With Wi-Fi Calling it’s easy to make and receive calls and texts in any location covered by Wi-Fi across NZ or overseas, even when you have a weak or no mobile signal.
It works like a normal call, plus there’s no additional charge for Primo customers as it will come out of your mobile plan’s call and text allowance as usual. It will also use a minimal amount of your internet data.
Easy to set up and even easier to use, simply check you have an approved OneNZ compatible mobile phone that’s been updated with the latest software, then turn on Wi-Fi Calling in your phone’s settings, and connect to a Wi-Fi network. Note that local interference and Wi-Fi traffic load may impact the Wi-Fi Calling experience at certain times.
When in use, an icon will be displayed on your device, at the top of your screen.
Connect inside or outside without a fuss – Wi-Fi Calling connects automatically if you’re connected to Wi-Fi and have a weak mobile signal.
Over time, as new software is released and updated on phones, we expect more devices to be enabled for Wi-Fi Calling.
Within NZ, all calls will try to connect to the cellular (mobile) network first, and then try to use Wi-Fi if the mobile signal is too weak*. But if you are overseas, then Wi-Fi Calling will be automatically preferred.
When overseas, connect to any available Wi-Fi network and turn on Wi-Fi Calling to be able to call and TXT as if you are still in NZ. You don’t need to turn on Roaming to use Wi-Fi Calling so you won’t be charged roaming rates however your minutes and TXTs used over WIFI Calling will come out of your mobile plan allowance. Eg if you call a NZ number using Wi-Fi Calling while roaming overseas, this will come out of your plan allowance. If you call a local number in the country you’re traveling in, you’ll be charged the standard cost of calling an international number, like you would at home. Note that calls will drop once you leave Wi-Fi coverage, and you will need to turn on Roaming to make a call.
You can make emergency calls using Wi-Fi Calling, it will first try to use the mobile network before it uses Wi-Fi Calling*.
Emergency Mobile Alerts will only be received if you have coverage from the mobile network, if you use Wi-Fi Calling in a non-coverage area or are on airplane mode you won’t receive the Emergency Mobile Alert.
* VoLTE registered phones connected on the 4G or 5G networks should automatically transfer between Wi-Fi and mobile signal which means you shouldn’t get cut off while you’re on the phone. A non VoLTE phone will use Wi-Fi Calling in suitable conditions, but not hand in or out of cellular.
*Wi-Fi Calling uses your broadband connection. If there is a power cut that affects your broadband equipment (wireless connection, routers etc), then Wi-Fi Calling won’t work. Are you or anyone in your household a vulnerable consumer under the 111 Contact Code? Read more about it here.