Thailand’s AIS launches VoWiFi

Thailand’s AIS has launched Voice over Wi-Fi (VoWiFi) services, and Taiwan’s APT has announced plans to do the same.

AIS, Thailand’s largest mobile operator, is initially offering VoWiFi for selected iPhone models, including the iPhone 5s, 5c, 6, 6 Plus, 6s, 6s Plus and iPhone SE.

The company will offer VoWiFi as a complementary add-on for AIS’s 4G services, offering calls at standard rates as well as the ability to send and receive SMS.

AIS has announced plans to expand its WiFi hotspot network from 120,000 to 160,000 this year and to 200,000 by 2017. The operator is aiming to have more than 10 million 4G subscribers by the end of 2016.

Taiwan’s APT has also announced plans to launch VoWiFi services, without announcing a timeframe.

Comments from APT suggest that the operator will initially support selected iPhone models and the Android-based InFocus M372 with the VoWiFi service.

Currently the operator’s 4G network covers around 94% of Taiwan, including 98% of metropolitan areas. The company passed the 4 million subscriber milestone at the end of May.

Last week, Singtel announced that it is planning to launch VoWiFi services in August  following successful HetNet trials.