On June 25, 2025, thousands of Three UK customers across the country woke up to a frustrating reality: they couldn't make calls, send texts, or reach emergency services. The disruption, which lasted most of the day, left users searching for answers—and alternatives. In this blog, we’ll explore the timeline of the outage, affected services, Three’s response, public reaction, and what you should do if you were impacted.
Is The Three Network Down Today?
At around 7:45 a.m. BST, users on the Three UK network began reporting issues with voice services. This included problems making and receiving standard phone calls and SMS text messages. Within an hour, complaints surged on platforms like Down Detector, with over 9,000 reports logged by 9:30 a.m.
Read Also: Is The PlayStation Network Currently Online?
The issue wasn’t confined to just Three UK customers. The virtual networks that use Three's infrastructure—such as Smarty and iD Mobile—also saw disruptions. While data services appeared to remain operational, some users reported slow speeds and occasional dropouts.
Services Affected
Voice Calls and SMS
The core issue revolved around inability to make voice calls or send texts. This included calls to emergency services—an especially worrying issue for many users. Some reported that even attempts to dial 999 failed.
Mobile Data
Three UK maintained that mobile data services were unaffected. Indeed, many users confirmed that internet access was stable. However, a smaller portion reported inconsistent or slow mobile data, likely due to increased demand on non-voice channels like messaging apps and VoIP services.
Geographic Impact
This wasn’t a localized issue. Users in London, Birmingham, Manchester, Glasgow, Bristol, and many smaller towns reported outages. The scale of the problem made it clear that this was a nationwide issue, not a localized cell tower or routing problem.
How Did Three UK Respond?
Three UK acknowledged the outage early on X (formerly Twitter), stating:
We’re aware of an issue affecting voice services and are working hard to fix it. We apologise for any inconvenience.
Throughout the day, updates were sporadic and didn’t provide much technical detail. By 10 p.m., Three confirmed that services were “returning to near-normal levels.” Still, some users reported lingering problems even into the night, such as dropped calls and delayed SMS delivery.
Customers were left wanting clearer communication and more transparent updates as the outage stretched over 12 hours.
Public Reaction
The response from the public was immediate and intense. On social media, hashtags like #ThreeDown and #ThreeUK began trending as users shared their frustrations. Some were worried about missed work calls, while others were more concerned about inaccessible emergency services. Many posted screenshots of failed calls, error messages, and long wait times for customer support.
You Must Also Read: How Do I Know If My PlayStation Network Is Down?
A few users added humor to the situation, creating memes about “Three being on a break,” but the overall sentiment was negative. There were growing concerns about network reliability, especially in light of Three’s recent merger with Vodafone, forming the UK’s largest mobile provider.
Why Is This Outage Significant?
Outages happen, but when they last for most of the day and affect millions of customers, they become a major concern. This outage hit at the heart of basic communication—voice calling and emergency services—which most people still rely on for urgent or professional contact.
Three UK also experienced another major outage earlier in 2025. When such incidents recur, it raises questions about infrastructure, investment, and how prepared telecom providers are to handle technical failures.
Should You Expect Compensation?
If you were impacted, you might be wondering if you’re entitled to compensation. According to Ofcom (the UK’s communications regulator), telecom companies must compensate customers for prolonged or repeated loss of service, especially if it disrupts critical communications.
Three has not yet released an official statement about compensation, but here’s what you can do:
What Can You Do Next Time There's an Outage?
1. Use Wi-Fi for Communication
When mobile services go down, apps like WhatsApp, Zoom, FaceTime, or Signal can still function over Wi-Fi.
2. Enable Wi-Fi Calling
Three UK supports Wi-Fi calling, which allows your phone to make calls over your home or office internet connection. It can be a lifesaver during outages.
3. Have a Backup Network
If possible, consider having a second SIM or a pay-as-you-go backup on a different network provider. This is especially important if you rely heavily on mobile communications.
4. Bookmark the Network Status Page
Most major providers, including Three, have a network status page where you can enter your postcode and check for reported issues.
A Wake-Up Call for Three?
This incident puts Three UK in a tough position. As one of the UK’s largest mobile providers—especially after merging with Vodafone—the pressure is on to deliver consistent, reliable service. Customers expect fast internet, yes—but even more, they expect the basics to work: calls, texts, and access to emergency numbers.
The outage on June 25 has sparked discussions about how telecom providers handle crises, how quickly they respond, and how open they are with their users. Many are now watching to see whether Three offers any sort of compensation or upgrades their network to prevent similar issues in the future.
Final Thoughts
So, was the Three network down today? Yes—for most of June 25, 2025, users across the UK were unable to use voice and text services on Three, Smarty, and iD Mobile. The disruption caused major inconvenience and safety concerns, particularly regarding access to emergency numbers.
While services have largely returned to normal, the incident serves as a reminder of the importance of network resilience, clear communication, and user trust. If you were affected, make your voice heard—and make sure to take steps to protect yourself in the future.
Read Also : What happened to Marge on The Simpsons?
