Better experience, faster speeds, wider coverage: Early impact of the Vodafone–Three UK merger

by Max Iannazzi, Andrey Popov (main authors); and Adam Winstanley (data support)

Just months after completing their long-awaited merger, Vodafone and Three’s network integration is already translating into wider coverage across the UK, as early network sharing delivers tangible benefits for millions of users — from broader reach to faster, more reliable connectivity. When the national competition authority cleared the merger in May 2025, Opensignal noted that the benefits for consumers would only appear once infrastructure integration began. 

Now, just a few months into this process, the first measurable improvements are already visible in our data. These improvements are being enabled by the gradual rollout of Multi-Operator Core Network technology — a key technical step allowing the combined network footprint to become accessible to users of both operators.

This analysis focuses on the changes in network experience that our Vodafone and Three users have observed so far, as well as our projected improvement once all the announced effects have materialized.

Key Findings:

• Network sharing unlocks significant coverage improvements. Early stages of Radio Access Network (RAN) sharing between Vodafone and Three are beginning to expand network reach following the merger. Based on Opensignal’s data, once full integration is completed, Three users are expected to see around a 13% improvement in Coverage Experience, while Vodafone users will see a 7% increase. For 5G Coverage Experience, the uplift is projected to be much greater — a 92% improvement for Vodafone users and 7% for Three users.
• Better experience, faster speeds. Post-merger, Vodafone and Three users already experience improved reliability in areas of existing coverage, while Three users are also measuring improved download speeds. We see that the merged entity's network is not only resulting in better coverage, but better experience in already covered areas.
• A potential new challenger emerges. EE has long been able to take home the lion’s share of awards from Opensignal’s Mobile Network Experience awards but this might be changing. With strengthened coverage, faster 5G performance, and shared investment resources, the new VodafoneThree could challenge EE’s leadership and reshape the competition landscape in the UK market. 

RAN sharing brings coverage gains

In late 2022, Three UK stopped expanding 5G coverage due to the costs involved, while Vodafone UK faced challenges expanding coverage to smaller towns and cities due to a challenging regulatory environment. To overcome these limitations, the two operators announced a merger in mid-2023. The intention was to combine the resources of both companies, with the aim of improving their networks at scale. 

The merger was finalized on 31st May 2025, marking the creation of a new combined entity with ambitions to build “Britain’s best 5G network.” The timing is significant: in Opensignal’s Global Network Excellence Index for Q2 2025, the United Kingdom ranked 52nd globally, highlighting room for improvement in overall network quality and reliability. 

Post-merger, Vodafone and Three have begun rolling out a Multi-Operator Core Network (MOCN) technology, which allows customers of both operators to connect automatically to whichever mast provides the stronger signal. This means that in parts of the network where MOCN is enabled, users gain access to additional network resources, immediately improving coverage and reliability. Although there may still be some minor hiccups for VodafoneThree customers, the network optimization efforts are on course to provide tangible benefits to the consumers.

In short, the expansion of network coverage is already being realized wherever MOCN has been activated — and the continuing rollout will progressively extend these gains nationwide. The integration rollout began in August of this year. At that time, Vodafone stated that the move: “will bring better mobile coverage to 16,500 square kilometres of the country – an area roughly 10x the size of London”. Vodafone and Three customers today are able to use network coverage of either network, at no extra cost, as stated on operators' websites. Opensignal uses the Coverage Experience metric to assess network reach across populated areas — and our data already shows measurable gains as integration advances.

Opensignal’s Coverage Experience metric — based on real user readings across both Vodafone and Three networks — allows us to measure the impact on coverage when users of each operator access the full combined network footprint. Our analysis shows a substantial uplift in overall Coverage Experience (across 2G to 5G technologies) as the direct impact of merger’s network integration — Three users see a 13% improvement in overall coverage, while Vodafone users experience a 7% increase compared to their pre-merger experience.

Opensignal’s 5G Coverage Experience metric measures where users with a 5G device and a 5G subscription enjoy active 5G connection — and the metric reveals particularly strong improvement for Vodafone customers.

