Mobile Operator Spusu UK Enables VoLTE Calling for Google Pixel
SIM-Only UK mobile provider spusu, which holds a virtual operator (MVNO) agreement via BTWholesale to harness EE’s national 4G and 5G network, has today confirmed that they’ve finally resolved calling problems (here) on Google’s popular Pixel Smartphones by enabling Voice over Long-Term Evolution (VoLTE) calling support.
Google’s Pixel phones have long developed somewhat of a reputation for calling related problems via Voice-over-LTE and also Wi-Fi Calling. But some of those were resolved in a firmware update issued in June 2024 (here).
However, in other cases, the issue often has more to do with a lack of VoLTE support by the network operator itself. In theory, when VoLTE isn’t working, the handset should still drop back to 2G, although for various reasons that doesn’t always happen. In other cases, those same calls can also end up being sent to voicemail instead of directly to the end-user.
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The above situation was the case for spusu too, which until now didn’t list Google’s phones as being supported on their network. But the company has now established a relationship with Google, meaning owners of their popular Pixel phones, generation 7 and newer, can finally benefit from “seamless 4G calling“.
Christian Banhans, UK MD of spusu, told ISPreview:
“We’re committed to providing all customers with seamless connectivity. And enabling VoLTE for Google Pixel devices is part of that commitment.
Our collaboration with Google has allowed us to bring this crucial feature to Pixel users, ensuring seamless connectivity and greater functionality. Enabling VoLTE on Google Pixel devices is a big step forward in supporting our customers and future proofing our services. With this in mind, we aim to keep making improvements to our network and giving customers even more reasons to choose spusu throughout the year.”
Now.. how about Wi-Fi Calling too (here).
Mark is a professional technology writer, IT consultant and computer engineer from Dorset (England), he also founded ISPreview in 1999 and enjoys analysing the latest telecoms and broadband developments. Find me on X (Twitter), Mastodon, Facebook, BlueSky, Threads.net and Linkedin.
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I left Spusu because the 2G fallback didn’t work (my phone is not supported for VoLTE on Spusu). Is that issue resolved?
Is your phone a pixel 7 or newer? Then yes.
Visit their site. There’s a VoLTE page. If the phone is listed there, then it will use 4G/LTE, if not, it will drop to 2G.
Spusu have accomplished a great deal with what they have done on EE’s network. A fat MVNO with their own IMSI range and VoLTE is a testament to how seriously they are taking the UK market. We’ve been testing their product and so far it represents excellent value for money on what is currently the network with the most UK coverage.
Personally I think being a network hosted MVNO might have been a better plan until they can get the basics working. As far as I’m aware they still don’t have HD voice calling to any other networks which makes them rather useless as an actual telephone service.
Still no Pixel 6 support??? Sucks and I blame whichever upstream provider is responsible for that issue (I’ve had various roaming eSIMs using the same upstream provider afaik which have no 5G on Pixel 6 whatsoever; O2 on pSIM, Vodafone on eSIM (directly and VOXI) and Three Business on eSIM works fine)
Spusu appear to run their own VoLTE platform so support will be their issue rather than the upstream MNO. If both they and the MNO have the same issue then both have the same problem to fix.
Do they still have shortcode texting issues, I could never text 7726 or other shortcodes, HD calling was a bonus but with a lot of apps like FaceTime Audio and Signal, I moved to this provider but left after three months. They always felt half-baked
I suspect there is an emerging problem with later generations of Blackberry and VoLTE (yes people still use and like them, I know of only one other options if you want a physical keyboard on your phone, and that may have similar problems even with up to date Android OS).
From experience, Three would not support VoLTE/4G for a Blackberry Key2 (which is supposed to be able to do VoLTE/4G). Data worked fine, messaging, just no voice calls.