We've said goodbye to 3G.
To help us build a better 4G and 5G network, we've switched off our 3G coverage.
We’re not alone in doing this – other networks in the UK and abroad are also phasing out their 3G networks.
Please make sure all affected employees attached to your Three Business account are aware of the 3G switch off.
In areas with 4G or 5G, calls, texts and data services will be available on devices compatible with our 4G or 5G network. Remember to make sure your device network settings are correctly enabled.
To use your device without 3G:
If your device is only compatible with 3G, calls, data and texts will no longer be available.
There may be limited areas where our 4G or 5G networks aren’t available. You won’t be able to use your call, data, or text services in these areas on any devices.
If your device is not compatible, you'll need to change it to a device compatible with our 4G or 5G network.
If you’re a Pay Monthly customer, get in touch and we can talk you through your options.
You can upgrade to a 4G or 5G device today by calling us on 337, even if you’re still within the minimum term of your contract1.
Get in touch and we can talk you through your upgrade options.
All our Business Broadband hubs are 5G ready, so your services won’t be affected. If you have a 3G Mobile Broadband device, call us on 0808 258 0333 for support.
If you bought your Three Business contract through one of our partners, and want to discuss your options, please reach out directly to the partner you bought your contract from.
At Three, we aim to be inclusive and provide the right level of support for every customer.
To find out how we can help, and to register your accessibility needs, visit our accessibility hub.
By switching off our 3G network, we've reused the 3G spectrum for our 4G and/or 5G services. That means we can offer higher-quality calls, smoother streaming, quicker downloads, and better overall performance.
Plus, 4G technology offers better voice quality with better sound and clarity compared to 3G. And it offers 4G Calling – also known as VoLTE – and Enhanced Voice Speech.
Our 4G network covers 99% of the UK population (outdoor coverage). And our 5G coverage is growing every day too.
Plus, we’ve been awarded The UK’s Fastest 5G Network by Ookla2 for the sixth year running.
So, if you want super-fast downloads and smooth streaming, make sure you’ve got a 5G ready device.
Our 4G and 5G networks carry Emergency Alerts, a free service from the UK government.
They warn you if there’s a severe danger to life or property nearby. You can get alerts about anything from severe flooding and fires to terror attacks or public health emergencies.
4G and 5G networks are more energy efficient than 3G networks. Mobile devices using a 4G or 5G network will have a longer battery life.
And with less need to charge your device, you can enjoy using your phone uninterrupted.
Our 3G network was completely switched off across the UK in November 2025.
No, we don’t have a 2G network. And like other networks in the UK and abroad, we’ve phased out 3G. We want you to have the best experience on our network, so we’re continuing to invest in our 4G and 5G networks.
Using an older phone? To stay connected, you’ll need to change to a device that’s 4G Calling or 5G compatible.
If 4G and 5G isn’t available, you won’t be able to call, text or use video relay to contact them using our network. However, your device will be able to use other operators’ networks – if available – to make emergency calls.
You don’t need to be a customer of any other operators for this to work. This is something all network operators have agreed to.
In areas where our 4G or 5G networks are available, whether you can contact the emergency services by call, text or video relay will depend on your device.
If you bought your phone from us after 2016, it’s likely that you’ll have 4G Calling – also known as VoLTE – capability. In 2016, we were the first UK operator to use 4G for voice calls, giving you a better quality experience.
You can check if your phone is 4G Calling capable, and see how to enable this in your device settings, on our device support hub.
Some older 4G devices don't support 4G Calling. You can check your device on our device support hub. Pick your device, then go to Specifications, Network, then check 4G Calling (VoLTE UK & Abroad) is selected.
If your device is compatible, you need to make sure 4G Calling is turned on in your device settings.
If it’s not compatible, you will still be able to send and receive text messages, and use 4G data, but you won’t be able to make or receive calls using 4G.
Access to calls, texts, and data will only be available on 4G Calling devices. If your device isn’t compatible, you’ll need to change to one that supports 4G Calling to keep using our network.
If you’ve got a 4G only device, such as a tablet, you can keep using our 4G network as normal.
There may be limited areas where our 4G or 5G networks aren’t available. You won’t be able to use your call, data, or text services in these areas on any devices.
3G is no longer available as a service. If you don’t have a 4G or 5G ready device, you won’t be able to connect to our network.
There may be limited areas where our 4G or 5G networks aren't available. You won't be able to make or receive calls, use data or send or receive texts on the Three network, regardless of your device.
You can stay up to date on coverage improvements on our coverage checker.
We understand how important your device is to you. And we want to make sure that you’re using a phone that suits your needs and is ready for the future of our network.
So if your device isn’t 4G Calling compatible, or uses 3G-only data - such as a tablet - have a chat with our Accessibility team . They’re on hand to help find you a device that works for you. You can also visit our accessibility hub at three.co.uk/accessibility.
On 8 December 2021, the Government announced that all public 2G and 3G networks will be switched off by 2033 at the latest. However, operators have been encouraged to switch off their networks – particularly 3G networks – earlier than that.
3G coverage is no longer available, and devices that only use 3G for calls and data are not supported.
If you don’t have a 4G or 5G ready device, you won’t be able to connect to our network.
3G coverage is no longer available.
Mobile Broadband: If you have a 3G-only Mobile Broadband device, you should change it to continue using our 4G and 5G network. If you have a 4G or 5G data-only Mobile Broadband device, you can continue to use our 4G and 5G networks as usual, where available.
Business Broadband: All our Business Broadband hubs are 5G ready, so you can continue to use our 4G and 5G networks as usual, where available.
If you need support, call us on 337 from your Three Business phone, or 0808 134 6269, and we'll discuss your options with you.
If you bought your Three Business contract through one of our partners, and want to discuss your options, please reach out directly to the partner you bought your contract from.
