Airtel 4G VoLTE ,How to get 30GB free Airtel data with VoLTE Beta , Airtel opens 4G VoLTE beta services for users; here’s how to enroll into the programme

Airtel has started rolling out 4G VoLTE services in India. (REUTERS)

 

Reliance Jio’s entry into the Indian telecom industry continues to stir competing players. Indian mobile users now have cheaper data plans to choose from and unlimited voice calls to enjoy. One of Jio’s biggest competitors, Airtel will soon give the former more heat with the launch of its VoLTE services in India.
Airtel is slowly rolling out VoLTE services in select circles, and the telco has now launched its VoLTE beta programme. Airtel is inviting users to join its VoLTE beta programme which is currently live in seven states – West Bengal, Odisha, Assam, Kerala, Bihar, Punjab and Andhra Pradesh. Airtel is also enticing users by offering 30GB of free data for those enrolling into its VoLTE beta programme.
How to become an Airtel VoLTE beta tester
The first step is to get a smartphone that supports 4G VoLTE services. These days most devices, even in the budget category, come with the VoLTE support. Also check that the OS on your smartphone is upgraded to the latest update.
Secondly, you require an active Airtel SIM although you can always opt to register for a new one. You can check if your Airtel SIM is eligible for VoLTE services by tapping on this  link.
Once you have everything in place, turn on VoLTE switch on your smartphone. You will find this option in the Settings menu.
How the 30GB free data scheme works
Once you’ve become an Airtel VoLTE beta tester, you will automatically get 10GB of free data.
After four weeks of usage, you will need to send feedback on the services. Doing so will give you 10GB more of free data.
Lastly, you will need to provide another feedback after eight weeks of usage and the remaining 10GB of data will be added to your account.
So in total you get 30GB of data after using Airtel’s 4G VoLTE services for eight weeks.

Bharti Airtel office, GurugramReuters

 

Reliance Jio's all-IP network with VoLTE calling support has set a new benchmark for other Indian telecom operators. Airtel took the big leap into VoLTE calling on its network, but it's still far from bringing it to all the users across India.
To make sure the network doesn't lag or encounter early glitches, Airtel has launched a new VoLTE Beta Program to test out the upgraded network. But it needs real users to test the network and provide regular feedback, so Airtel is offering an incentive to lure its subscribers into the program.
After joining Airtel VoLTE Beta Program, users will be given 30GB free data. But Airtel expects you to return the favor by giving feedback on the quality of its VoLTE calling service. Users will get the first installment of 10GB data to download the latest OS and enable VoLTE switch, then the next installment of 10GB will be credited after four weeks of regularly providing network feedback and the final 10GB data will be credited after the eighth week.

How to become a VoLTE Beta tester?

Firstly, Airtel is testing the VoLTE services in select circles, including West Bengal, Odisha, Assam, Kerala, Bihar, Punjab, and Andhra Pradesh. Then you need a VoLTE handset with an Airtel 4G SIM.

Airtel VoLTE beta testing begins in select circlesAirtel official website

 

Users can go to Airtel's official website to check if your number is eligible for beta testing of VoLTE and proceed as per instructions.

A word of caution

While Airtel is luring users with 30GB free data, the telco warns users may face network fluctuations.

How is VoLTE better?

If perfected, VoLTE will significantly improve the quality of voice calls in India. HD voice calls will enable crystal clear conversations and you could forget about the initial beeps before connecting a call as it happens instantly. Finally, making calls using VoLTE will not disrupt your internet sessions so you can easily multi-task.

For all those who are interested in video streaming platforms like Netflix, Amazon Prime and the like, but are too lazy to undertake the hassle of subscribing to them, paying and renewing
subscriptions, there is help at hand in this age of convenience. (Thinkstock)

 

For all those who are interested in video streaming platforms like Netflix, Amazon Prime and the like, but are too lazy to undertake the hassle of subscribing to them, paying and renewing subscriptions, there is help at hand in this age of convenience.
Just ask your mobile phone operator to do the needful, but don’t expect any free data because of the discriminatory tariff regulation brought out by the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai) prohibiting any freebies if the same content is available on the Internet. All you would get is a bundled package, like voice and data, and will have to pay at a single point instead of multiple payment points.
It works something like this. To subscribe to Amazon Prime, for instance, you need to pay an annual subscription fee of Rs 999. The better alternative could be to get on to the Rs 499 monthly tariff pack of Bharti Airtel, which, apart from providing unlimited local, STD and incoming and outgoing roaming calls, with access to 40GB of 3G/4G data (with rollover facility), will also offer a one-year subscription of Amazon Prime. Further, you can also watch a range of content on Airtel TV —from original series by AltBalaji to movies on Hooq and music via Wynk.
What Airtel does is just offer you the convenience of single-pack access. It does not provide you any free data to watch these.
“Consumers are usually reluctant to register on multiple platforms. So when a telecom operator aggregates content and provides a single-window access to customers through its own app, the process is simplified. This also eliminates the need for multiple app downloads, registrations and logins,” says Sameer Batra, CEO, Wynk. “Most platforms are yet to develop a payment mechanism. Users are still required to pay either through a debit or credit card or net banking. A single bill generated by telecom operators makes it easier to pay for the services, without giving away card or other bank-related details to several platforms,” feels Ashish Pherwani, partner and leader, advisory services, EY.
It is not just Bharti Airtel that provides such convenience. Other mobile operators also have tariff packages that offer access to video streaming platforms. Vodafone India’s post-paid customers on a Rs 499 monthly pack, for instance, get to watch a range of content through its app — Vodafone Play. Those wanting to watch content on Netflix can opt for the Rs 999 monthly rental plan.
Similarly, Reliance Jio subscribers on a monthly rental of Rs 309 have access to all entertainment apps, including Jio TV, Jio Cinema, Jio Music, etc.
There are two kinds of deals that an OTT player and a telecom operator sign. Under the first arrangement, a telecom operator agrees to show programmes at a deferred date, after being aired on the original platform. In case of the second arrangement, a viewer, when clicks on a film or web series, is taken to the original platform through a hyperlink. For instance, viewers of both Airtel TV and Jio get to see content on Hotstar via its link on the two platforms. However, consumers still need to subscribe to Hotstar’s premium content separately. Analysts say such aggregation would increase by the day and accessing video OTT content through mobile operators could be the order of the day.