Mobile Phone Technology

VodafoneThree was formed following the merger of Vodafone and Three mobile networks in May 2025. The combined network currently uses the VodafoneThree name, but a long-term name is expected to be chosen later. Initially, the two networks are operating independently, each with their own marketing and infrastructure. However, work is underway to enable customers of one network to use the other network. This is being achieved using Multi-Operator Core Network technology.

Vodafone itself has a 19.7% share of the UK mobile phone market, making it the third largest mobile phone company. It was one of the original mobile network operators in the UK and has been present from the introduction of 1G to the current 5G technology. Vodafone has a large amount of available frequency spectrum for its operations.

• Vodafone uses 900MHz for their 2G network
• Vodafone used 2100MHz for their 3G network which has now been freed up to be used on 4G following the switch off of 3G
• Vodafone uses 800MHz and 2600MHz for 4G plus other blocks of frequency.
• Vodafone uses 3.4GHz-3.8GHz for 5G as well 900MHz re-farmed from 2G

As a company, Vodafone has expanded from being a mobile operator to a growing broadband business that leases fibre lines from Openreach. They currently have around 12% of the UK's broadband customers. They claim to be able to offer Vodafone Broadband to 47% of the UK population. They have a high street presence, selling home broadband, mobile phones, mobile routers, and data connections (SIMs) for their network.

Three is the smallest of the UK's mobile operators, with a 12% share of the market. They claim to cover 99.8% of the UK population. They entered the market with the advent of 3G. For many years, THREE came third in performance surveys, although more recently they have been competing with EE at the top.

During the 3G auction, the government wanted to protect a new licence for a new entrant to the UK market. Three, which is owned by Hutchison Telecom, was the successful company. They do not have a 2G network, but they have extensive 3G, 4G and 5G networks. They are at the forefront of offering unlimited (or at least large) data allowances at a reasonable cost, thus attracting large data users. Additionally, Three are marketing mobile Wi-Fi as a true competitor to fixed-line home broadband.

• Three used 2100MHz for their 3G network which has now been freed up to be used on 4G following the switch off of 3G
• Three uses 800MHz and 2600MHz for 4G
• Three uses 700MHz and 3.4GHz-3.8GHz for 5G

Three purchased only 20 MHz of the 3.4 GHz frequency band on which to run its 5G network — the smallest amount among the operators. However, Three did some forward planning and purchased UK Broadband, which owned a significant amount of 3.6–3.8 GHz bandwidth. Together with the 5G purchase, Three now has a large amount of 5G frequency.

Three has attracted many customers who use large amounts of data. Their CEO is promoting large data deals, as he views the mobile network as a direct competitor to Wi-Fi and home broadband. Three has been at the forefront of the push for mobile broadband to be used while travelling and as an alternative to land-based home broadband. Three runs a number of high street shops, as well as having an online presence where they sell devices for their network.

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