Blog Post

Mobile Signal Boosting Vs WiFi Calling

Mark's Remarks
July 9, 2021

An honest comparison ... mobile signal boosting vs WiFi calling!

When considering mobile signal boosting vs WiFi calling, there are a number of things to keep in mind!

Long gone are the days where calling somebody meant picking up a landline and saying goodbye to the internet while you were on the phone.

The introduction of mobile phones heralded a new era in telecommunications, and the innovation hasn’t stopped there.

With more apps and cross-platform capability, WiFi calling has become an option. For some, it’s even a way of navigating around poor signal…

But is WiFi calling really a long-term solution? Or is it more efficient to explore mobile signal boosting? We look at the pros and cons of each as we pit mobile signal boosting vs WiFi calling to see which comes out on top.

The benefits of WiFi calling

There’s no doubt that WiFi calling is an easy solution. It’s probably already available on your phone and network, it works well as long as your WiFi is reliable, and it’s the same for the person you’re calling.

It’s cheap too. You’re not implementing anything new, so there are no installation costs, and there’s no lead time on anything.

If you’re experiencing issues with your mobile signal, then WiFi calling has the potential to provide good audio quality without any additional cost.

There are advantages over video calling too, since it can help to prolong your battery life AND it only uses about 1MB of bandwidth per minute, compared to video calls which generally use 6-8MB per minute.

If you need help switching it on, you can read about how to set up WiFi calling on iPhone, or how to setup WiFi calling on Android here.

The issues with WiFi calling

While WiFi calling has its practical benefits, some key issues may impact your long-term usage of it as a practicable alternative to standard phone calls.

One problem is if you have one central broadband router in place, but several repeaters are placed around your home, building, or office.

For example, let’s say you take a WiFi call in one room and walk into your office in another room while still on the call…

The problem is that your phone network will switch to the nearest WiFi repeater to ensure it gets the best signal, but the WiFi call won’t. So, the call quality is severely compromised, and the call will drop out.

All in all, it’s an unnecessary inconvenience.

The reality is that you’re putting additional strain on your WiFi, especially if multiple people are calling at the same time. And that can seriously affect its reliability.

It also doesn’t impact text messages. While that might not be your first priority, you’ll soon realise it’s an unhelpful barrier when two-factor authentication messages can’t find their way to you in time!

The benefits of mobile signal boosting vs WiFi calling

If you’re looking for a more sustainable long-term solution, then considering a mobile signal booster is a good place to start.

In sharp contrast to WiFi calling, you won’t need to concern yourself with your WiFi connection.

No more joining public WiFi networks.

No more switching WiFi calling on and off.

No more handover issues as you move from one room to another.

You’ll be using the same mobile signal as outside the building, so there are no handover issues as you enter and leave the building. If you’re on a call, no problem, just carry on.

You’ll still receive text messages! Those two-factor authentication codes will arrive quicker than you can say ‘mobile signal booster’ (see what we did there).

The issues with mobile signal boosting vs WiFi calling

We’ll be honest, the price is an obvious issue. It’s not the cheapest option – but if you’ve got signal issues, then it’s an investment that’ll quietly keep you texting and calling without issue for years to come.

The other main barrier for you is likely to be the installation. Because depending on the type of building and the ease of access, the installation of a signal solution can be a little disruptive.

That can be an issue if you’re in a busy office but there are always ways around it, and we try to keep disruption to a minimum.

WiFi calling has the potential to be a good short-term fix. No doubt about it. A professional signal solution takes time to plan and install, so your signal won’t be fixed immediately. There’s no harm in temporarily using WiFi calling as you wait for your signal solution to be installed – in fact, it’s probably a good idea! Just so long as you remember to switch it off again once your signal solution has been installed!

We’re always asked about the legality of boosting mobile signal in the UK…

The reality is that the rules around signal boosting are strict, with the potential penalty for not adhering to them being a £5000 fine and a possible custodial sentence in addition, so there’s A LOT of risk if you get it wrong.

BUT that’s exactly why you use a professional and reputable installer.

We guarantee that all of our products and services are fully compliant with Ofcom’s rules and regulations on mobile signal boosting, so you can relax, safe in the knowledge that we’re fully compliant and there will be no issues.

In summary, when you’re comparing mobile signal boosting vs WiFi calling, there are a number of key things to consider. Take a look at the video below where I explain things in a little more detail!

Mark Rose

As co-founder of Signal Solutions, Mark's signal boosting knowledge is second to none. Mark has worked on a large number of signal projects over the years, from straightforward single-booster projects, to large scale installations across multiple buildings.