Russians Can Now Make Calls Over Wi-Fi Without Mobile Coverage

Rostelecom is expanding its Voice over Wi-Fi service, allowing users to make calls and send SMS even where cellular signals are weak or unavailable.

In Russia’s Kurgan region, subscribers now have access to Voice over Wi-Fi (VoWiFi), a technology that enables voice calls and SMS messaging in areas with poor or no cellular coverage—as long as a Wi-Fi connection is available, CNews reports.

The service is particularly useful in basements, on upper floors of buildings with poor reception, in new residential developments, high-traffic network zones, and areas where mobile service is temporarily unavailable.

VoWiFi activates automatically, requires no additional fees, and charges calls at standard voice rates. Mobile data from the user’s plan is not consumed.

Rostelecom stated that the technology will soon be available in all regions where the operator provides service.

The rollout of VoWiFi marks another step in the digital transformation of Russia’s telecom sector, ensuring connectivity even where cellular networks fall short.