Three Network Outage Disrupts Mobile Services for Thousands of UK Users Nationwide
Three UK Network Outage Leaves Thousands Without Service
Three UK, one of Britain’s largest mobile networks, experienced a major outage today, disrupting services for thousands of users. Down Detector reported over 9,300 complaints by mid-morning, with 79% of users unable to make calls and 17% lacking signal. Subsidiaries ID Mobile and Smarty, both owned by Three, were also impacted.
Company Response and Customer Frustration
Three UK confirmed the outage, stating they were “working hard to fix” the voice service disruption. Data services remained functional. Affected customers flooded social media, demanding compensation. “Give us compensation, not a lousy sorry,” wrote one user. Others highlighted missed calls from doctors or urgent work communications.
Geographic Spread and Past Issues
The outage affected users nationwide, including major cities like Cardiff and Manchester. This follows a 17-hour disruption in January, which left 10,000+ users without 999 emergency access. Some customers threatened to switch providers, with comments like “Time to switch—EE here I come” trending on social media.
Compensation and Complaints
Three UK isn’t part of Ofcom’s automatic compensation scheme, requiring customers to file complaints directly. Users can contact Three via live chat, phone (333), or online forms. Persistent issues may be escalated to Ofcom.
Looking Ahead
With no confirmed cause or resolution timeline, the outage underscores growing concerns over Three’s reliability. As frustrations mount, the pressure is on for swift fixes and transparent communication to retain customers.
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