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Hutchison 3G Enterprises S.A.R.L.,[1] commonly known as Hutchison 3G (acronym H3G) and trading as 3 (Three), is the owner of a brand name that operates several mobile phone networks and broadband Internet providers in Hong Kong, Macau, Austria, Denmark, Indonesia, Ireland, Italy, Sweden, and the United Kingdom.[2]

Key Information

The brand was officially founded on 3 March 2003 in Hong Kong.[3][4] As of 2022, registered Three customers worldwide numbered over 110 million.[5]

All 3-branded network companies are wholly-owned subsidiaries of CK Hutchison Holdings (formerly Hutchison Whampoa) but the ownership structure varies. CK Hutchison Holdings owns direct majority interests of six networks through 3 Group Europe, including Austria, Denmark, Italy, Ireland, Sweden and the United Kingdom. Hutchison Telecommunications Hong Kong Holdings operates the networks in Hong Kong and Macau, while Hutchison Telecommunications International operates the network in Indonesia.[6][7][8] All 3-branded networks provide 4G and 3G services; some also run 2G networks and 5G services.

CK Hutchison Holdings no longer holds a 3G licence in Israel, which was formerly operated under the brand Orange, or in Norway, where an unused licence was previously held by 3 Scandinavia.

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During the launch of the brand in 2002, when Hutchison Whampoa sold its 2G business to Orange, the brand name 3 (Three) represented their new 3G services.[9] In 2003, CK Hutchison Holdings stated that the name refers to their three global telecommunication services: 3G, GSM Dualband and CDMA.[10]

The logo, which is a visual representation of the number "3", was originally three-dimensional and orange in colour. Throughout the years of operation, it has had different versions. In 2009, it was unified into a flat black and white logo. The company describes the logo's design philosophy as "cool outside and hot inside".[11]

International operations

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Hutchison Telecommunications Hong Kong Holding

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Hong Kong

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Main article: 3 Hong Kong

3 Hong Kong is operated by Hutchison Telecommunications Hong Kong Holdings, a subsidiary of CK Hutchison Holdings.

In May 2004, its affiliated 2G operator, Orange, re-branded its services and changed its name to 3 Dualband, referring to the GSM product, and 3 CDMA, referring to the CDMA product.

On 29 May 2008, Hutchison Telecommunications Hong Kong Holdings announced that it has signed an agreement with Apple to bring the iPhone to Hong Kong later that year under 3.[12] In 2012, a partnership with Vodafone was launched and 3 Hong Kong is a member of the Conexus Mobile Alliance.[13]

Ownership:

  • Hutchison Telecommunications International: 70.9%
  • NTT DoCoMo: 24.1%
  • NEC: 5%

Macau

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3 Macau launched in 2000 providing GSM dual-band services. In 2007, they launched 3G services. In 2008, 3 Macau brought the iPhone to Macau an agreement with Apple. Till now, they are providing 4G services.

In the 2G and 3G eras, it was the second largest mobile operator in Macau. In the 2G era, its market share was approximately 31%, as of December 31, 2003.[14] In the 3G era, its market share was approximately 33% in terms of the number of customers, as of 31 December 2008.[15]

3 Macau is the only carrier to offer VoWiFi in Macau.[16]

Hutchison Telecommunications International

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Indonesia

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Tri Indonesia was founded as a company in 2000, received a 3G licence in 2003, and began operations on 29 March 2007, initially in the Jakarta area only.[citation needed] Only after 9 months of operations, 3 acquired about 2.2 million GSM customers. 3 achieved high customer mindshare maintaining at about 90% of awareness level as of April 2009.[17]

As of April 2009, 3 Indonesia had about 4.5 million customers on its GSM network. 3 offers both pre-paid and post-paid (contract) services. Currently, the post-paid service is available in Jakarta, Bandung, and Surabaya area.

