Network Provider Admits Issues, With Thousands Experiencing Phone Call Disruptions
Mobile Network Voice Call Outage Affects Thousands of Customers
A voice call outage affecting over 10,000 customers nationwide has been reported on mobile network Three, with users in Yorkshire, Derbyshire, North Lanarkshire, and London among those experiencing difficulties. The issues with voice calls have been escalating since they were first reported around 1 pm.
The network has issued a public apology for the inconvenience caused, but specific updates regarding the resolution of the issue have yet to be provided. In a more troubling development, user @flynn1965 shared that they are trying to organize a funeral but cannot make or receive any calls.
The timing of the network's merger approval with Vodafone, scheduled for the first half of 2025, adds to the operational challenges faced by Three. The impending merger raises questions about the network's ability to deliver on its commitment to improved service quality, given the recent outage experiences.
The convergence of telecom giants Three and Vodafone remains a focal point in the industry's landscape. However, the outage highlights potential challenges in network stability and customer experience before the merger. Integration of network infrastructure between the two companies will require stringent technical validations to avoid similar large-scale outages and maintain customer trust amidst the merger process.
This latest outage is not an isolated incident. Recently, three major mobile network voice call outages occurred involving Airtel and Jio in India, EE in the UK, and Three UK, each impacting voice call services with varying causes and resolutions.
In India, Airtel and Jio users experienced widespread problems with both mobile data and voice calls on August 18, 2025. Airtel faced over 3,500 disruption reports with users unable to make calls despite good coverage. Jio users also reported outages affecting mobile internet and signal reception.
In the UK, EE experienced a network outage on July 25, 2025, that disrupted voice calls including emergency service access (999 calls). Thousands of users were unable to make or receive calls; data services were less affected.
Three UK users reported issues mainly focused on frequent reboots of their 5G Outdoor Hub routers starting from early August, which caused intermittent voice and broadband disruptions. This was linked to a firmware-related management protocol causing modem reboots every hour.
The resolution processes and customer impact of these outages emphasize the operational challenges that Vodafone must address to ensure a smooth merger and consistent service quality going forward. The outage experiences reinforce the importance of reliable voice call capabilities, particularly for emergency services, which will be a crucial operational focus post-merger.
Customers are still awaiting resolution and clarity regarding the voice call outages on Three's network. It is crucial for the network to address these issues promptly to regain customer trust and ensure the smooth operation of their services.
[1] Airtel faces widespread network outage in India [2] EE network outage disrupts voice calls in the UK [3] Jio network outage causes disruption for millions in India [4] Three UK users report frequent 5G Outdoor Hub reboots [5] Three UK 5G Outdoor Hub reboot issues linked to firmware update
[1] The widespread network outage affecting Airtel users in India, as mentioned earlier, serves as a cautionary tale regarding the importance of maintaining technology for general-news purposes, such as reliable mobile communication.
[2] Similarly, the network outage on EE in the UK, which disrupted voice calls including emergency service access, underscores the need for scrutiny of technology in the telecom industry to guarantee essential services like voice calls remain unaffected.
