Smile Communications Uganda has announced the introduction of two 4G LTE innovations, SmileVoice and SmileUnlimited, to customers in Uganda.

This week the telco confirmed the availability of two first-to-market services in all markets where it operates, sourced, in part, from the US$365-million of debt and equity funding it raised.

The company explains in a statement, "SmileVoice comes in two forms; using a world-first downloadable free mobile App that affords customers with Android and Apple iPhone devices the ability to make SuperClear voice calls over Smile's 4G LTE network, or through the use of a VoLTE-capable handset (such as the latest Samsung devices) plus a Smile SIM card."

"SmileUnlimited offers customers 30 days of unlimited access to Smile's SuperFast 4G LTE mobile broadband service," the company adds.

Beatrice Kiraso, Chairperson, Smile Uganda said, "Smile is the first mobile operator in East Africa to develop and introduce Voice over LTE, plus a world first to develop and introduce a free Voice over LTE mobile application that enables all our customers in Uganda, with Android and iPhone devices, to experience high-quality voice calls over Smile's network. We are committed to improving the quality of voice and data services in Uganda, and with SmileVoice our customers can call anyone locally and internationally, just like on any other mobile."

"With our recently announced funding Smile has expanded its existing 4G LTE network in Uganda from 3 to 15 towns, and now provides 30-days of unlimited access to SuperFast mobile broadband – there is no other provider that is offering its customers such value and convenience," says Kiraso.

Elaborating on the SmileUnlimited offering, Steve Bannon, Country Manager Smile Uganda explained that any unlimited offering is subject to a fair usage policy (FUP).

SmileVoice App enables customers that don't have VoLTE-capable handsets the ability to make reliable Voice over LTE calls when connected to Smile's mobile broadband. "In the Ugandan market Android is the leading handset and together with the free SmileVoice App, we are ensuring that all our registered customers have a way to experience high-quality voice calls from their mobiles," says Bannon.

According to the company to use SmileVoice, customers will be required to have a registered Smile SIM card and active SmileData service. "When out of range of the Smile network, the SmileVoice App will enable calls from any device that is connected to the Internet via 3G or Wi-Fi at home or abroad. Customers who make calls when travelling abroad will be charged their local call rates, as if they were calling from home," the company explains.