3 Indonesia current[when?] slogan is "#IniWaktunyaKita (#ItsTimeForUs)", formerly, "Dunia Tri. Kekuatanku (Tri World. My Power)", "Your mobile lifestyle provider", "Jaringan GSM-mu (Your GSM Network)", "Jaringan Selularmu (Your Cellular Network)". Sometimes, 3 use "Mau? (Want it?)" and "Hanya di 3 (Only on 3)" slogan in their ads.

3 currently[when?] has full GSM coverage in Java, Sumatera, Bali, Lombok, and Riau Islands. And as of April 2009, Kalimantan is covered in South Kalimantan and Sulawesi is covered in South Sulawesi. By 2009, the 3 UMTS/HSDPA service was available in most parts of Java, especially big cities like Jakarta, Surabaya, Bandung.[18]

3 Indonesia launched its new unlimited text and MMS service for a fee with Facebook on 8 April 2009, so registered 3 customers can update status, write on their "wall", or upload new pictures free of charge. Besides Facebook, 3 also cooperated with Yahoo! to give unlimited chat for a fee by SMS and downloadable app using Yahoo! Messenger service. Both of these were the first of their kind in Indonesia.

In 2013, Charoen Pokphand divested its telecommunication business in Indonesia by selling its share of 3 to Garibaldi Thohir and private equity firm which jointly owned by Patrick Walujo and Glenn Sugita Northstar Group.[19] In September 2021, it was announced that the latter company would be merged with Indosat (which operates the IM3 networks); the merger closed on 4 January 2022 with Indosat as the surviving entity.[20]

Ownership of Indosat:

3 Group Europe

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Austria

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Drei Austria started operations in May 2003. The company promised to have 95% population coverage with HSDPA end of 2007. By 2008, 3's 3G coverage reached 94% of the population.[21] Outside the coverage of its own 3G-network (UMTS/HSDPA/HSPA+) it relies on national roaming on the network of T-Mobile Austria[22] (before Mid-2012, the network of A1 was used for national roaming). 3 Austria is the first in Austria to offer its customers so called "HD Mobile TV" based on the H.264 encoding standard, and won IIR telcon awards for their eBay (2006)[23] and Xseries Gold (2007)[24] offerings. 3 Austria won a DVB-H license and launched the service in June 2008, with three devices and free usage of Mobile TV.[25][26] In September 2010 – The number of 1 million customers were exceeded.[27] In November 2011 – 3 Austria launched HD voice[28] and LTE[29] In January 2012, 3 Austria announced its national roaming agreement with T-Mobile, which will introduce from July 2012. Customers of 3 Austria will be able to roam on T-Mobile's GSM-network where 3's GSM-network is not available. Simultaneous clients of T-Mobile (including tele.ring) will be able to roam on 3's UMTS-network where T-Mobile's UMTS-network is not available. The roaming agreement with A1 will be continued parallel until year-end.[30] On 3 February 2012 Hutchison Whampoa announced that it had bought Orange for US$1.7 billion,[31] from France Télécom which owned a 35% stake, and private equity firm Mid Europa Partners, which held the remaining 65%. The combined business will create a mobile carrier with 2.8 million customers and more than 20 percent market share in Austria.[32] JPMorgan Chase advised Hutchison on the deal, while Morgan Stanley advised France Télécom and Mid Europa Partners.[33]

