Kazakhstani mobile operator Kcell has taken its next VoLTE step outside Kazakhstan. On September 25, 2026, the company launched VoLTE roaming for customers using both the Kcell and Activ brands. The first supported partner networks are Türk Telekom in Turkey and Magticom in Georgia.

It sounds like a small roaming upgrade. In practice, it fixes an awkward part of international mobile service: a phone can be using 4G for data, then fall back to 2G or 3G the moment its owner makes a normal voice call.

Why VoLTE roaming matters

VoLTE carries voice over the LTE network instead of relying on older circuit-switched networks. For travelers, the benefits are tangible. Calls connect faster, HD Voice can sound clearer, and mobile data can keep running at 4G speeds during the call.

That matters in everyday situations. You can call a hotel while keeping Maps open, check a booking confirmation while speaking to an airline, or use a banking app during a support call. The phone does not need to leave LTE just to handle voice.

READ MORE: 5 benefits of VoLTE over traditional CS voice calls

The GSMA describes VoLTE as the industry-agreed evolution of mobile voice. It highlights better spectrum efficiency and the ability to keep voice and data on the same network. VoLTE roaming is also becoming more important as operators retire 2G and 3G networks.

Kcell’s launch therefore matters beyond better audio. It is part of making roaming work properly in an increasingly all-IP mobile world.

Turkey and Georgia come first

For now, the footprint is modest. Kcell and Activ customers can use VoLTE roaming on Türk Telekom and Magticom. Kcell’s website announced the launch on September 25, while industry reporting confirms the two initial partners.

Customers need the right setup. Their smartphone must support VoLTE, the feature must be enabled in the device settings, and the service must be activated on the Kcell or Activ number using *222#. Kcell introduced VoLTE on its domestic network in June 2026 following substantial investment in network modernization.

READ MORE: VoLTE Roaming: Why It Still Matters After 3G Shutdown

There are clear limits. Someone travelling to Germany, the UAE or Thailand gets no benefit from this launch yet. Device compatibility can also complicate VoLTE roaming because support depends on the handset, software configuration and cooperation between the home and visited networks. The GSMA’s own roaming documentation shows how much interoperability, device testing and operator coordination sit behind what looks like a simple phone call.

The next useful metric is therefore not simply whether Kcell “has VoLTE roaming.” It is how quickly that list of countries and partners grows.

Competition is already there at home

Kcell is not introducing VoLTE into an empty market. Beeline Kazakhstan already offers domestic VoLTE, while Tele2 and Altel also promote VoLTE with HD Voice, quick call setup and simultaneous mobile data.

That makes international roaming the more interesting competitive layer.

READ MORE: BH Telecom Launches VoLTE Roaming in Canada and US

An operator can offer excellent VoLTE at home and still produce an uneven experience abroad if it lacks the required IMS roaming relationships. The GSMA continues to publish implementation guidance and interoperability work specifically around VoLTE roaming for exactly that reason.

For some customers, another Kazakh operator may still make more sense if its roaming prices, partner networks or destination coverage fit a particular trip better. Voice quality is only one part of the roaming decision. Two foreign networks are a useful start, but they are not yet a broad roaming proposition.

Conclusion

The real significance of Kcell’s launch is timing. VoLTE roaming used to look like an enhancement. As legacy networks disappear, it increasingly looks like basic infrastructure.

That changes the competitive question. Operators will not be judged only on whether they offer 4G or 5G roaming. They also need voice, emergency calling and data to keep working coherently when customers cross borders. The GSMA has explicitly tied global VoLTE deployment to maintaining core telephony, emergency calling and roaming as 2G and 3G networks are phased out.

Kcell has now moved its modern voice platform beyond Kazakhstan, beginning with Turkey and Georgia. The stronger move will be turning those first two agreements into a much wider footprint.

In the next phase of roaming, staying on 4G during an ordinary phone call should not feel premium. It should simply work.