Mercado Wolski
On June 25, 2025, thousands of Three UK customers across the country woke up to a frustrating reality: they couldn't make calls, send texts, or reach emergency services. The disruption, which lasted most of the day, left users searching for answers—and alternatives. In this blog, we’ll explore the timeline of the outage, affected services, Three’s response, public reaction, and what you should do if you were impacted.
Is The Three Network Down Today?
At around 7:45 a.m. BST, users on the Three UK network began reporting issues with voice services. This included problems making and receiving standard phone calls and SMS text messages. Within an hour, complaints surged on platforms like Down Detector, with over 9,000 reports logged by 9:30 a.m.
Read Also: Is The PlayStation Network Currently Online?
The issue wasn’t confined to just Three UK customers. The virtual networks that use Three's infrastructure—such as Smarty and iD Mobile—also saw disruptions. While data services appeared to remain operational, some users reported slow speeds and occasional dropouts.
Services Affected
Voice Calls and SMS
The core issue revolved around inability to make voice calls or send texts. This included calls to emergency services—an especially worrying issue for many users. Some reported that even attempts to dial 999 failed.
Mobile Data
Three UK maintained that mobile data services were unaffected. Indeed, many users confirmed that internet access was stable. However, a smaller portion reported inconsistent or slow mobile data, likely due to increased demand on non-voice channels like messaging apps and VoIP services.
Geographic Impact
This wasn’t a localized issue. Users in London, Birmingham, Manchester, Glasgow, Bristol, and many smaller towns reported outages. The scale of the problem made it clear that this was a nationwide issue, not a localized cell tower or routing problem.
How Did Three UK Respond?
Three UK acknowledged the outage early on X (formerly Twitter), stating:
We’re aware of an issue affecting voice services and are working hard to fix it. We apologise for any inconvenience.
Throughout the day, updates were sporadic and didn’t provide much technical detail. By 10 p.m., Three confirmed that services were “returning to near-normal levels.” Still, some users reported lingering problems even into the night, such as dropped calls and delayed SMS delivery.
Customers were left wanting clearer communication and more transparent updates as the outage stretched over 12 hours.
Public Reaction
The response from the public was immediate and intense. On social media, hashtags like #ThreeDown and #ThreeUK began trending as users shared their frustrations. Some were worried about missed work calls, while others were more concerned about inaccessible emergency services. Many posted screenshots of failed calls, error messages, and long wait times for customer support.
You Must Also Read: How Do I Know If My PlayStation Network Is Down?
A few users added humor to the situation, creating memes about “Three being on a break,” but the overall sentiment was negative. There were growing concerns about network reliability, especially in light of Three’s recent merger with Vodafone, forming the UK’s largest mobile provider.
Why Is This Outage Significant?
Outages happen, but when they last for most of the day and affect millions of customers, they become a major concern. This outage hit at the heart of basic communication—voice calling and emergency services—which most people still rely on for urgent or professional contact.
Three UK also experienced another major outage earlier in 2025. When such incidents recur, it raises questions about infrastructure, investment, and how prepared telecom providers are to handle technical failures.
Should You Expect Compensation?
If you were impacted, you might be wondering if you’re entitled to compensation. According to Ofcom (the UK’s communications regulator), telecom companies must compensate customers for prolonged or repeated loss of service, especially if it disrupts critical communications.
Three has not yet released an official statement about compensation, but here’s what you can do:
What Can You Do Next Time There's an Outage?
1. Use Wi-Fi for Communication
When mobile services go down, apps like WhatsApp, Zoom, FaceTime, or Signal can still function over Wi-Fi.
2. Enable Wi-Fi Calling
Three UK supports Wi-Fi calling, which allows your phone to make calls over your home or office internet connection. It can be a lifesaver during outages.
3. Have a Backup Network
If possible, consider having a second SIM or a pay-as-you-go backup on a different network provider. This is especially important if you rely heavily on mobile communications.
4. Bookmark the Network Status Page
Most major providers, including Three, have a network status page where you can enter your postcode and check for reported issues.
A Wake-Up Call for Three?
This incident puts Three UK in a tough position. As one of the UK’s largest mobile providers—especially after merging with Vodafone—the pressure is on to deliver consistent, reliable service. Customers expect fast internet, yes—but even more, they expect the basics to work: calls, texts, and access to emergency numbers.
The outage on June 25 has sparked discussions about how telecom providers handle crises, how quickly they respond, and how open they are with their users. Many are now watching to see whether Three offers any sort of compensation or upgrades their network to prevent similar issues in the future.
Final Thoughts
So, was the Three network down today? Yes—for most of June 25, 2025, users across the UK were unable to use voice and text services on Three, Smarty, and iD Mobile. The disruption caused major inconvenience and safety concerns, particularly regarding access to emergency numbers.
While services have largely returned to normal, the incident serves as a reminder of the importance of network resilience, clear communication, and user trust. If you were affected, make your voice heard—and make sure to take steps to protect yourself in the future.
Read Also : What happened to Marge on The Simpsons?