Leaving Three since Vodafone Merger

[Keith-9fc7j]

Hi Guys, hope were all well. I currently have a sim only contract with Three. Ive been with them for over a decade, and truth be told Ive never had any major issues. I pay £17.12 a month, on a contract called Unlimited Lite SIMO 24m . It has 6 weeks left. I have an iPhone 16 Pro Max which I bought outright from Apple. Three is an eSim and the sim card slot contains my work phone EE SIM, which I only use 2 days a month for making/receiving phone calls when Im on call for work. Im saying that for context if that matters.

My issue with Three is since the merger with Vodafone has been announced I have massive areas of no service (I work all around the UK, so cannot give you a specific postcode), but its becoming a regular occurance. Texts/whatsapps wont be delivered, calls will drop out, or Ill just have no service. Im talking 3 or 4 times a day in various areas. Its almost as if 4G flat out doesnt work anymore

My work iPad, and the second sim on my phone are on EE through work and regularly have 5G when Three is struggling. Ive spoke to Three, Ive done their service checks etc, there should be no issue but its getting worse and worse.

I guess my questions are, has anyone else noticed a down turn in Three s coverage over the past few months? Has anyone else switched to EE and been happy? I cannot get anywhere near as good a deal from EE but I think itll be a worthwhile increase?

Thoughts? Id also be considering getting an EE Sim only deal and upgrading to the 18 Pro Max when released so would need to bare that in minds too.

Thanks

[RizzoTheRat]

Bear in mind quite a few other providers use EE's network so may be able to do better priced deals with the same coverage. Lyca Mobile for example do 10GB of data and unlimited calls for £10/month, and use EE's network.

[daytonavrs]

Have you tried lebara, way cheaper but not meaning a reduction in service seems fine so far been a few years now I think

It was even cheaper at start up, was on offer a few quid for several months so we saved loads.

Counterwise seen broadband go up though....just argued with supplier to drop the voice part as they were pushing it over to EE without my consent
Still part of BT please understand though.

Got a deal on the BB that reduces the cost to below advertised plus a voucher expected for £75 ( must check that up incidentally)

[Mr Pointy]

How much data/calls do you actually use? I'd suggest you don't tie yourself to a 24 month contract but change to a monthly rolling plan & then change if you find the coverage isn't good enough. Lebara will give to 50GB for £15 a month:

https://www.lebara.co.uk/en/home.html

No annual price increases either.

[Keith-9fc7j]

Hi, I use between 40 and 60gb a month according to my bill. I use Youtube Premium for everything, so I do need a big data plan.

I was under the impression Lyca etc are Mobile Virtual Network Operators (MVNOs) which dont really get the full network, I dont think skimping is a good idea when Ive got frustrations.

I can find an unlimited EE Sim deal for £25ish, so not a huge financial increase from £17, especially if Im getting less frustrated with signal issues. EE do seem very expensive when you get a phone + sim deal however?

[davek_964]

Keith-9fc7j said:

I was under the impression Lyca etc are Mobile Virtual Network Operators (MVNOs) which dont really get the full network, I dont think skimping is a good idea when Ive got frustrations.

It's a fair point - although I went from EE to Lebara a few months ago and haven't noticed any issues at all.

[Castrol for a knave]

Same boat - been with Voda on our personal phones for years.

The signal here in the Shire has always been patchy but now it is almost non-existent. I am looking at EE - work phone uses it and it is far far superior in terms of coverage and drop outs, plus there is more 5G coverage, not that I am especially arsed about that.

[Whataguy]

I was having an issue where I regularly had no service.

There was signal, just no service. It would happen in exactly the same places.

Switching the phone to flight mode briefly fixed it, I assumed some issue with 3 and Vodafone not switching over correctly between towers and leaving you stuck.

[butchstewie]

Whataguy said:

I was having an issue where I regularly had no service.

There was signal, just no service. It would happen in exactly the same places.

Switching the phone to flight mode briefly fixed it, I assumed some issue with 3 and Vodafone not switching over correctly between towers and leaving you stuck.

Still get this a fair bit.

Never quite worked out if it's post-merger but the Airplane trick sometimes (not always) seems to kick it back to life.

[heisthegaffer]

1pmobile using EE network and full speed I think plus EU roaming.

I was with 3 before and it was pony vs 1pmobile.

Cheap too.

[McrNick]

I'm another convert. I was with 3 for years. Switched over to Lebara a year ago, and found it gives me much better coverage. And a rolling monthly contract, so much more flexible. Easy to manage through their app, too.

[Uncle Meat]

I'm with Smarty (three) and haven't noticed any degradation in service, quite the opposite, I never get dropped calls and can get 1Gbs. Had them for years and while they never put the price up I'm still paying £12, now for 200 Gig per month, including roaming.

My work phone ironically is Vodafone and they are consistently poor. Maybe the upcoming mast sharing between the 2 will improve your lot?

Edited by Uncle Meat on Thursday 16th July 20:26

[nordboy]

I definately think the signal/ service has got worse since the merger, I'm always wary of moving though as I'm not sure the one I mov to would be any better?

But if I didn't have wifi calling on I wouldn't get any calls/ texts in my house.

[Russ35]

I've had issues with Three for quite a while around certain areas I work (data link to office and Lopay credit card terminal), so I got a Lebara as a spare to change data to if a had issues with Three. Since the merger of Three and Vodafone Lebara has given me issues occasionally . I'll need to change the Lebera to someone else at some point.

It's seems very confusing nowadays trying to change networks based on performance. With Three and Vodafone merging (although still being run as separate companies) you now connect to either mast infrastructure.

Taken from a google search this seems to be who uses whose infrastructure

EE
. BT Mobile
. 1pMobile
. Lycamobile
. Spusu
. Utility Warehouse

O2
. Giffgaff (Owned by O2)
. Tesco Mobile
. Sky Mobile

Three
, SMARTY (Owned by Three)
. iD Mobile

Vodafone
. VOXI (Owned by Vodafone)
. Asda Mobile
. Lebara
. Talkmobile

Edited by Russ35 on Thursday 16th July 22:16

[Wish]

I’m with Vodafone been with them since the start and I’ve noticed the customer service has gone to pot and the single strength isn’t as good as it once was.

One day I will decide to move ….

[Sonie]

Looking on USwitch, the only network that hooks onto EE is Spusu Mobile.
Lebara uses Vodafone.

[Wish]

I’m with Vodafone been with them since the start and I’ve noticed the customer service has gone to pot and the single strength isn’t as good as it once was.

One day I will decide to move ….

[HJG]

I don't understand how 2 service providers merging can result in worse coverage. I thought surely they can now use each other's masts etc.

[Keith-9fc7j]

HJG said:

I don't understand how 2 service providers merging can result in worse coverage. I thought surely they can now use each other's masts etc.

Id imagine theres a cost cutting exercise somewhere! Im sure the merger will eventually be better overall, but I dont think I can bare the teething issues. I dont really understand but apparantly some masts are shutting down, and Three are joining Vodafones masts that cant quite cope yet. Ive heard 2034 by the time its finished?

The general consensus is EE is the best, so I guess I need to make the move. Whats the consensus on PAK codes and switching numbers over? Sounds a nightmare, how long does it take?

[Arrivalist]

Moving with a PAC is now pretty much painless. Text your existing carrier and get the code instantly and then porting is typically complete within 12-24 hours imo.