Denmark and Sweden

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3 Danmark and Tre Sverige have a common network covering most of the two countries. Customers are "at home" on both networks, i.e. Danish customer receive calls from Denmark without paying roaming fees when they are on 3 Sweden's network and it does not cost extra to call Danish telephone numbers. 3 Scandinavia also previously had a license to build a network in Norway, but in 2011 decided against launching a 3G network in Norway. In 2008 both operations showed a positive EBITDA. In Sweden a small part of the UMTS2100 mobile network is shared with Telenor - except for cities like Stockholm, Gothenburg, Malmö, Lund and Karlskrona where they handle their own 3G networks. In spring 2011 Three started, without Telenor, to build their own 3G Network on the UMTS 900-band which will give a bigger coverage. UMTS 900 and LTE 800 is rolled out using the same base stations. Today[when?] 3 Sweden covers about 98.5% of the Swedish population. In May 2012, 3 Sweden launched its first LTE services. The network uses the TDD2600, FDD2600, FDD2100 and FDD800 bands. The network was launched with ZTE and according to ZTE, this is the world's first LTE network to use both FDD and TDD at the same time. Later it was switched to Huawei and Ericsson and as of now in July 2022 with the roll out of 5G the whole network is changed to Ericsson and Nokia Networks, due to the ban of using Huawei to build a 5G-network. At the beginning of 2022, 3 Sweden was Sweden's fastest growing mobile operator. 3 Sweden also operates its own lower-cost flanker brand Hallon, launched in 2013.[34]

3 Denmark and 3 Sweden has "3 Like Home" which makes it possible to use the phone as home in 50+ countries like (Austria, Cyprus, USA, Sweden, Norway, Finland, Ireland, UK, Spain, Portugal, Malta, Puerto Rico, Greece, San Marino, Singapore, Switzerland, Netherlands, France, Hong Kong, Italy, Luxembourg, Liechtenstein, Germany).

Ownership:

Ireland

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Main article: Three Ireland

Three Ireland launched on 26 July 2005 as Ireland's fourth mobile network operator behind Vodafone, O2 and Meteor. Service was initially offered as post-paid only, but on 16 May 2006 the introduction of a pre-paid service, known as 3Pay, was announced.

Three operates 2G, 3G, 4G and 5G services. Until 2015, Three had a roaming agreement with Vodafone to provide 2G coverage where its original 3G network was unavailable.

On 24 June 2013, it was announced that CK Hutchison Holdings would acquire Telefónica's Irish mobile operations, O2, for €780 million, to be merged into Three Ireland upon completion of the deal.[35][36][37] The European Commission approved the merger in 2014. The O2 brand was phased out and its operations fully merged into Three on 2 March 2015.[38]

On 27 January 2014, Three launched its 4G network in Dublin, Cork, Galway, Limerick, Wexford and Waterford.[39] By March 2014, Three had expanded its 4G coverage to a further 11 towns. In 2016, Three started rolling out 4G+ claiming peak speeds of 225 Mbit/s.[40] 4G coverage currently sits at 97.3% as of March 2020.

On 28 September 2020, Three launched its 5G network, claiming 35% population coverage on day one. Three has stated that this service will be available in 121 locations but coverage is expected to expand over time.[41][42]

Italy

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See also: Wind Tre

3 Italy (formerly known as Andala[43][44]) was founded in November 1999 and controlled by Sardinian Internet company Tiscali, Franco Bernabè and Sanpaolo IMI. It was the first Italian mobile operator to offer 3G services (UMTS),[45][46] launched in March 2003.[47] As of March 2010, 3 Italy had 9 million registered customers. It had a roaming agreement with TIM which allowed its customers to get a 2G service when they moved out of 3G coverage, allowing 3 to offer coverage to up to 99.8% of the population on 2G service. On 22 February 2006, 3 announced the first launch of HSDPA technology in Italy, marketed as "ADSM" (a contraction of "ADSL Mobile"). On 14 May 2006, 3 was the first in Italy to launch digital mobile TV using DVB-H technology. From June 2008 to November 2011, 3 Italy offered free of charge the viewing of Rai 1, Rai 2, Canale 5, Italia 1, Rete 4, Sky Meteo24, Current TV and La7 television channels with DVB-H technology.

