Three to Launch UK 4G Service in December

MacRumors · Aug 31, 2013

Following the launches of O2, Vodafone, and EE's 4G LTE networks in the UK, mobile service provider Three has announced that it is launching its 4G network within the region by December. Existing customers on Three's network will get 4G service at no extra charge upon launch, with plans for new customers being priced competitively against other carriers.

Three's LTE service is notable for being compatible with the iPhone 5's network bands, and will also allow consumers to select devices that are compatible with the new service. The company also announced earlier this week that it would abolish roaming charges for service in seven countries.

I'm really pleased to announce, that in December, London, Birmingham and Manchester will see the start of our 4G roll out. That's not a bad early Christmas present is it? Even better than that, we'll be busy rolling out in a further 50 cities by the end of 2014. And by the end of 2015? Well we aim to have covered a massive 98% of the population by then.

The carrier also plans to include its "All You Can Eat" data plans in its new 4G service at no extra cost. Three's service in the UK was originally launched in 2003, and had a total of 8.8 million subscribers as of 2012.

Article Link: Three to Launch UK 4G Service in December

The Samurai · Aug 31, 2013

Lasted 4 weeks on the Three Network and switched back to my old carrier.

Customer service = great
Signals = very very poor
Internet = okay'ish

I originally got the Three contract as they were offering wayyyy better minutes BUT the problem was, i never went above 2 bars. It was Christmas if I eventually for 3 bars or more. Even when I did get bars, the call quality was poor and often i'd have to dial twice or more to get the bell going. There would be issues when people would call up and couldn't hear me. Morale of story is, you can offer unlimited minutes but whats the point when your not going to be making calls due to the poor signals lol.

Quercus Alba · Aug 31, 2013

I cannot wait

davidjearly · Aug 31, 2013

Three are a fantastic network for just about everything.

The customer service has improved dramatically in recent years.
The signal is great (particularly within or close to cities).
The network speeds are unbeatable.
The data packages are unbeatable.

Having used all networks in the UK, Three are by far the best (IMO). Perfect coverage everywhere I have been/travel to (a lot of different areas).

leon44 · Aug 31, 2013

3 was notoriously **** about 5 years ago, Alan Carr even had a specific stand up routine about how you couldn't get any signal on 3.
Now I can honestly say it's slowly somehow become the best network in the UK. Fast unlimited 3G almost everywhere and cheaper than anyone else. They're not wasting their money on free gimmicks and ridiculously high profile marketing campaigns, they're just undercutting everyone and being better. Nice one 3.

matjamca · Aug 31, 2013

Just as I suspected. Existing customers will get 4G at no extra cost, but new customers will be charged similar to EE, Vodafone and O2. I knew Three couldn't sustain Unlimited 4G for all customers. They just won't have the capacity.

Davmeister · Aug 31, 2013

davidjearly said:
Three are a fantastic network for just about everything.

The customer service has improved dramatically in recent years.
The signal is great (particularly within or close to cities).
The network speeds are unbeatable.
The data packages are unbeatable.

Having used all networks in the UK, Three are by far the best (IMO). Perfect coverage everywhere I have been/travel to (a lot of different areas).

This. This this this this this. Go and get a free SIM from them and try them out, you absolutely will not be disappointed, even without 4G. I love Three almost as much as I love Apple. Almost.

Jibbajabba · Aug 31, 2013

Three is great ... I am getting higher HSPA+ rates than my home broadband (16Mb/s compared to 3Mb/s).

Plus the unlimited plan is truly unlimited. Downloaded 69GB since Aug 4th

Ironduke · Aug 31, 2013

my contract is almost up with 3 and i will be leaving them, their signal is monkey ****, always dropping calls and text take like 10-20 mins to arrive

**** 3

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Jibbajabba said:
Three is great ... I am getting higher HSPA+ rates than my home broadband (16Mb/s compared to 3Mb/s).

Plus the unlimited plan is truly unlimited. Downloaded 69GB since Aug 4th

thats alot of porn sir

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davidjearly said:
Having used all networks in the UK, Three are by far the best (IMO). Perfect coverage everywhere I have been/travel to (a lot of different areas).

come to cheshire

parish · Aug 31, 2013

Well, I've just ordered a free SIM from them as they claim I can get 3G - not holding my breath though

CHMK · Aug 31, 2013

Very tempting. I might switch from giffgaff... Wish it did unlimited LTE at a fair price ... How much do u guys reckon unlimited LTE is around here? 25£ a month?

yegon · Aug 31, 2013

The Samurai said:
Lasted 4 weeks on the Three Network and switched back to my old carrier.

Customer service = great
Signals = very very poor
Internet = okay'ish

I sympathise, but it really is dependent on location. In complete contrast to you, I travel around the northwest of England and get great signal and reliable, fast Internet. I'm on The One Plan and eat through nearly 10gb a month.

