to rob their users and which is why, I will be porting to them once my MTN contract is up.
 
neoprema said:
You're missing a key point here.

Most of the world networks use Wi-Fi calling to help their customers reduce roaming costs. For example i have an EU network e-sim on my phone. It connects here in ZA over Wi-Fi calling so when I phone family in that country its either free or very cheap as its a local call.

In South Africa, and many other 3rd-world, the Telco's are out to milk you for as much money as possible. this is why, many, including Telkom DO NOT mention roaming in the Wi-Fi calling ads. They mention its for areas with bad coverage (basically their incompetence too).

To that end, they are thus probably blocking Wi-Fi calling connections not originating from South African IP spaces. Because they will rather you pay insane roaming fees than benefit from discounts afforded by Wi-Fi calling which ultimately means more money for them.

Its the same with MTN. I've been on 2 international trips since enabling Wi-Fi calling on my iPhone 13 and it will not connect to Wi-Fi calling on MTN from outside South Africa. Probably because they geo-block as per my reasons above. When i'm in South Africa on Wi-Fi with a local ISP it works fine.

Vodacom it seems, is the only network that's trying not to rob their users and which is why, I will be porting to them once my MTN contract is up.
Click to expand...
Even while in SA I can't enable WiFi Calling.

When in the USA, no Calls, no data and no SMS and yes, I have roaming enabled, but it does not work in the USA.

I don't know what cellC is like now, but in the past I used wifi calling very effectively while in the US. It was easy and there is free WiFi everywhere...
 
Duan said:
Even while in SA I can't enable WiFi Calling.

When in the USA, no Calls, no data and no SMS and yes, I have roaming enabled, but it does not work in the USA.

I don't know what cellC is like now, but in the past I used wifi calling very effectively while in the US. It was easy and there is free WiFi everywhere...
Click to expand...
Cell-C did not geo-block either. It seems MTN and Telkom are into this...

As for why your phone won't activate it at all, i don't know.
 
Duan said:
Even while in SA I can't enable WiFi Calling.

When in the USA, no Calls, no data and no SMS and yes, I have roaming enabled, but it does not work in the USA.

I don't know what cellC is like now, but in the past I used wifi calling very effectively while in the US. It was easy and there is free WiFi everywhere...
Click to expand...

Wifi calling is not available on iPhones with TM
 
neoprema said:
Cell-C did not geo-block either. It seems MTN and Telkom are into this...

As for why your phone won't activate it at all, i don't know.
Click to expand...

You mean they actively block WiFi Calling so that you can only use it while in RSA?

I guess one could try a VPN to circumvent that, but that sounds ridiculous as hell!!
 
Duan said:
You mean they actively block WiFi Calling so that you can only use it while in RSA?

I guess one could try a VPN to circumvent that, but that sounds ridiculous as hell!!
Click to expand...
Yes. They do.

If you consider that they're advertising it as "VoWiFi technology will also assist in improving indoor coverage such as inside office blocks..." - they are not even mentioning roaming in their advertising of it. They have no intention of having you bypass high roaming costs by using Wi-Fi calling.
 
neoprema said:
Yes. They do.

If you consider that they're advertising it as "VoWiFi technology will also assist in improving indoor coverage such as inside office blocks..." - they are not even mentioning roaming in their advertising of it. They have no intention of having you bypass high roaming costs by using Wi-Fi calling.
Click to expand...
The joke is, I am actually willing (but not happy) to pay if they can just get it to work.

I am starting to suspect they may not have paid their roaming partner AT&T.
 
Duan said:
The joke is, I am actually willing (but not happy) to pay if they can just get it to work.

I am starting to suspect they may not have paid their roaming partner AT&T.
Click to expand...
Lol could be that too...wouldn't put it past them.
 
3Gee said:
Wifi calling is not available on iPhones with TM
Click to expand...
So if I get you right it is only available on Android phones? Do you have some official comms on this or is it your own experience?

I called Telkom on 10210 and they told me it does work on iPhones. The person on the other side told me she has it working on an iPhone 13.

Telkom Case number: 72206504
 
Duan said:
So if I get you right it is only available on Android phones? Do you have some official comms on this or is it your own experience?

I called Telkom on 10210 and they told me it does work on iPhones. The person on the other side told me she has it working on an iPhone 13.

Telkom Case number: 72206504
Click to expand...

There is no Wifi Calling option in the Phone Settings menu with TM ,
Choose any of the other networks and you will see the Wifi calling option pop up in the phone settings menu on iPhone.

Either they have to remotely activate it or the consultant is BS you.

Do you have the Wifi Calling option ?
 
3Gee said:
There is no Wifi Calling option in the Phone Settings menu with TM ,
Choose any of the other networks and you will see the Wifi calling option pop up in the phone settings menu on iPhone.

Either they have to remotely activate it or the consultant is BS you.

Do you have the Wifi Calling option ?
Click to expand...
I agree with you. I think it is part of the Operator settings which is downloaded when you install a sim.

Now does that go down to an individual subscriber level... that I don't know, I would argue it should be standard across the entire operator.

Regardless, it would seem a fairly simple thing that has been around for years and they just need to activate it....

But then normal roaming is even more "standard" and they can't seem to keep that working, so I guess my expectations are too high.

I wish there was someone you could talk to at Telkom who understands these things at a technical level. Instead, it would seem one gets passed around from one clueless helpdesk to the next until they wear you out.
 
Does Telkom roaming work in south Korea. Which network.
Phone does not want to connect to a network there.
It is a samsung. I see some vpn places say they to sms to anywhere? Anyone try it.
 
upup said:
Does Telkom roaming work in south Korea. Which network.
Phone does not want to connect to a network there.
It is a samsung. I see some vpn places say they to sms to anywhere? Anyone try it.
Click to expand...

I suggest enabling VoWIFI. No roaming required for VoWIFI.
 
Telkom VoWIFI does not work on iPhone locally or internationally (Apple has to approve the function and Telkom has to submit for certification to Apple, This is how it worked for VoLTE )

However the information in the thread is misleading and wrong

My Dads S22 on Telkom works flawlessly locally and internationally ( in Dubai and Singapore from what I've tested) No VPN required,
connect to Hotel or Airport Wi-FI and works fine calls, SMSs take an extra minute to come through

Telkom has not enabled VoWIFI on iPhone unfortunately ( From what I understand they have to show Apple that it works so Apple has to approve)

On my iPhone 12 I have no VoWIFI but put my Sim into a Samsung phone, VoWIFI connects immediately locally or internationally
 
upup said:
Does Telkom roaming work in south Korea. Which network.
Phone does not want to connect to a network there.
It is a samsung. I see some vpn places say they to sms to anywhere? Anyone try it.
Click to expand...
If you on contract, you have to phone them to approve

On Prepaid, dial the USSD code to allow it
 
upup said:
Contract, did apply, they say it is on roaming, but phone does not find a network in south Korea.
Click to expand...

Didn’t have luck on a prepaid sim as well kept failing

Telkom being Telkom I guess

If you need SMS and local calling rates I’d suggest Wi-Fi calling if you have a Samsung or android

And get a local sim in South Korea , doubt Telkom is going to be much help
 
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