Following integration, Vodafone’s users benefit from a remarkable 92% increase in 5G Coverage Experience, benefitting from Three’s 5G network across the country, but particularly in dense, urban areas. Three’s users also see 8% improvement compared to their experience prior to network integration. 

This all points to Three and Vodafone customers having more coverage than they did pre-merger. But the benefits aren’t only coverage-related: early returns show improvements in speed & reliability already occurring for customers.

Network sharing boosts speed and reliability 

Vodafone and Three will continue advancing their Multi-Operator Core Network (MOCN) rollout, a key part of their integration strategy. While coverage improvements are already visible in the data, these gains will accelerate as more sites are brought under the MOCN framework. Vodafone stated that around 500 MOCN-enabled sites were live in August 2025, with further 10,000 more expected to be enabled by March 2026. 

This MOCN arrangement allows customers of both operators — including subbrands such as VOXI, Talkmobile and Smarty — to automatically connect to the most optimal network, regardless of which SIM they use. Each device selects the stronger signal provided by the nearest MOCN-enabled mast, with no need for user action or opt-in.

Opensignal data shows that an increasing number of customers on either network are starting to connect to towers on the other operator’s network. Although the share today is not significant, it is already producing a noticeable effect on the network performance, particularly for our users on Three’s network. 

We see impact start to materialize on Three’s network, with Download Speed Experience increasing by an impressive 8%, from 43.16Mbps recorded in Q2 2025 to around 46.72Mbps as recorded in Q3 for our Three users. 

Both Vodafone & Three users are experiencing more reliable networks post-merger. Three users saw a strong increase of 20 points from Q2 2025 to Q3 2025, going from a Reliability Experience score of 876 points (on a 100-1000 point scale) to 897 points in Q3 2025. Vodafone users saw Reliability Experience scores improving by a respectable 10 points from Q2 2025 (887 points) to Q3 2025 (897 points). 

Opensignal defines Reliability as the ability of Opensignal users to connect to and successfully complete (basic) tasks on communication service providers’ (CSP) networks. This metric takes into account how much a user’s experience is affected by the radio access and core network, along with issues that prevent them from connecting to the internet even if they have a connection. 

These early results highlight that Vodafone and Three’s network sharing is already delivering more than just expanded coverage. Users are seeing faster speeds and more dependable connectivity, marking the first concrete benefits of integration. Together, these gains position VodafoneThree as an increasingly competitive player in the UK mobile market — validating the operators’ original case for merging in 2023.

Note: All data collected predates Vodafone’s recent network outage and therefore does not reflect this event.

Competitive landscape post-merger 

Following the merger, Three and Vodafone’s core networks remain separate, while their Radio Access Network (RAN) are being progressively integrated through the Multi-Operator Core Network MOCN framework. The rollout of MOCN-enabled sites is expected to conclude through 2033, as both operators upgrade sites via either software or hardware enhancements . 

Although full convergence into a single core network is anticipated in the longer term, no target date has been announced, and it is likely to occur only after the completion of the MOCN rollout. For now, Vodafone and Three continue to operate under separate consumer brands, even as their users begin to benefit from the shared network arrangement. For this reason, we will continue to report on them separately for now. 

VodafoneThree stated their plans to invest £11 billion over the next decade to expand and modernize its network infrastructure. However, competition remains strong as other national operators are also accelerating investments. 

Virgin Media O2 has committed around £700 million into its network, to improve both rural and urban coverage and has strengthened its spectrum portfolio having added 78.8MHz of spectrum formerly belonging to Vodafone, which it is using to strengthen its 4G and 5G capacity. 

Meanwhile, EE has been expanding 5G Standalone (also known as 5G+) throughout the United Kingdom and is on plan to offer 5G+ to 41 million people nationwide by Spring 2026. EE has historically set the benchmark in Opensignal’s UK Mobile Network Experience Awards, consistently winning the majority of categories. 

Now with not just the combined networks, but shared resources of the two companies, VodafoneThree will continue to advance their network. As all three operators advance their network strategies, mobile users across the United Kingdom can expect better network experience going forward. 

Please subscribe to our newsletter to stay informed about our publications.