In 2015, CK Hutchison Holdings and VimpelCom agreed to merge their telecommunications businesses in Italy – 3 Italy and Wind Telecomunicazioni – and this was completed in December 2016.[48] The resulting company, 50% owned by each partner, rebranded as Wind Tre and had around 31 million mobile customers at the start of 2017, making it the country's largest mobile operator.[49] In 2018, CK Hutchison acquired the 50% stake owned by VEON (formerly VimpelCom), to gain 100% ownership of Wind Tre.[48] In the Italian market, services are now offered under the unified brand, officially unveiled on 6 March and commercially launched on 16 March 2020.[50][51]

United Kingdom

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Main article: Three UK

Three UK launched as the UK's first commercial video mobile network on 3 March 2003, the day that 3G services went live across the country,[52] and handsets went on sale later that month. On 9 December 2004, Three announced that it was the first network to meet its regulatory requirement of 80% population coverage in the UK.[53]

Three operates 3G, 4G and 5G services, and maintains a national roaming agreement with EE to provide 2G services where 3G is unavailable (until 2006, Three partnered with O2 for these services).[54] 2G fallback coverage was largely dropped as 3G became ubiquitous.[55]

On 24 March 2015, Three announced its intention to acquire the UK operations of Spanish operator O2 for £10.25 billion[56] but a year later, the EU Commission blocked the takeover.[57][58]

Three's first retail stores (branded 3Store) opened at the same time as the network launched, in London's Oxford Street and Kensington High Street, and at the Birmingham Mailbox. Three's handsets and contracts are also sold by mobile telephony chains and independents throughout the UK, as well as online retailers. In 2005, an expansion of the 3Store portfolio saw stores opened in larger malls throughout the UK, such as the Bluewater shopping centre, and The Mall at Cribbs Causeway near Bristol.[59] On 24 October 2006, Three announced that it had purchased 95 high street shops from O2 and The Link.[60] Three's UK division is owned entirely by CK Hutchison Holdings.

In June 2023, it was announced that, subject to regulatory approval Vodafone UK and Three UK will merge to create Britain's biggest mobile network, with Vodafone owning 51% and CK Hutchison Holdings owning 49% of the new service.[61] The merger received antitrust approval from the UK Competition and Markets Authority in December 2024, and is expected to close in the first half of 2025.[62]

Past 3-branded networks

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Australia

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See also: Vodafone Australia

Hutchison launched the Three Australia network in 2003. It operated a 2,100 MHz 3G network in a 50/50 partnership with Telstra[63] (the radio networks were shared while the core networks were separate), covering approximately 56% of Australia's population. The 3G network covered Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide, Perth, the Gold Coast, Canberra, Geelong, Frankston and Wollongong.

On 9 February 2009, Three and Vodafone announced that they would be merging their Australian operations into a 50–50 joint venture called Vodafone Hutchison Australia. All products and services offered by VHA would be marketed under the Vodafone brand.[64] The merger was approved by shareholders and regulators on 29 May 2009,[65] and Vodafone Hutchison Australia was established in June 2009.[66] The Three and Vodafone networks remained separate until August 2009. Vodafone phased out the Three brand from late 2011 onwards.[67] No new registrations to the Three brand were made after this time,[67][68] and from 30 August 2013, all Three Mobile systems and accounts were closed.[69]

Hutchison formerly operated an Australian CDMA network under the Orange brand name, as Orange One. It allowed customers to use their 3-branded CDMA mobile phone as a home phone when at home. Calls made from their mobile were charged at rates similar to those of a landline. Customers also received a "Local Zone " number allowing them to be called on a Landline number whilst at home. Should the phone be out of the Local zone, Calls made to the landline number either diverted to the Mobile number at a small fee, or was directed to Voicemail on the mobile handset. These plans started at a very competitive price of $10.00 per month, and local calls from the local Zone to a local landline was charged at 20c per local call, making their service cheaper than those of Telstra or Optus. The Orange One network was not as vast as others, and so Orange made arrangements with Telstra to allow the services of Orange One devices to roam to the Telstra network. On 1 February 2006, it was rebranded as 3 CDMA, and this network was closed as of 9 August 2006. 3 CDMA customers were offered special tariffs and incentives to continue as customers on the 3G network, all customers either moved over to 3's 3G network or to other network providers.

