We’ve now switched off our 3G network across most of the UK to give you a better experience on our 4G and 5G networks.
We’re not alone in doing this – other networks in the UK and abroad are in the process of phasing out their 3G service too.
Use this page to find out how to connect to and enjoy our faster, more reliable 4G and 5G networks.
To keep using our 4G or 5G network, your device must be 4G ready and support 4G Calling. You can check this and find steps for switching on 4G Calling on our device support hub.
If your device is 3G only, or an older 4G device without 4G Calling, you won’t be able to use our services. That means you won’t be able to make calls or use data in the UK or abroad.
If your device isn’t compatible, you’ll need to change it to continue using our network. View our latest deals for business.
Alternatively, to upgrade, call us on 337 from your Three Business phone, or 0808 258 0333, and we'll discuss your options with you.
If you’re a Pay Monthly customer, give us a call 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. Give us a call 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.
We know that one size doesn’t fit all, and 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, or get in touch.
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 4th 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.
No, we don’t have a 2G network. And like other networks in the UK and abroad, we’re phasing out 3G. We want you to have the best possible 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 you have a 4G or 5G VoLTE device, access to emergency services won’t be impacted by the 3G switch off.
If you have a 3G only device, following Three’s 3G switch off:
Emergency SMS: The emergency SMS service will no longer be available.
Emergency video relay: This enables deaf British Sign Language users to contact the emergency services, and requires a 4G data connection. This means you won’t be able to access it via the Three network (if you’re registered, you may be able to access it via Wi-Fi).
Emergency calls: You won’t be able to establish an emergency call via the Three network, however your mobile phone will have access to other networks’ 2G and 3G services, if available, to connect the call. You don’t need to be a customer of these other networks to use this – all network operators have taken this measure to ensure everyone can make emergency calls. Please note that other network operators are also in the process of phasing out their 3G service, and while the plan is to keep some 2G networks operational for some time after 3G is switched off, the longevity of 2G networks varies by operator.
If you have a 4G non-VoLTE device, following Three’s 3G switch off:
Emergency SMS: The emergency SMS service will be available (if you’re registered).
Emergency video relay: This enables deaf British Sign Language users to contact the emergency services, and will be available via Three’s 4G network (if you’re registered).
Emergency calls: You won’t be able to establish an emergency call via the Three network, however your mobile phone will have access to other networks’ 2G and 3G services, if available, to connect the call. You don’t need to be a customer of these other networks to use this – all network operators have taken this measure to ensure everyone can make emergency calls. Please note that other network operators are also in the process of phasing out their 3G service, and while the plan is to keep some 2G networks operational for some time after 3G is switched off, the longevity of 2G networks varies by operator.
To ensure access to all emergency services, you’ll need to make sure your device, or device setting, is compatible with our 4G and 5G network.
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 might not be 4G Calling compatible. 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 ticked.
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 on a temporary basis, but you won’t be able to make or receive calls using 4G.
When we switch off 3G, calls, texts, and data will only be available when using a 4G Calling – or VoLTE – device. If your device isn’t compatible, you’ll need to change to one that supports 4G Calling to continue using our network.
If you’ve got a 4G Data Only device, such as a tablet, you’ll stay connected to our 4G network.
We’ve now switched off our 3G network across most of the UK, so now’s a good time for you to swap to a 4G Calling or 5G device, if you don’t already have one.
If you have a 3G-only data device such as a tablet or Mobile Broadband, you’ll need to change to a 4G or 5G ready device to stay connected to our network.
By the time our 3G switch-off is complete, we’ll have enabled 4G in these areas. You can stay up to date on network improvements using our coverage checker .
Because we’ve now switched off our 3G network across most of the UK, while you can still send and receive texts and temporarily use 4G data, you won’t be able to make or receive calls using 4G. We’re not alone in doing this, other networks in the UK and abroad are also phasing out their 3G networks.
It may be worth asking friends or family if they’ve got a spare 4G Calling device you could use while deciding what you’d like to do.
You can also Get in touch with us to find out more, and talk through possible solutions.
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.
We’re here to help you understand all your upgrade options. Just get in touch.
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. This is why many networks, like ours, are already switching off 3G.
After 2024, we won’t be able to support any device that relies on 3G only for data and calls. Unfortunately, you won’t be able to connect to our 4G or 5G networks.
All our Business Broadband hubs are 5G ready, so your services won’t be affected.
If you have a 3G Mobile Broadband device, it is no longer supported so we’d recommend you consider changing it. Call us on 337 from your Three Business phone, or 0808 258 0333, and we'll discuss your options with you.
If you have a 4G or 5G Data Only device3, you don’t need to do anything.
If you have a 3G device, it is no longer supported. If you're not sure whether you can access 4G or 5G, call the manufacturer of your device, and if you can only access 3G, you'll need to switch to a device that's compatible with the 3G switch off.
We can offer you upgrade options from our range of phones, Business Broadband, Mobile Broadband, and tablets.
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.
