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Mobile operator VodafoneThree (Vodafone and Three UK) has provided a progress update on their work to implement a new Multi-Operator Core Network (MOCN), which is one of the first big benefits of the recent merger (here and here) – allowing 27 million customers to roam across both networks at no extra cost (whichever one provides the best signal in your location).
Back in June 2025 we noted that the first 24 mast sites had already gone live with this roaming feature (here), but we also highlighted how it would take a total of 8 years to fully complete the roll-out (it will be 95% complete after 6 years). The deployment is thus initially being strategically focused on areas of the country that will gain the most benefit from it (i.e. those with a poor 4G or 5G signal from one or the other operator).
The latest progress update reveals that the feature has now gone live via a total of 600 mast sites, with 9,000 to follow by the end of the first year of VodafoneThree being formed (March 2026 still seems to be the target for this). Meanwhile, some 7 million Three UK customers are already said to be experiencing an average 20% boost in 4G (mobile broadband) speeds, rising to 40% in some key towns and cities, thanks to the integration of combined spectrum. But substantiating the latter claim remains incredibly difficult.
Progress Update
Together, these network improvements reflect the rapid pace at which VodafoneThree is transforming connectivity across the UK. All customers of VodafoneThree brands will see benefits within 12-months.
➤ Peak period improvements – Busy times, such as rush hour, put a strain on the network, as sites can be flooded with more customers than they can provide a good quality service to. Thanks to the technology, customers will be moved from a busy site to one that is able to provide the required level of performance. It also simultaneously relieves the strain on the busy site, providing a better experience for all customers.
➤ Eliminating 4G not spots – By providing 4G coverage to 16,500km of the UK where it wasn’t previously available to either brand’s customers, VodafoneThree will eliminate not spots across an area ten times the size of London.
➤ Enhanced 5G coverage – Around 71% of the UK population (circa 50 million) will have access to VodafoneThree’s fastest 5G speeds by the end of year one, thanks to bringing the networks together and an accelerated 5G roll out plan.
We should remind readers that users of the latest 5G Standalone (5G SA) services (i.e. a pure end-to-end 5G only network) will have to wait a bit longer as these are not yet able to support the new roaming ability, and it’s unclear when that will change. Over the longer term, VodafoneThree will ultimately need to move beyond MOCN and deliver a single core network, but that’s another thing that’s still “many years away“.
Andrea Donà, Chief Network Officer, VodafoneThree, said:
“Bringing our networks together marks a major milestone for VodafoneThree, unlocking greater capacity, reducing 4G not spots, and expanding 5G coverage. Just weeks into the rollout, millions of customers are already seeing the benefits of a nationwide boost, powered by our spectrum integration and Multi-Operator Core Network technology. It’s a clear signal of VodafoneThree’s ambition and ability to move at pace to deliver a new era of connectivity.”
At this point it’s worth remembering that the merged company ultimately aims to reach 99.95% UK population coverage of their 5G Standalone (5G SA) network by 2034, while also pushing fixed wireless access (mobile home broadband) to 82% of households by 2030.