Services

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Internet access

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Like other mobile-provider Internet home pages, 3's portal is 'free to browse' for some content in most 3 countries including Ireland, UK and Australia in most price plans; the user pays a fixed price for each video, text or application downloaded.

Besides that, 3 UK and also 3 Ireland initially made the decision to block direct Internet access from handsets, while 3 Austria allowed access to the Internet since the beginning.

In 2004, 3 released a PC Card 3G Data Card ("NetConnect Card") for Windows-based laptops which allows Internet access through 3's network directly from the computer, accompanied by a range of data and business tariffs. Later, more cards and USB modems for HSDPA were introduced.

3 Skypephones and Skype on 3

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Main article: 3 Skypephone Series

In November 2007, 3 started to sell the Skypephone, which was developed in conjunction with the Chinese phone manufacturer Amoi and Skype, combining the functionality of a UMTS handset with free voice calls and instant messages from Skype. The phones were sold exclusively by 3 on contract and on a prepaid basis.

3 also produced an application called "Skype on 3" which brought the same functionality to S60 and J2ME-capable phones (but not iPhone or Android, although some unofficial Android versions were distributed[70]). Unlike the non-3 versions of mobile Skype, "Skype on 3" does not use the phone's data connection for voice calls, but instead places a normal phone call to a special number which 3 make available for this service.[71] 3 does not charge users for calls to this number.[72] This service is available in Australia, Ireland and the UK; it has been discontinued in Austria, Denmark, Hong Kong, Italy and Sweden.[73] A company called iSkoot was behind at least some of the clients and back-end servers[74] but iSkoot announced a shutdown scheduled for 20 January 2011.[75] It appears this shutdown initially affected the J2ME version and some Skypephones (which now show a "click to upgrade" link which either doesn't function or takes you to a page saying an upgrade is not available), but some S60 versions were not affected.[76] Skype have started sending emails indicating the Skype on 3 service will be terminated on 30 September 2014, in spite of Three's original "free for life" advertising. The recommended clients for smartphones will use the phone's data connection which may be liable to charges, instead of the dedicated access number used by the client, which was free to call.

Roaming packages

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In February 2007, 3 introduced '3 Like Home', a service that in theory allows subscribers to use any 3-branded network (with the exception of 3 Indonesia) without having to pay additional roaming charges, instead paying the same amount for voice, data, and messaging services as they would do on their home network. This also allows users to use their free or inclusive bundles and allowances while abroad. However, pre-pay customers do not benefit fully, as they cannot use each 3 branded network for '3 Like Home'.

This arrangement is possible because of the roaming agreements between the networks, which provide service to other partners' customers free of internal roaming charges. This means that the marginal cost of a roaming call is much the same as a call on the home network.

  • At the end of April 2009, 3 UK announced that '3 Like Home' would no longer be available to customers of the 3 UK network from 30 June 2009. On 7 April 2010, 3 Sweden announced that '3 Like Home' would be discontinued on 23 May 2010.
  • On 19 August 2013, 3 Austria announced at a press conference that '3 Like Home' would no longer be available for new customers, following their acquisition of Orange Austria. Existing plans were unaffected.[77]
  • On 30 August 2013, 3 UK launched "Feel at Home" for UK customers visiting Australia, Italy, Denmark, Austria, Sweden, Hong Kong and Ireland, where calls, texts and data are charged at their standard UK rate.[78] The list of countries was later extended:
  • In Sept 2014, 3 Denmark added France, Germany, Norway and Switzerland to its "Roam Like Home" package.
    • May 2015 − added Portugal, Malta, Greece, Cyprus and Spain
    • November 2015 – added USA and Singapore
  • On 1 April 2017, 3 Ireland announced that they were discontinuing their '3 Like Home' service, later announcing they would instead provide a "Roam Like Home" experience to Pay As You Go customers, allowing them to use their flexi units and a "chunk" of their data within the 30 EEA countries together with Andorra, Monaco, Norway, Switzerland, San Marino and UK. On Bill Pay Plans this scheme includes the 30 EEA countries together with Andorra, the Isle of Man, Jersey, Guernsey, Gibraltar, Monaco, San Marino, UK and Vatican City. This was introduced as part of Regulation (EU) No 531/2012 which abolished roaming charges within the European Union.

