Three UK Network Outage Leaves Thousands Without Service Amid Storm Éowyn Warnings
On January 23, 2025, Three UK experienced a significant network outage affecting millions of customers, including users of Smarty and iD Mobile. The disruption, which began at 1 PM, left many unable to make or receive calls, with some reporting issues connecting to emergency services. Despite initial claims that data services and 911 calls were unaffected, the outage tracker Downdetector recorded over 10,000 reports of issues. Three UK apologized for the inconvenience and restored services overnight, though further disruptions were anticipated due to Storm Éowyn. Ofcom is investigating the outage, and while compensation eligibility remains unclear, guidelines suggest refunds may be appropriate. This incident follows Three's recent regulatory approval for a £16.5 billion merger with Vodafone, expected to complete in 2025. Three has deployed additional engineering resources to address potential storm-related disruptions and advises customers to restart devices or toggle airplane mode to restore service.