Can I use WiFi calling without data roaming out of Canada?

[PZ1]

Hi,

I read an article about WiFi calling at https://www.rogers.com/support/mobility/wifi-calling-everything-you-need-to-know.

The following statement in the article confused me:

"If you do not have Roam Like Home or a Travel Pack or roaming add-on, your outgoing WiFi calls and messages to a non-Canadian number will be billed according to roaming Pay-Per-Use rates."

Why do I have to use cellular data for WiFi calling? Can I make WiFi calls using my local WIFI network out of Canada with the cellular data turned off?

Could anyone share your experience and expertise please? Thank you.

PZ1

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[LordDrakkon · Accepted solution]

Calls made over WiFi Calling are treated as if they originate from Canada. This means, any calls made outside of what your normal calling plans includes, will be billed as if you were calling from Canada to where ever the number you are calling is.

Cellular data is not required for WiFi Calling. You can put your device in Airplane Mode, turn on and connect to WiFi. And WiFi Calling will connect if the WiFi network you are connected to is fast enough, both up and down to sustain a call, and if none of the ports WiFi Calling use are blocked by the Wireless Access Point/Router you are connecting to.

If you have WhatsApp on your phone or Facebook Messenger as examples. Remove them because these apps can and will turn off your WiFi and enable cellular without any notification or warning at all. Even if you aren't using those apps at the current time.

[PZ1]

Thank you so much! I've concluded that I'd better put my phone in Airplane Mode. Once there is a local Wi-Fi network, for example, in a hotel, I can use the Wi-Fi calling function to receive text messages and calls for free. That is a great option for travellers. Am I right?

PS. I also read a statement from the same article (https://www.rogers.com/support/mobility/wifi-calling-everything-you-need-to-know😞

"You may incur additional long-distance charges and/or international message charges if your VPN, DNS or internet provider is set to a country outside Canada." It sounds like Rogers always has an excuse to charge users

for long-distance calls, as users are blinded to the local network settings.

[Pauly]

Something else I know about Wifi Calling, for it to work properly and not bill you extra, make sure you do not connect to a foreign cell network, as this registers with the network that you have left canada, it may prevent you from using wifi calling, or may incur long distance.

Keep airplain mode on, and ensure cellular network is off the whole time.

I used wifi calling in the caribbean and did not incur any charges when I followed these steps.

[fgietz]

I would like to continue this thread if I may;   I'm wondering about the use of an eSIM while abroad and using Wi-Fi Calling.  Am I incorrect in assuming that if I leave my Rogers SIM as the secondary and on AirPlane mode I can make calls using Wi-Fi Calling as per a normal cell phone ?   

[LordDrakkon]

The thing is... You can't enable Airplane Mode for just one SIM when another is present. You would need to remove your Rogers pSIM from the device or risk being charged or use a separate device with only your Rogers SIM put in Airplane Mode before you leave Canada. Dual-SIM configurations do not stop the secondary SIM from accessing and connecting to towers. Even if the primary SIM/eSIM is set as the default for calling and data, the secondary SIM is still going to be active in enough of a way to trigger roaming charges.

[Sal00]

You don’t get charged connecting to the tower or network. This is a massive misunderstanding. First of all if you have data roaming off and not answer a call or text message or make a call , there is 0 charges. Airline mode is almost useless as it’s make you entirely inaccessible. At least with this method you can see what’s happening .

[57]

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@Sal00 wrote: Airline mode is almost useless as it’s make you entirely inaccessible. 

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Not exactly true since you can use WiFi (which may not be immediate, but is usable for communicating), where you can use email or WhatsApp or other apps for communicating.

We discussed all this in the following thread that you started.  Anyone should read at least the first and second posts of that thread since this is a complex discussion with many options. WiFi calling and possible charges is discussed in detail in post 2 of the thread with cut/paste directly from Rogers.

https://communityforums.rogers.com/t5/Network-Coverage/Understanding-How-Roaming-Works/m-p/531963#M4...

[Pauly]

There have been MANY reports of people receiving calls when travelling in USA or Internationally, their data roaming is off, they do not answer the call, yet they are charged for the voicemail message someone left.   This also happened to me too so I know its not been resolved because people still have it happen to them.

When your roaming, and receive a call and let it go to voicemail, the network often sees the call being answered though it's the voicemail retrieval number accepting the call. I had given that number to rogers and told them to look it up in their system and they still refused to credit me.  it was not until I escalated it further that I got an apology and credit. 

[57]

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@Pauly wrote:

There have been MANY reports of people receiving calls when travelling in USA or Internationally, their data roaming is off, they do not answer the call, yet they are charged for the voicemail message someone left.   

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This is almost exactly what happened to me recently, although I'm with Chatr, which is prepaid and uses pay-per-use roaming.  I got a roaming charge when I was travelling internationally for a one minute (incoming scam) call, even though I did not answer it and even though I have my voicemail (and data roaming) turned off.  Just the fact of an incoming call triggered the charge.

This happened because I needed to make an emergency call and turned off Airplane mode temporarily to do that.  This was not Roam Like Home, but rather it was the international pay-per-use roaming charges which I prefer since they are much less than Roam Like Home since I only use my phone very occasionally or for an emergency.  I turned Airplane mode back on and had no charges for the rest of my trip abroad.

Summary:  If your phone is not in Airplane mode, or turned off completely or you haven't removed the Rogers SIM, then charges are very possible, even if you don't use your phone directly.

Edit - I prefer a Pre-paid plan for my use and keep my balance under $20. In this way, any charges cannot exceed that amount. Top ups if necessary, are very easy to do online.