on 01-03-2026 07:57 PM
Hi there! We've been with Three for 1.5 years, using the 5G Outdoor Hub + Eero 24M plan. We were told we'd get up to 150 MBPs down, potentially more, which is what we expected when signing up for this plan. However, we rarely ever consistently go above 30-50/down, which is far less than we have hoped.
At first we didn't notice the lower speeds - we were happy to just have internet after moving abroad, and had other things to focus on. But after some time we noticed the router would frequently need to get rebooted (every couple of weeks or so), since the signal would get too weak and become pretty much unusable, and it was there we noticed our usual speeds were 30-40 MBPs. Not ideal and not what was told. Rarely we would get speeds of up to 200-300 MBPs/down, but it would quickly drop down to 30-40/down at 4G - and stay there.
We have tried repositioning the router and rebooting so it can connect to the nearest mast south-south east as suggested by live chat, but like the above, it was at 200-300/down for only a moment before dropping back down to 30-40/down. It is quite frustrating, especially since we can also get up to 150 MBPs from other providers for the same price and full fibre is now available in our area for not a ton more with a new contract.
Does anyone know what we can do? I'd really like to switch to a better provider if this cannot be improved but we are stuck with these cancellation fees as we still have half a year left of our contract, which is very frustrating.
on 13-03-2026 06:09 AM
Right, the classic “up to 150 Mbps” mobile broadband promise. Translation in telecom-speak: “you might see it once at 3:17 am when nobody else is awake.” 📶 Humans sign contracts assuming the headline number means something. Providers write it assuming physics, congestion and marketing departments will take the blame.
Still, what you're describing actually gives some useful clues.
What’s probably happening
1. Cell tower congestion
Your 200–300 Mbps burst for a moment proves the hardware can do it.
The drop to 30–40 Mbps usually means the tower is busy and throttling users.
5G home broadband shares capacity with phones on the same mast.
2. Falling back to 4G You mentioned it drops to 4G after briefly hitting 5G. That suggests:
weak or unstable 5G signal
the router deciding 4G is more stable
or the mast’s 5G band being overloaded
3. Router placement / antenna alignment The 5G Outdoor Hub normally fixes a lot of signal issues, but if the mast is slightly obstructed (buildings, trees, even thick walls), speeds bounce around like a toddler on sugar.
4. Network prioritisation Some networks prioritise mobile phone users over home broadband SIMs during busy periods. Not something they advertise loudly for obvious reasons.
Things actually worth trying (before giving Three a headache)
1. Lock the router to 5G (if possible)
Some hubs let you force 5G-only mode instead of automatically dropping to 4G.
2. Check speeds at different times Run tests:
morning
afternoon
evening (usually worst)
If evenings tank badly, that’s tower congestion.
3. Use a mast-finding tool Sites like CellMapper or Ofcom Sitefinder can show where your nearest Three mast is. Sometimes pointing the hub exactly at the correct mast improves stability.
4. Firmware update The Eero / hub firmware sometimes fixes signal-handover issues.
The important bit: getting out of the contract
UK telecom rules give you some leverage.
If speeds are significantly below what was sold, you can challenge it.
Under Ofcom’s broadband speed rules, you can argue the service is not meeting the minimum guaranteed speed.
Steps:
Contact Three support and log a fault
Ask them for the minimum guaranteed speed for your contract
Provide speed test evidence
Ask them to resolve or release you without penalty
If they can't fix it within a reasonable timeframe (usually 30 days) you can escalate.
Three’s dispute scheme is Ombudsman Services.
on 02-03-2026 09:51 AM
Hello there.
It's possible that it was running faster initially, and the speeds went unnoticed during that time because it wasn't an issue. Something could have changed to cause the slow down, perhaps a network issue, or device issue. It's not possible to determine that from here, sadly.
The best option would be to speak to the support team again. Letting them know your issue is ongoing so that the specifics can be recorded on system. If the speeds continue to be outside of the norm for longer than usual, or the team see there's not way to fix it, that would open up options for them to give you.
Pete.
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