Three Network

ccdorset

Hi,

Just wondering what people's experiences of the Three network are? I'm currently with O2, however I've just started a new job as cabin crew and so am abroad for about half the month. I see that Three have the Feel at Home feature which might be useful to me. Just not sure on the coverage and customer service, as I know they had issues when I looked at them years ago.

Thanks in advance for your help.

cklass

You could try testing their coverage by ordering a free PAYG sim from their website: https://www.three.co.uk/Support/Free_SIM/Order

Coverage is usually fine in major cities and towns. Three also came second (after EE) in a recent test of coverage on motorways and rail routes. The only people who would experience problems are those who are frequently in areas with weak or zero 3G coverage as Three doesn't have 2G coverage to fall back on unlike the other networks.

I've not had many reasons to contact customer services, so I don't personally know how good or bad they are in that respect, but I don't hear many complaints about Three unlike networks like Vodafone and EE.

Three doesn't really do loyalty deals or discounts anymore, so whereas you may occasionally be able to haggle a better deal with O2, you may not be able to do so at the end of a contract with Three. Their plans are already competitively priced, though, and if you're going to be frequently travelling to the 16 Feel At Home destinations for work then Three may be a better fit for you than O2.

If you choose to stick with O2, remember that you can use TU Go abroad.

ccdorset

Great, thank you, that's really helpful. I think I might get a cheap unlocked phone on eBay and try what you suggest. Sounds like the best way forward.

mac.d

I stay in a major city so don't have any coverage issues, my only problem so far with 3 has been that on the albeit few occasions I try to connect to the internet, about a 1/3 of the time it just doesn't work.

ccdorset

Hmm, I seem to be having trouble finding a cheap 3G unlocked phone that will work on the three network. I can get one from the Three website for £35, but seems a bit expensive just to try the signal out. Any ideas?

flashg67

Can you get your current phone unlocked, presuming it is 3g of course?

d123

I use Three across the north of England and down the east coast to London, it works as well as any other network I've used and unlike the other poster the internet always connects. I use it for streaming radio in the car every day and it works well almost everywhere I drive. Definitely better than FM reception in Northumberland.

Daz2009

I've been with Vodafone,O2,t-mobile etc over the years and I can honestly say that 3's coverage is dreadful in comparison.
If it wasn't for the fact their payg tariff is so cheap I'd move to another network

ccdorset

I'm not sure how much it will cost to get my phone unlocked. I'm still in my contract with O2 at the moment, so not sure if unlocking the phone will effect that? Sorry I'm not very clued up on these things! Seems that the coverage can be a bit patchy then. Having said that, I have to travel to Norfolk regularly and really struggle with the reception with O2.

d123

ccdorset wrote: »

I'm not sure how much it will cost to get my phone unlocked. I'm still in my contract with O2 at the moment, so not sure if unlocking the phone will effect that? Sorry I'm not very clued up on these things! Seems that the coverage can be a bit patchy then. Having said that, I have to travel to Norfolk regularly and really struggle with the reception with O2.

Contact O2 customer services or use the unlock request form on their website. As a contract customer the unlock is free.

http://consumers.ofcom.org.uk/phone/mobile-phones/changing-provider/mobile-phone-locking-and-unlocking/

ccdorset

Oh great, thank you. I will have a look at that.