Three mobile network: coverage, customer service and complaints
Last updated: 22 October 2026
Three launched in 2003 as the UK's first 3G-only network. It now forms part of VodafoneThree alongside Vodafone, and the two networks are being combined over several years.
Three at a glance
- Type: Mobile network operator (owns its masts)
- Owned by: VodafoneThree
- What it sells: Phone contracts, SIM only plans with unlimited data options, 5G home broadband and pay-as-you-go.
Three has long been associated with generous and unlimited data plans and was an early 5G home broadband provider.
Three coverage
Three runs its own network of masts. Three provides 4G to the vast majority of the UK population and is expanding 5G, mainly in towns and cities first. Coverage varies street by street and indoors, so check your home and work postcodes on Ofcom's coverage checker before you buy.
Other providers that use Three's network: iD Mobile, SMARTY.
Customer feedback: official complaint figures
Ofcom publishes how many complaints it receives about each major mobile provider for every 100,000 pay-monthly customers. In the October to December 2025 figures, Three received 1 complaints per 100,000 customers — below the industry average of 3.
| Provider | Jan–Mar | Apr–Jun | Jul–Sep | Oct–Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Three | 2 | 3 | 2 | 1 |
| Industry average | 2 | 2 | 2 | 3 |
Source: Ofcom telecoms and pay-TV complaints, Q4 2025. Lower is better. Figures are rounded by Ofcom.
Contact Three customer service
- From a Three phone: 333
- From any other phone: 0333 338 1001
- Help and live chat: www.three.co.uk/support
These are the contact routes Three publishes. Numbers starting 03 cost the same as a normal landline call and are usually included in phone plan minutes; 0800 and 0808 numbers are free. Check Three's website for opening hours.
Complaining about Three
Complain to Three first. If it isn't resolved after eight weeks, or you get a 'deadlock letter', you can take it free of charge to the independent ombudsman scheme Three belongs to. Ofcom explains the process on its how to complain page.