References

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[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

3 (company)

View on Grokipedia
from Grokipedia
3, also branded as Three, is an international telecommunications brand owned by subsidiaries of CK Hutchison Holdings Limited, specializing in mobile network services including voice, data, broadband, and 5G connectivity. The brand operates in eight markets across Europe and Asia, including the United Kingdom, Ireland, Italy, Sweden, Denmark, Austria, Hong Kong, and Macau, serving a combined customer base of over 65 million registered subscribers as of mid-2025. Launched on March 3, 2003, in the UK as the world's first commercial 3G-only network, 3 pioneered mobile broadband technology and has since expanded to emphasize high-speed data services and innovative network infrastructure. The company was among the earliest adopters of advanced mobile technologies, introducing 5G services in key markets starting in 2019 and holding significant spectrum assets, such as 100 MHz of contiguous 5G spectrum in the UK. In recent years, 3 has undergone strategic consolidations to enhance competitiveness; notably, in May 2025, merged with to form VodafoneThree, a 51% owned by Group and 49% by CK Hutchison, creating the UK's largest mobile operator with nearly 28 million customers and committing £11 billion to network investments over the next decade. In Italy, operations run as Wind Tre, wholly owned by CK Hutchison, while in , maintains a leading position with 4.6 million subscribers and 99% population coverage. These developments underscore 3's focus on global connectivity, innovation, and partnerships to support growing demand for data-intensive services.

History and Development

Founding and Early Expansion

3 (telecommunications), a of , was established on 3 March 2003 as the operator of the United Kingdom's first commercial 100% network, marking a significant milestone in mobile telecommunications by prioritizing third-generation technology from inception. Backed by Hutchison Whampoa's investment in licenses across multiple markets, the launch positioned 3 as a pioneer in delivering high-speed mobile data services without reliance on legacy infrastructure. The network debuted with innovative features such as the world's first commercial 3G video calling capability, emphasizing multimedia experiences like video streaming and mobile internet over traditional voice telephony. This data-centric approach aimed to differentiate 3 from established competitors by showcasing the potential of 3G for and access on the go. In its early phase, 3 rapidly expanded beyond the to capitalize on Hutchison Whampoa's global 3G spectrum holdings, launching services in on 5 May 2003 as the country's first pure 3G provider. This was followed by market entries in in March 2003, where 3 introduced video-enhanced mobile services to an base, and in in August 2003, leveraging the parent company's home market to test advanced 3G applications like live video portals. These expansions highlighted 3's commitment to accelerating across diverse regions, with initial rollouts focusing on urban coverage to demonstrate high-speed data capabilities such as video calls and content downloads. By the end of 2003, these launches had established 3 in key European and Asian markets, amassing hundreds of thousands of subscribers drawn to the novelty of mobile experiences. The "3" brand was introduced in October 2002 as a unified global identity for Hutchison Whampoa's 3G ventures, symbolizing simplicity and the third generation of while enabling consistent marketing of innovative services worldwide. This branding strategy facilitated seamless recognition across borders, allowing 3 to promote its pioneering video mobile ecosystem as a cohesive offering from the outset.

