UK mobile network Three experiences widespread disruptions, affecting thousands of customers across the country. The outage has left many frustrated, with some missing important appointments and others stranded due to the inability to make or receive phone calls.
Thousands of Customers Affected by Outages Across Three Network in UK
The mobile network Three has been hit with outages across its network, affecting thousands of customers in the UK. According to Downdetector, a website that tracks outages, more than 10,000 reports were made on Thursday regarding issues with the mobile network.
Impact of Outage
Customers using smaller mobile companies Smarty and iD Mobile have also been affected as their providers use Three’s network. Many people took to social media to express their frustration at being unable to make or receive phone calls. Some reported missing important appointments, while others claimed that the issues left them stranded.
Response from Three
Three’s support team has been advising customers that they are “working hard to resolve this as soon as possible.” However, the company does not have a timeframe for when the issue will be fixed. In an update at 6pm on Thursday, iD Mobile informed its customers via its website that “3UK engineers have identified and isolated the suspected issue.”
Investigation into 999 Calls
It has also been reported that some 999 calls did not get through during the outage. Three has said that a small number of reports were made regarding 999 call failures, but they have launched an investigation to look further into the matter.
Aftermath and Future Impact
The company has warned that there may be further issues due to Storm Éowyn, which is battering the UK on Friday. Extra engineering resources have been deployed to deal with any disruption caused by the storm. As of Friday morning, Downdetector had over 1,300 reports of outages on Three, but this number has since diminished.
Potential Compensation
It remains unclear whether customers will be able to claim compensation for the outage. However, according to Ofcom‘s website, it “may be appropriate” for providers to offer refunds while repairs are being made. The regulator is in contact with the network to establish the scale and cause of the problem as soon as possible.
Background
This outage occurred just a month after the UK regulator gave the green light to Three’s merger with former rival Vodafone in a £16.5bn deal.
