Call problems in the US

[step_hen]

I’m currently in the US, where Vodafone use T-Mobile and AT and T. I wanted to make people aware there’s a technical  issue with AT and T that prevents voice calls being made and received. Calls can be made on T- Mobile, but I find that their coverage is inferior to AT and T,’s. After several conversations with Voda tech support, they acknowledged there is a problem with AT and T, but, apparently, they’re not in touch with AT and T to resolve the problem. 

[Comoman1]

A quick google shows me EE roaming fine in the US using VoLTE:

https://community.ee.co.uk/t5/Mobile-Services/Roaming-in-the-USA-do-EE-offer-VoLTE/td-p/1149286

[Mark]

I'm sorry to hear you're having difficulty using 4G calling whilst in the US @Comoman1 & @Jaydun68. This service should be available to our customers whilst roaming in the US via the T-Mobile network. If your phone hasn't automatically connected to T-Mobile, manually roaming to this should allow you access to 4G data and calls. If not, please pop our Social Media team a message and we'll be more than happy to look into this for you.

[Jaydun68]

So are you saying VoLTE on 4G is now available with Vodafone roaming in the USA on the T-Mobile Network (not 2G calling)?

[Mark]

Apologies for the mix up @Jaydun68, it had been scheduled for our 4G calling service to be rolled out in the US by now. I've taken a closer look into this for you and it appears to have been delayed. This is now scheduled to be available later in the year. We've more information about the shutdown of the 3G network in the US and how to connect whilst there in our online FAQ's.

[Jaydun68]

So not late summer as originally promised then? Are Vodafone going to update there website to reflect this?

For me later in the year is not good enough I need a network that I can rely on whilst in the USA to take and receive calls and Vodafone are clearly not this network.

I may consider using you again when this matter is confirmed as resolved (I can’t fault your UK and European coverage) but until then I’m off to EE who can offer VoLTE on 4G on both AT&T and T-Mobile while I roam in the USA and they cheaper to. 

What is the point of Vodafone claiming to offer roaming in the USA when it’s clearly not available for voice calls in the vast majority of the States

[Mark]

I can understand your disappointment at not being able to make 4G calls whilst being in the US @Jaydun68. Until this is rolled out you should still be able to make calls using the 2G network. You will still have the ability to use 4G data while in the US. As soon as we can provide a 4G calling whilst in the US, it will be updated on the page linked in my previous message.. Once again apologies for my earlier error and if there's anything else we can help with, don't hesitate to reach out 😊

[Comoman1]

Just to repeat my point above - I am currently in Houston and the T-Mobil 2G network is dreadfully congested and is basically unusable.  I very rarely see 4G on my iPhone - it seems to stick to the 2G network unfortunately.

[donnyguy]

Hi @Comoman1 

Hope you're well. 

Sorry to be the bearer of bad news but your situation isn't going to be fixed. 

The Vodafone experience roaming in the States is absolutely diabolical and someone internally should be held accountable.

The reality is, networks across the world are switching off their 3G networks. Vodafone included. They've given lots of advanced notice. This hasn't come as a surprise.

Vodafone's solution (offering 4G calling) wasn't launched in time. Then, as seems to be the norm with Vodafone, they've also managed to fail to meet their very fluffy deadline of a summer launch.

If you are paying £6 for this 'experience' then be sure to raise a complaint to get a full refund. 

I roamed with Vodafone and EE (I have a work line and personal line, dual-sim in the same handset) this summer in the States and the experience was absolute night and day.

Vodafone - locked onto T-Mobile which went dropping the signal. I had to keep toggling airplane mode off and back on again to get the signal back. Poor data experience and as for calls, dropped to 2G and forget about it. 

EE - picked up AT&T. Had 5G in most places. 4G where we didn't. Calls routed across both the 4G and 5G network so didn't drop. Clearly the voLTE has launched there. 

My solution in the end was to divert all the incoming calls from the Vodafone line to my EE number. I was lucky I was able to do that and it was the EE sim I used for calls, texts and data when I was there. I just had the Vodafone sim switched on (despite having to toggle it off and on) to pick up the one time passwords texted to that number .

For yourself though, depending on how much longer you're in TX, I would recommend picking up a local sim as things aren't going to get better. You're right by the way, you can't even do a manual search and lock into AT&T for the data. They seem to have blocked it.

I should add, I sound like a broken record on this topic - I really can't voice how disappointed I am that Vodafone have dropped the ball here. It really is an...

[step_hen]

 I started this thread in May to highlight the call issues I had when I was in the US, and nothing has changed since then. Vodafone continue to mislead and misinform their customers. If you expect to make and receive calls in the US, you cannot rely on T-Mobile. I’ve describe my own experience of T-Mobile in earlier postings. Their national coverage is just not good enough. My American son-in-law has told be that out of the three main US carriers, T-Mobile are well known for having the poorest national coverage. For Vodafone to promote using T-Mobile as a solution to the call problem is just ignorant, or deliberately deceitful.

The delay in launching VoLTE in the US is another example of their poor record of alerting and keeping their customers up to date. I am so glad I am no longer with Vodafone.

[Getafix]

Was in New York last month and made sure I had Wifi Calling setup. Did not find any major issues with Calls.
When Wifi was not available, just connected to AT&T and used Whatsapp for calls. Data has been fine on AT&T.
Connected to T-Mobile for some calls I needed to make back to UK Landline, which I was dreading but went through fine.

I have a Road Trip East to West coming up next week, that will be my true test of Roaming in USA.