The 3G network shutdown was supposed to be the clean break that ushered us into the all-IP future of mobile. Out with the old circuit-switched voice calls, in with the fast, efficient LTE and 5G era. Simple, right?

Well… not quite. If you’ve travelled recently and tried to make a phone call abroad, you might have discovered that voice roaming is not as seamless as you’d expect in 2025. That’s because the retirement of 3G didn’t just turn off old internet speeds—it also cut off the fallback network that used to quietly carry your voice calls when LTE couldn’t.

Enter VoLTE roaming—the unsung hero of modern voice calling abroad. Even after 3G is gone, this tech still makes the difference between being able to call your hotel in Tokyo… and staring at a “call failed” message.

Let’s break it down in plain English and talk about why it still matters.

The “voice problem” after 3G

Before we had VoLTE (Voice over LTE), your phone did something very old-school when you made a call: it dropped down to 3G or even 2G for the voice part, then hopped back to 4G for data. It was clunky, but it worked everywhere because almost every network supported 2G or 3G voice.

When operators started shutting down 3G (and in some countries, 2G too), that fallback disappeared. Suddenly, if your phone and the visited network didn’t both support VoLTE roaming, you could be stuck with data only. That’s fine for WhatsApp calls if you have good coverage and enough data… But try calling your bank to unblock your card and see how quickly “just use data” turns into frustration.

What VoLTE roaming actually does

VoLTE itself isn’t new. Your phone has probably been making VoLTE calls at home for years—they connect faster, sound clearer, and let you use LTE data while you talk.

VoLTE roaming is simply VoLTE that works when you’re on a partner network abroad. It means your voice call stays entirely on the LTE network, from your SIM back to your home operator, without needing 3G or 2G at all.

But here’s the catch: it’s not as plug-and-play as you might think. It requires agreements between your home carrier and the visited network, plus technical alignment (same VoLTE profiles, codecs, and signalling paths). If that setup isn’t in place, you won’t get VoLTE roaming—even if both networks offer VoLTE domestically.

Why some travellers are still getting caught out

In theory, by now, every major operator should have VoLTE roaming with every other major operator. In reality? Coverage is patchy.

Here’s why:

• Slow rollout of agreements—Negotiating VoLTE roaming deals takes time, and operators prioritise big markets first.
• Device compatibility quirks—Some phones need carrier-specific settings for VoLTE to work abroad. That “unlocked” phone you love might need a manual nudge.
• Multiple network shutdown timelines—some countries killed 3G early; others kept it running longer. The global patchwork means travellers’ experiences vary wildly.

So, a business traveller from Germany might have crystal-clear VoLTE calls in the US but land in Japan and suddenly be data-only unless they use an OTT app.

Why this still matters in 2025

The 3G shutdown was a milestone, but it didn’t magically make VoLTE roaming universal. And even in the age of WhatsApp, Zoom, and Teams, there are four big reasons why native voice roaming still matters:

1. Emergency calls—In most countries, emergency services require you to call local numbers (like 112 or 911) over the mobile network. VoLTE roaming ensures those calls connect natively, with your location sent automatically.
2. Business reliability—hotel confirmations, conference calls, local client meetings—sometimes you just need to pick up the phone without worrying about data coverage.
3. No-app scenarios— Not every person or business you need to reach is on WhatsApp or Signal. Many still expect a normal phone call.
4. Better audio quality—VoLTE supports HD voice and even EVS codecs on some networks, which makes international calls sound far more natural.

Real-world scenarios

Let’s make it tangible.

• Case 1: The airport pickup gone wrong
  You’ve just landed in Seoul. Your driver isn’t at the meeting point. You have their local mobile number. Without VoLTE roaming, you’d have to rely on patchy airport Wi-Fi or burn roaming data on a VoIP call. With VoLTE roaming, you just call — and it works instantly.
• Case 2: Cross-border commuters
  People living in Luxembourg but working in France cross borders daily. If their phone constantly drops voice calls because of a lack of VoLTE roaming between networks, it’s not just annoying — it’s disruptive to work.
• Case 3: The emergency you didn’t plan for
  Your child gets sick while you’re on holiday in Thailand. You call the local clinic, but your data signal is weak. Without VoLTE roaming, you might struggle to get through. With it, your call goes over the LTE voice channel, which is optimised for reliability.

What’s holding back 100% coverage

Even in 2025, there are two main roadblocks:

1. Commercial politics—operators have to agree on wholesale rates and technical setups for roaming. Some drag their feet because it’s not yet a regulatory must-have in their region.
2. Device fragmentation—Android manufacturers all have slightly different VoLTE implementations. Apple’s iPhones tend to be consistent, but Android users can still face model-specific issues abroad.

The good news? GSMA’s IR.65 and IR.92 specs are helping standardise things, and many Tier-1 operators now treat VoLTE roaming as table stakes.

How to check if you have VoLTE roaming

If you’re not sure whether your carrier supports it, here’s a quick checklist before your next trip:

• Ask your provider— Some publish VoLTE roaming partner lists online. If they don’t, customer support should tell you.
• Test at home—make sure VoLTE is enabled on your phone in settings.
• Check your roaming agreements—some carriers offer VoLTE roaming only in specific countries or with specific partners.
• Look for the LTE icon during calls—if your phone stays on 4G/LTE while calling abroad, you’re probably on VoLTE roaming.

The bottom line

The 3G shutdown wasn’t the end of voice roaming—it was the start of a more fragile, interconnected voice network that depends on VoLTE roaming agreements to work. For most travellers, that means calls abroad are either better than ever… or frustratingly absent, depending on where they go and who they’re with.

Until VoLTE roaming is truly universal, it’s worth knowing where you stand. Check your carrier’s coverage, keep VoLTE enabled, and don’t assume that “LTE” on your screen means your calls will work the way they do at home.

And if you do end up relying on WhatsApp in an airport coffee shop, at least you’ll know why.