VodaThree Merger

BigBadBald

I'm an IT professional who manages 150+ mobile connections.  Over the years, I've moved our organisation from network to network based on the best deal available and strength/features. 

Three are offering amazing business deals at present (around £6.50/unlimited SIMO); but our network tests just show their coverage remains appalling outside major cities.

Vodafone and Three are set to merge soon (March 2025); but I thought I'd share that supposedly within 10 days following the merger, all their cells will be opened to both networks.  That in theory will give a very attractive network.

So this may be a consideration for any of you considering Three/Vodafone as your mobile provider. 

In my experience / opinion:
Three: ID; Smarty; Honest - fast in major cities/populated areas outdoors, slow / no signal indoors.
EE: Lyca, 1pMobile, Spusu, Ecotalk, Talkhome - good coverage, fast network out / indoors.
Vodafone: Voxi, TalkMobile, ASDA, Lebara - good coverage in and outdoors
O2: Giffgaff, Sky, Tesco - good coverage, in and outdoors.

For domestic customers things to consider then:

• Your Budget
• Your min/text/data use requirements
• SIM only or purchasing a phone at the same time
• Coverage at your home or work if Wifi Calling/VoLTE available.
• Monthly, 12 monthly, 24 monthly (or more)
• Any other requirements e.g. call divert, family plans

jimjames

I've certainly found Vodafone 5G is very limited compared to 5G availability abroad. Even in relatively remote areas 5G signal is good whereas in UK I find Vodafone has poor 5G even in built up places.

PHK

Where did you hear that subscribers will be able to roam onto both networks within 10days of the merger being finalised. 

The last I heard the merger was supposed to be complete in June. At that point they need to start the process of integrating systems AND deal with MBNL (the deal with O2 is already done)

(When T-Mobile merged with Orange it was about six months before you could roam on either network and five years until the EE we recognise today started)

ACDeag

PHK said:

Where did you hear that subscribers will be able to roam onto both networks within 10days of the merger being finalised. 

The last I heard the merger was supposed to be complete in June. At that point they need to start the process of integrating systems AND deal with MBNL (the deal with O2 is already done)

(When T-Mobile merged with Orange it was about six months before you could roam on either network and five years until the EE we recognise today started)

Late coming into this late but this will be roaming like you do abroad but here it will be roaming in the UK. I bet both have prepared for this since the merger was okayed just needs a switch flipped.

PHK

ACDeag said:

PHK said:

Where did you hear that subscribers will be able to roam onto both networks within 10days of the merger being finalised. 

The last I heard the merger was supposed to be complete in June. At that point they need to start the process of integrating systems AND deal with MBNL (the deal with O2 is already done)

(When T-Mobile merged with Orange it was about six months before you could roam on either network and five years until the EE we recognise today started)

Late coming into this late but this will be roaming like you do abroad but here it will be roaming in the UK. I bet both have prepared for this since the merger was okayed just needs a switch flipped.

Do you think both networks will be able to cope with an influx of roamers in areas where one is weak. 

Phones4Chris

I don't know where the OP gets the idea that Three are no good in rural areas. In two rural areas I frequent, their 4G is better than EE in both.

Frozen_up_north

Phones4Chris said:

I don't know where the OP gets the idea that Three are no good in rural areas. In two rural areas I frequent, their 4G is better than EE in both.

Just wait until there is a mains failure to see how good Three are. We left Three some time ago as the local site had no battery backup, any glitch in the mains and the site went down for 20 minutes, which often happened. No such problems here with the O2 and EE sites, I don’t know about Vodafone.

matelodave

Phones4Chris said:

I don't know where the OP gets the idea that Three are no good in rural areas. In two rural areas I frequent, their 4G is better than EE in both.

we live in a rural area - Three is best, EE is acceptable but 02 and Vodafone are almost non-existent unless you go down to the end of the garden.

Phones4Chris

Frozen_up_north said:

Phones4Chris said:

I don't know where the OP gets the idea that Three are no good in rural areas. In two rural areas I frequent, their 4G is better than EE in both.

Just wait until there is a mains failure to see how good Three are. We left Three some time ago as the local site had no battery backup, any glitch in the mains and the site went down for 20 minutes, which often happened. No such problems here with the O2 and EE sites, I don’t know about Vodafone.

The OP was talking about reception (ie. signal strength) not what happens in a power-cut. As it so happens, in our most recent area-wide power-cut Three remained on air!.