Three first entered the market back in 2003 when it began building the world’s first ever 3G only network. All other operators were at that time focused on selling 2G handsets and this was seen as a bold and innovative leap by the industry.
Removing 3G devices is a first for the UK and another industry leading approach from Three, aimed at further enhancing the customer experience. Three has never shied away from breaking industry ‘norms’, especially when it is to the benefit of its customers. It was the first operator to introduce roaming abroad at no extra cost, the first to offer 4G at no extra cost, and more recently has enabled its customers to binge infinitely on their favourite streaming services such as Netflix and Snapchat.
With more than 10 million customers and an average customer data usage of 3.5 times that of any other network, Three has progressed strongly in a comparatively short time frame. In just 15 years, half the age of some of the initial UK networks, Three has built a reliable datacentric network aimed squarely at the mobile consumer of today and tomorrow. All other mobile network operators (MNOs) in the UK today still sell 2G handsets, despite 5G connectivity being just around the corner.
Dave Dyson, CEO at Three UK, said: “Our customers are at the heart of everything we do as a business and we are therefore continually striving to provide the best possible experience for them on our network. Our research has shown that the customers that are using all the benefits of 4G are happier and enjoying all the benefits of being able to stream, share and snap to their hearts content.
“We recognise that this is a significant milestone for us as a business and for the market, just as the introduction of 3G was at the turn of the century and we are proud to be driving the industry forwards once more.”
Current customers that are on a 3G device of any kind, whether it’s a handset or a 3G mobile broadband device, will still be able to use their devices as normal for many years to come. Three is simply ensuring that more customers can access all its network benefits, such as improved indoor coverage through 4G Super Voice, well into the decade ahead.