Pity it's December though, I want it now

H2SO4 · Aug 31, 2013

Only question remaining is will the 5S have a multi band radio. 3 might be good now - but it might not always be the case.

bbfc · Aug 31, 2013

matjamca said:
Just as I suspected. Existing customers will get 4G at no extra cost, but new customers will be charged similar to EE, Vodafone and O2. I knew Three couldn't sustain Unlimited 4G for all customers. They just won't have the capacity.

Where did you read that? I'd be highly surprised if that was the case.

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davidjearly said:
Three are a fantastic network for just about everything.

The customer service has improved dramatically in recent years.
The signal is great (particularly within or close to cities).
The network speeds are unbeatable.
The data packages are unbeatable.

Having used all networks in the UK, Three are by far the best (IMO). Perfect coverage everywhere I have been/travel to (a lot of different areas).

I agree. Quite simply the best network in the UK.

Data speeds are fantastic and on average are similar to what EE are offering with their 4G service.

hadleigh101 · Aug 31, 2013

H2SO4 said:
Only question remaining is will the 5S have a multi band radio. 3 might be good now - but it might not always be the case.

Of course they will 800mhz is supported by most carriers around the world and the current EE - Apple wont stop supporting it.

Plutonius · Aug 31, 2013

I thought the UK was ahead of the US in terms of cell service but it sounds like the UK was behind and is now catching up ?

hadleigh101 · Aug 31, 2013

Plutonius said:
I thought the UK was ahead of the US in terms of cell service but it sounds like the UK was behind and is now catching up ?

Well we've had HSPA+ for a while now which you guys classed as 4G when is infant 3.5G, but we haven't had fully fledged until recently whereas you've had it a while now but we've still had speeds upto 25mb/s with HSPA+ with Three!

peterh988 · Aug 31, 2013

Plutonius said:
I thought the UK was ahead of the US in terms of cell service but it sounds like the UK was behind and is now catching up ?

4G in the UK has been slow to roll out as we had to wait for the analogue TV service to close down in order to free up the bandwidth for 4G

LastLine · Aug 31, 2013

davidjearly said:
Three are a fantastic network for just about everything.

The customer service has improved dramatically in recent years.
The signal is great (particularly within or close to cities).
The network speeds are unbeatable.
The data packages are unbeatable.

Having used all networks in the UK, Three are by far the best (IMO). Perfect coverage everywhere I have been/travel to (a lot of different areas).

I can't deny their data's good, and their speed too.

Their customer service however? I find it diabolical. I mean genuinely god awful unusably bad.

That said, to each their own.

Moonjumper · Aug 31, 2013

I moved to Three at the end of last year, having been with all the other networks at some point.

Their prices are excellent, and despite some warnings about customer service, they have been great. The only problem has been signal strength. Initially I though it was a faulty iPhone (which got replaced eventually after lots of tests) because I never went anywhere with a good signal in the first few months (my home in Lincoln, and south Liverpool mostly, but I have since been to several areas with good signals. I have now been provided with one of their home signal boxes now.

I hope one of those 50 cities in my home city of Lincoln, but I don't expect it to be. EE 4G hasn't reached here yet.

Plutonius · Aug 31, 2013

peterh988 said:
4G in the UK has been slow to roll out as we had to wait for the analogue TV service to close down in order to free up the bandwidth for 4G

Makes sense. I can see that happening everywhere.

OS X Dude · Aug 31, 2013

I too used to think they were a useless, hateful network until I found out my girlfriend and her dad are both on Three and get as good a signal generally as I do on EE, and with unlimited data to boot. I didn't expect their customer service to stack up against EE's either, but apparently that too has come on leaps and bounds of late.

I'm sad to hear they'll be "competitive" with other network prices when it comes to new customers on 4G, although it's to be expected I suppose, and it's great they show loyalty to their current customers. I'll definitely check them out come 5S time.

yetanotherdave · Aug 31, 2013

MacRumors said:
with plans for new customers being priced competitively against other carriers.

Where are you getting this from? I've never seen that said anywhere, all they've ever said is "4G at no extra cost".

dav465 · Aug 31, 2013

It should be a well known fact that the signal bars on your phone are NO indication of the phone strength/quality.
The only time when it is, is when you phone says no signal/coverage. Then you can't make a call.

There are many articles about this, there is no standardisation on what the signal bars tell us.
I normally use it to tell roughly my 3G speeds, 5 bars -20meg, 3 bars like 8-10 etc.( this is not always true- sometimes faster or slower)
I constantly have like 1-3 bars and I make phone calls no problems and they never drop.

jjwarwick · Aug 31, 2013

For data, they are excellent. I've got my iPad on three, and it's much faster than my Sky broadband was. My business phone is on Vodafone, as the have the best coverage, and offer stuff like insurance, and I think that gives me the best of both worlds.

Three to Launch UK 4G Service in December

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