Wifi Calling (VoWiFi) on a mobile broadband wifi hotspot?

Is it possible to use Wifi connected to a mobile broadband wifi hotspot, thinking in particular of whether it'd work with a different mobile network.


Example - area with no EE coverage, but with good Vodafone coverage.

Could a mobile broadband wifi hotspot be created using the Vodafone network (whether through a mobile phone or a dedicated router), and then an EE mobile connect to said wifi hotspot and make use of Wifi Calling (VoWiFi)?


My initial take is that it should work, but that disregards that Wifi Calling is I understand actually a relatively complex operation / protocol. Perhaps in my example the Vodafone network would block the required ports that the EE VoWiFi service would otherwise use?


The particular use case I have in mind is a house where the mobile signal on one or more networks is poor, and where connectivity might be provided by mobile broadband (obviously via a mobile network with good coverage), instead of a wired (DSL/FTTP/cable) broadband service.

Edited by binary (Tue 15-Feb-22 16:47:04)

In reply to a post by binary:

Could a mobile broadband wifi hotspot be created using the Vodafone network (whether through a mobile phone or a dedicated router), and then an EE mobile connect to said wifi hotspot and make use of Wifi Calling (VoWiFi)?

Yes, I've done exactly this. A WiFi hotspot was created from an iPhone on Vodafone and a personal iPhone connected to the WiFi and the EE WiFi Calling automatically enabled where previously the phone showed "No service".

Its no different to having an FTTC service from Vodafone's ISP to a home with no mobile coverage and using WiFi calling from any of the major networks. Unless a firewall is deployed to block the WiFi calling IP ranges.

…to expand slightly, as well as VoLTE/WiFi Calling more plain “fixed line” VoIP will also work in much the same way: basically any stable “pipe” to the internet without too much latency is all that’s needed.

You can happily access a “landline” anywhere you can also get WiFi Calling including off a mobile broadband signal or Musk-link. Traditional (non LEO) geostationary L-band satellite broadband is a bit too laggy often to be useful for voice calls though.