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Mobile-first, 4G/5G home broadband

Three UK

A mobile-first UK network now part of VodafoneThree (merger completed Q1 2025). Three still trades under its own brand for mobile and for wireless 4G/5G home broadband that needs no Openreach line, no engineer and no phone socket. This page covers current Three deals, the merger, customer service and an honest read of what real customers say in 2026.

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At a glance

Launched in the UK in 2003 Now part of VodafoneThree (merger Q1 2025) Maidenhead HQ Wireless 4G/5G, not Openreach

Launched

2003

First UK 3G operator

Pre-merger base

~9M

Three brand UK customers

VodafoneThree

~28M

Combined post-merger customers

5G Home avg speed

~150 Mbps

Three 5G Hub, good-coverage areas

About

Who is Three?

Three UK launched as Hutchison 3G UK in March 2003, becoming the country’s first 3G-only operator. The brand built its identity around generous data allowances and unlimited plans long before the rest of the UK market caught up. It launched 5G in 2019, claiming the first standalone 5G home broadband product in the UK.

Three has historically been the smallest of the UK’s "big four" mobile networks, with around 9 million customers on the Three brand alone. In Q1 2025, Three and Vodafone UK completed their merger to form VodafoneThree, a combined network of roughly 28 million customers. The Three and Vodafone brands continue to trade independently for now, with full network integration rolling out gradually.

Three is regulated by Ofcom. Unresolved complaints can be escalated to CISAS, Three’s alternative-dispute-resolution scheme (note: Three uses CISAS, not Ombudsman Services).

Current deals

Three deals available now

Headline prices verified on . Three updates its broadband and SIM promotions every few weeks, so each card links straight to Three for the live price.

No engineer, plug-and-play

Wireless home broadband

Three 5G Home Broadband (5G Hub)

Download

~150 Mbps

Average download, 5G

Upload / extra

20 to 60 Mbps

Average

£23 /month

24 months contract . £0 upfront

  • 5G Hub router
  • Unlimited data
  • 30-day money-back guarantee

Best for

Renters and addresses without Openreach Full Fibre on the street

See on Three

4G fallback broadband

Three 4G Home Broadband

Download

20 to 50 Mbps

Average download, 4G

Upload / extra

5 to 15 Mbps

Average

£17 /month

24 months contract . £0 upfront

  • 4G router (ZTE)
  • Unlimited data
  • Self-install in 5 minutes

Best for

Rural homes or temporary households needing fast set-up

See on Three
Heavy data users, frequent travellers

Mobile flagship

Three Advanced Unlimited SIM

Download

Unlimited 5G

Data on the 5G network

Upload / extra

Go Roam in 90+ destinations

Average

£20 /month

24 months contract . £0 upfront

  • Unlimited 5G data
  • Go Roam EU and beyond
  • Tethering allowed

Best for

Anyone who tethers, streams on the train or roams often

See on Three

Business

Three Business 5G Hub

Download

Up to 400 Mbps

In strong 5G coverage

Upload / extra

Tax-deductible plan

Average

£26 /month ex. VAT

24 to 36 months contract . £0 upfront

  • Business-grade SLA
  • Static IP options
  • Microsoft 365 add-ons

Best for

A startup, site office or shop that needs broadband on day one

See on Three

Selectra is independent. Three does not pay us to feature any of these tariffs. We list its public deals so you can compare them like-for-like with other providers.

Explore

What Three actually sells

Three is a mobile network that also sells wireless home broadband over its own 4G and 5G signal. Below is each product line and what it really is in 2026, with a link to the deep-dive page.

Home broadband

Three sells wireless home broadband over its own 4G and 5G mobile network. The router plugs into a wall socket and connects in minutes, no Openreach phone line, no engineer visit. Speed depends entirely on the mobile signal at your address.

Open page

Three Business

A separate B2B arm selling mobile-first SME plans, 5G Hub business broadband, fleet SIMs and Microsoft 365 add-ons. Contracts and prices are different to consumer Three.

Open page

Contact Three

Full directory of Three phone lines (333 from your Three handset, 0333 338 1001 from any phone, business and accessibility lines), opening hours and the social-media support channels.

Open page

Complaints

How to raise a complaint with Three, the 8-week internal window, and how to escalate to CISAS, Three’s ADR scheme (note: Three uses CISAS, not Ombudsman Services).

Open page

Customer reviews

Trustpilot scores from both Three pages, the Q4 2025 Ofcom complaints table where Three sits in the worst quartile, the Which? annual survey and a Selectra audit of Three’s online presence.

