Three UK Network Outage Leaves Thousands Without Service Amid Storm Éowyn Warnings
Mobile network operator Three UK experienced a significant outage on Thursday, January 23, 2025, leaving thousands of customers unable to make or receive phone calls. The issue, which began around 1 PM, affected not only Three’s 10.5 million customers but also users of smaller providers such as Smarty and iD Mobile, which rely on Three’s network. While data services and 911 calls were initially reported as unaffected, some customers claimed they were unable to connect to emergency services, prompting Three to investigate these reports.
The outage tracker Downdetector recorded over 10,000 reports of issues, with customers across the UK expressing frustration on social media. Some shared that they had missed medical appointments or were left stranded due to the disruption. Three apologized for the inconvenience and stated that services had returned to normal overnight, though it warned of potential further disruptions due to Storm Éowyn, which was expected to impact parts of the UK on Friday.
Ofcom, the UK communications regulator, confirmed it was in contact with Three to establish the scale and cause of the problem. While it remains unclear whether customers will be eligible for compensation, Ofcom’s guidelines suggest that refunds may be appropriate during service outages. This incident comes just a month after Three received regulatory approval for a £16.5 billion merger with Vodafone, a deal expected to formally complete in the first half of 2025.
Three has deployed additional engineering resources to address any further disruptions caused by the storm and continues to monitor the situation. Customers experiencing ongoing issues have been advised to restart their devices or toggle airplane mode to restore service. The company has reiterated its commitment to resolving the matter and ensuring full stability across its network.
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