MetroPCS to Allow VOIP Over LTE, Elaborates on Network Management

Following a spate of complaints against the carrier for its Net Neutrality policies and LTE network management, MetroPCS has filed a brief with the FCC detailing its latest changes in order to finally allow VOIP over its LTE network via capable handsets, such as the recently released Samsung Indulge.

"Restrictions on VoIP services initially were carried over to 4G LTE services because the first handset the Samsung Craft was BREW-enabled. However, as MetroPCS continued rolling out its 4G LTE network, reviewed the commission’s new net neutrality rules, planned for the recently-announced arrival of an Android-based handset for its 4G LTE service and drew upon its experience with 1xRTT Android handsets, MetroPCS revisited the prior restrictions on VoIP Services. Having completed this review process, MetroPCS now allows all of its 4G LTE customers to utilize VoIP Services on any handset that is technically capable of using such a service."

Read more for the carrier’s explanation on its priority access towards YouTube and network management.

Regarding its policies of priority access to websites such as YouTube in its service plans, blocking other sites and charging additional fees for streaming from other sites besides YouTube, the carrier states the following:

“It is no surprise that customers wanted access to YouTube, and MetroPCS cannot be faulted for responding to these market demands, particularly when YouTube was available on competitor systems. To its knowledge, MetroPCS has never been approached by Vimeo, or by any other YouTube competitor seeking access, and has no intention of unreasonably discriminating against them. Since Multimedia Streaming places obvious burdens on network capacity, providing a discount for customers who opt not to use such services clearly is a reasonable network management technique.”

The FCC’s recent codification of Net Neutrality rules prohibit MetroPCS from blocking VOIP services on its network and requires them to disclose their network management policies, though an FCC official has confirmed that the rules are not currently being enforced.