Three & Vodafone

[Charles1]

I've been with Three over 20 years and there is no coverage at my home address, the only mobile coverage is a strong Vodafone signal but my mobile doesn't switch to use the Vodafone network. I received a text from Three a few weeks ago saying dual coverage was now available at my address. Contacted Three's call centre, complete waste of time, an absolute disgrace, would have got more sense talking to someone in my local butchers shop. Has anyone actually used the dual networks? What the hell's going on. 

[rob_peac]

I’ve always had a great Three signal, up until the merger! Now I can’t get a signal in or around my house. A total waste of time!

[MichaelP]

Hello @Charles1,

It's disappointing to hear that you've lost coverage at home.

As part of the merger, Three/Vodafone is in the process of allowing customers of each network to automatically use each other's network at no extra cost. 

This is automated, but does not involve changing carriers, SIM cards, or unlocking your devices. Your network will still display as the provider that your plan is with.

You won't need to do anything to utilise the best available network at any given time, but the timeframe may vary between different areas for this to fully roll out.

Please have a look at the Coverage and Network Status checker to see if any known issues or planned work is taking place in your area.

If there's nothing highlighted and this is continuing to impact you, please chat with Customer Services, and they'll look at what other options are available to you.

Thanks,
Michael

[Charles1]

Michael, if you read my post you will see I have not lost coverage at home, there has NEVER been Three coverage at home! That is still the case, however for the last 25 years there has been a very strong Vodafone signal, so why does my mobile not automatically switch to Vodafone? I will remind you that you sent me a text message saying that I would switch to Vodafone at my home address. 

[clivejo]

Three won't "switch" you to vodafone.  Instead the vodafone signal is modified to look like it is a Three signal instead.  Your device will still say it's connected on the Three network.  Many people think that they can just go into Network settings and change the network to "vodafone", but this is not the case.  The technology is called Multi-Operator Core Network (MOCN) and there is a nice description of how it works here - VodaThree MOCN 

The way mobile networks are designed, means that more than one mast is probably providing service at your postcode.  So while they sent an SMS, it might mean that this particular vodafone mast hasn't been upgraded.  I am in the same situation and they keep telling me the mast is due for MOCN upgrade, but still waiting, not very patiently at this stage!  They have even added the "extra" coverage on the Three coverage checker, but it's definitely not there! 

Does the Three Coverage Checker show increased coverage at your postcode?