No Data? No Problem: How to Make Video Calls on Econet Using Airtime

Good News! Econet’s VoLTE (Voice over LTE) has come with a bonus most people haven’t noticed: you can now make a video call straight from your phone’s normal dialer. And no you don’t need a data bundle, WiFi or WhatsApp. It’s a regular phone call, just with video.

Here is how to make a video call on Econet using airtime, with no data or WhatsApp

Three things have to be in place:

1. Econet on both sides. It only works when you call another Econet number.
2. An Android phone. It didn’t work on the iPhones we tested.
3. VoLTE switched on, on both phones.

So how do you switch on VoLTE

1. Open Settings on your phone.
2. Go to Mobile networks. On Samsung phones it’s Settings → Connections → Mobile networks.
3. Turn on VoLTE calls (some phones call it “4G calling” or “Enhanced 4G LTE mode”).

Menu names differ a little between phone brands. If you can’t find it, search “VoLTE” in your settings.

Now after setting up everything this is how you can make the video call

1. Open your normal Phone app.
2. Dial the Econet number you want to call.
3. Tap the video call button, or start a voice call and switch to video once it connects.

That’s it. No app or data needed.

Why it’s useful
Only the caller pays. The person you’re calling doesn’t need airtime or data to answer, and both of you can be offline. Which is a different story On WhatsApp, both of you need data.
It works when your bundle runs out. If you have airtime but no data, you can still see the person you’re calling.
It’s easy for people who don’t use apps. Parents and grandparents can answer it like any normal call.

How much does it cost?

Econet hasn’t published a rate for VoLTE video calls yet. In Kenya, Safaricom charges video calls at the same rate as a normal voice call. If Econet does the same, it would cost about 4 cents a minute, the current Econet-to-Econet voice rate. That would be cheaper than a WhatsApp video call on a daily bundle, which works out to roughly 6 cents a minute because WhatsApp video uses about 10MB a minute. On a big monthly bundle, WhatsApp can be cheaper though.

Tip: check your airtime balance, make a one-minute video call, and check again. That will tell you the real cost on your line.

The limitations
Econet only. You can’t video call NetOne or Telecel numbers this way. Those networks would first need to launch VoLTE and agree with Econet to connect their systems.
No iPhones. Apple doesn’t support this type of network video calling on any network, including in Kenya where Safaricom has offered it since 2021.
You need 4G. If your phone drops to 3G, the video call won’t connect.

Now go try it yourself and tell us what you think in the comments!

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