1. Understanding the Service Problems
On Wednesday, June 25, 2025, a significant disruption hit the Three UK mobile network. Consequently, numerous users found themselves unable to make or receive phone calls.
This widespread problem has also impacted other providers, including ID Mobile and Smarty, since their services are supported by Three’s infrastructure.
Interestingly, it has been observed that some affected individuals may not even realize they are missing calls because there is no clear indication of failed incoming connections.
2. Details of the Current Outage
Reports of service issues began early on Wednesday morning, with a notable increase observed on DownDetector, a website that tracks network problems. Nearly 10,000 reports were made by approximately 9:30 AM BST, indicating a major spike in issues. These complaints have come from across the country, suggesting that the problem is widespread rather than confined to a particular area. Despite ongoing efforts, users continued to face difficulties well into the afternoon.
3. What’s Not Working and What Is Still Working
The primary concern during this outage is the voice call service. This means that regular phone calls to both landlines and other mobile phones from a Three SIM card are not going through.
Furthermore, some users have reported that text messages are also affected, with sending and receiving issues being noted. However, a silver lining is that mobile data services appear to be functioning normally. Therefore, browsing the internet using Three’s 4G or Three’s 5G connections is generally still possible.
This allows customers to use internet-based communication apps, such as WhatsApp, Signal, or Messenger, for making voice and video calls, as well as sending messages. Three has even advised its customers to utilize these applications during the disruption.
It is important to note that while Three mobile broadband generally seems operational for internet access, the voice calling aspect of mobile service is impacted.
4. Customer Frustration
Customers are understandably quite frustrated as a result of this inconvenience. Many have expressed their dismay on social media, with some sharing how the outage has caused serious personal inconvenience.
For instance, individuals have reported being unable to contact schools about their children’s well-being or missing crucial telephone appointments with medical professionals.
The general sentiment is one of irritation, with calls for compensation being frequently heard from affected users. This highlights the severity of the Three mobile outage for everyday life.
5. Network’s Response and Broader Impact
Three has officially acknowledged the service disruption. A statement was issued, confirming an “issue affecting voice services” and assuring customers that “data services are working normally.”
An apology was also extended for any inconvenience caused. Despite this, the company has not provided any details regarding the cause of the problem or an estimated time for when services will be fully restored, simply stating that efforts are being made to resolve it.
This issue is not confined to Three’s direct customers; other mobile companies that depend on Three’s network, such as ID Mobile and Smarty, are also experiencing the same difficulties.
Furthermore, serious concerns have been raised by customers about being unable to connect to 999 emergency services during the outage.
6. Previous Incidents and How to Check Status
This is not the first time that Three’s network has faced considerable technical difficulties. Earlier this year, a similar outage in January caused widespread problems for several days, including concerns about access to emergency call services. Such recurring Three broadband issues naturally lead to frustration among customers.
For those wondering about the Three broadband status or the Three mobile broadband status in their area, customers can typically visit their mobile provider’s network support page and enter their postcode. This allows for a quick check on any ongoing issues or planned maintenance, providing insight into the Three broadband network status.
7. Company Statement and Compensation
Three has confirmed the service issues and apologized to its customers for the inconvenience. Their public statements indicate that solving the voice service problem is a top priority for their technical teams.
As mentioned earlier, while automatic compensation schemes exist for fixed-line services, they do not apply to mobile networks.
This means customers will typically need to proactively reach out to their provider to discuss potential refunds or other forms of compensation if they have been significantly affected by the prolonged disruption.
8. Compensation for Service Disruptions
It is important to understand that, unlike fixed-line broadband and landline services, there isn’t an automatic compensation scheme for mobile network outages in the UK.
Ofcom, the communications regulator, manages a system that pays out to customers when certain fixed networks are offline, but this does not currently extend to mobile providers like Three.
Nevertheless, in the past, customers who have raised complaints about significant outages have been offered refunds or other forms of compensation.
Therefore, individuals who have been seriously impacted are encouraged to contact their provider to discuss potential resolutions. This is particularly relevant when 3 broadband down issues impact essential services.
9. Recent Merger Context and Ongoing Efforts
This disruption comes shortly after the completion of a significant merger between Vodafone and Three UK. The combined entity, now known as VodafoneThree, has become the UK’s largest mobile network.
The merger was announced with promises of substantial investment over the next decade to enhance network capabilities and offer customers better coverage.
However, the benefits of this merger, such as automatic switching between the Vodafone and Three networks for improved signal, are not yet fully operational.
Therefore, customers cannot currently rely on Vodafone’s network as a fallback during this outage. Efforts are ongoing to fully integrate the networks, but this will take time, affecting aspects like 3 mobile data down performance for some.
10. Future Promises
Following the recent merger, Vodafone Three has made grand promises for the future. The business intends to make a large investment to create one of the most cutting-edge Three 5G networks in Europe.
This massive investment is intended to provide millions of customers with a vastly improved mobile experience and better coverage across the country, all “at no extra cost.”
While today’s outage is a stark reminder of current challenges, these future investments are meant to prevent such widespread issues and enhance overall network reliability in the long term, impacting everything from Three 3G down to Three 4G down services as technology evolves.
11. Understanding the Scope
The reach of this network issue appears to be nationwide. Reports on DownDetector indicate that problems are not concentrated in one specific region; instead, they are being reported by users in various major towns and cities across the UK.
This widespread nature highlights the extensive impact the outage is having on communication for a significant portion of the population.
Although only a small percentage of overall reports specifically mention data issues, the majority are focused on the inability to make or receive calls, affecting overall Three mobile internet down reports.
Conclusion
As this unexpected mobile silence stretches on, many are left to navigate a day without effortless connections. While the inconvenience is clear, particularly when urgent calls are needed, understanding the situation can help manage expectations.
Engineers are diligently working to restore full service, and the recent merger with Vodafone promises a more robust network in the future.
For now, patience is requested, and alternative communication methods are advised. Hopefully, normal service will be resumed quickly, allowing everyone to reconnect effortlessly very soon.
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