Open page

Reviews snapshot

What customers actually say about Three

Scores collected from each platform on . We do not pick the flattering one and ignore the rest, we show all of them and explain what they mean.

Trustpilot, three.co.uk

4.4 / 5

~58,500 reviews

Positive overall

On the main three.co.uk Trustpilot page, headline volume is high and the score is strong. Recurring positives: friendly in-store and phone staff, Go Roam free EU data, and fast 5G speeds when in coverage.

Trustpilot, three.com

1.3 / 5

~650 reviews

Mostly negative

A smaller, separate Trustpilot page that pools complaint-focused reviews. Recurring negatives: indoor signal dropouts, slow router replacements and difficulty cancelling broadband cleanly. Read alongside the main page rather than instead of it.

Ofcom complaints, Q4 2025

Worst quartile broadband + mobile

Reported with EE and Vodafone

Mostly negative

In the latest Ofcom report, Three appears in the worst quartile for both broadband and mobile complaints alongside EE and Vodafone. Faults, signal and billing dominate the complaint mix.

Which? customer survey

Mid-table mobile network

2025 wave

Mixed

Three sits mid-table in the Which? mobile network survey: customers like the value and the data allowances but rate signal reliability and complaint handling below the best networks. Not a Which? Recommended Provider.

Read the full Three review

Selectra expert verdict

Independent read, no commission shaping

Three is the most interesting "alternative" to fixed-line broadband in the UK in 2026. If your postcode has solid 5G coverage, the Three 5G Hub gives you 100 to 400 Mbps for around £23 a month with no engineer, no phone line and a genuine 30-day money-back guarantee. For renters, students and addresses where Openreach Full Fibre is not yet on the street, that is a legitimately strong product.

The honest weakness is that it is signal-dependent. Three sits in the worst quartile of the Q4 2025 Ofcom complaints table for both broadband and mobile, and most of those complaints centre on indoor signal dropouts and the friction of escalating to CISAS when something goes wrong. Order the 5G Hub on the 30-day money-back terms, test it for two weeks in the rooms you actually use, and only commit to a 24-month contract once you know the signal works. If you have good Openreach Full Fibre at your address, a fixed-line provider like Plusnet or BT is still the safer bet.

Verdict last reviewed 19 May 2026.

FAQ

Three broadband, mobile and the VodafoneThree merger, your questions answered

Is Three broadband good in 2026?

It depends entirely on the mobile signal at your address. If you have strong 5G coverage, the Three 5G Hub averages around 150 Mbps download with no engineer visit, no Openreach line and a 30-day money-back guarantee, which is excellent for a £20-£23/month wireless service. If you only have 4G or weak 5G, expect 20 to 50 Mbps, fine for streaming but slower than even FTTC. Always run the postcode checker on three.co.uk before signing.

How much is Three 5G Home Broadband per month?

As of May 2026, the Three 5G Home Broadband plan with the 5G Hub starts around £23 a month on a 24-month contract with no upfront fee. The slower 4G Home Broadband plan starts around £17 a month. There is also a rolling 1-month option at a higher price, useful if you are renting. Prices on the Three Home Broadband page change every few weeks.

What is the VodafoneThree merger?

Three UK (owned by CK Hutchison) and Vodafone UK completed their merger in Q1 2025 to form VodafoneThree, the UK’s largest mobile network with around 28 million combined customers. For now, both brands continue to trade independently with their own tariffs, apps and stores. Network integration is rolling out gradually, with full convergence expected over the second half of the decade.

Do I need an Openreach phone line for Three broadband?

No. Three Home Broadband is fully wireless. The router (5G Hub or 4G ZTE box) plugs into a wall socket and connects to the Three mobile network. There is no phone-line install, no engineer visit and no Openreach copper or fibre involved. This is what makes it attractive to renters and to addresses where Full Fibre is not yet on the street.

How do I contact Three customer service?

The fastest route is 333, free from a Three handset. From any other UK phone, dial 0333 338 1001. Business customers have a separate line and there is a dedicated accessibility team. Full directory is on our Three contact page.

Can I leave Three without an exit fee?

Yes, in two situations. First, all Three Home Broadband plans come with a 30-day money-back guarantee, so if the signal does not work at your address, you can return the router and pay nothing. Second, if Three raises the price by more than the fixed amount written into your contract, Ofcom rules give you a free 30-day window to leave penalty-free. Outside those windows, expect to pay the remaining monthly fees.