Key Milestones and Acquisitions

In 2006, Hutchison Telecommunications acquired a majority stake in PT Hutchison CP Telecommunications, establishing PT Hutchison 3 Indonesia as the group's entry into the Indonesian market and marking a significant expansion in . This acquisition allowed the company to launch services in in 2007, building on the existing infrastructure to rapidly grow its subscriber base in one of the world's largest emerging telecom markets. In January 2022, Hutchison 3 Indonesia merged with to form Indosat Ooredoo Hutchison, creating Indonesia's second-largest mobile operator with over 100 million subscribers. The following year, in 2007, Hutchison 3G Ireland expanded its operations with the commercial rollout of high-speed services, following the initial network launch in 2005 and license acquisition in 2002, which solidified its position as 's fourth mobile operator focused on data-centric offerings. Concurrently, in the Nordic region, in 2001, 3 Sweden entered into a network-sharing agreement with through the 3G Infrastructure Services AB (3GIS) for its network, enabling cost-efficient expansion of coverage across while in 2008, 3 Denmark achieved positive EBITDA for the first time, reflecting operational maturity in both markets. A pivotal partnership was announced in 2008 when Hutchison Telecommunications Hong Kong secured exclusive rights to distribute the in and , positioning 3 as the sole carrier for Apple's groundbreaking and driving significant uptake of data services through bundled plans. This exclusivity lasted until 2013, when additional carriers like CSL and Hong Kong gained access to iPhone models, ending 3's monopoly but having boosted its market share in premium during that period. Network upgrades accelerated with the introduction of LTE technology, beginning with preparations in in 2011 for a commercial launch in May 2012 over the 2600 MHz band, making 3 the first operator in the region to offer high-speed . This was swiftly followed by rollouts across , including Three UK's launch in December 2013 after winning spectrum in the 's 800 MHz and 2.6 GHz , and similar deployments in , , and by mid-decade, enhancing data capacities and supporting the shift to video streaming and mobile internet. Key regulatory approvals facilitated these expansions, such as the 2012 multi-band in Ireland where 3 secured additional 800 MHz and 1800 MHz holdings, and the 2013 where Hutchison 3G acquired 2x5 MHz in the 800 MHz band for £225 million to underpin nationwide coverage. By , the 3 group had surpassed 100 million registered mobile subscribers globally, driven by these acquisitions, technological advancements, and spectrum wins, with strong growth in and European markets contributing to a combined customer base exceeding 99 million reported in prior years and continuing upward momentum. This milestone underscored the company's transformation from a 3G pioneer to a major player, with regulatory spectrum allocations in auctions across multiple jurisdictions providing the foundation for sustained international operations through the .

Recent Developments

In late 2019, Three launched its network in the , becoming the third major operator to do so, with initial coverage in 25 cities and plans for nationwide expansion. This rollout extended across and starting in 2019-2020, including launches in Ireland in September 2020 covering 35% of the population and in in April 2020 with ultra-fast services supported by 10Gbps backhaul. By the end of 2022, full commercial deployment was achieved in key markets, with the UK network processing 35% of total data traffic via 5G. The from to 2022 influenced Three's operations, boosting demand for data-intensive services amid lockdowns while affecting overall subscriber acquisition in some regions due to economic pressures. Data usage on Three's network rose 12% in , with average call durations increasing 21% to nearly four minutes, reflecting heightened reliance on mobile connectivity for and . Subscriber growth remained positive, driven by expanded home offerings and customer additions, contributing to a 3% revenue increase to £2.52 billion in 2022. On May 31, 2025, the merger between and was completed, creating VodafoneThree as the UK's largest mobile operator with 27 million customers; holds a 51% stake, while the plans to invest £11 billion over the next decade in network enhancements, including expansion. In August 2025, parent company CK Hutchison initiated a strategic review of its global telecom assets, exploring options such as a potential listing for 3 Group Europe, which serves 60.5 million subscribers across markets including the , , , , , and .

Branding and Identity

Etymology and Logo Evolution

The name "3" originates from "third generation" (3G) mobile technology, reflecting the company's pioneering role in launching the world's first commercial 3G network in 2003 to emphasize innovation in mobile data services. The original logo, introduced in 2003, featured a stylized "3" rendered in orange with integrated flame-like elements and a subtle globe motif to symbolize global connectivity and the expansive reach of 3G services. During the , the underwent a redesign around 2009-2011, simplifying to a bold, flat "3" in (often rendered in applications) to highlight a shift toward digital and focus; this version included market-specific color variations. In , the refreshed its visual identity by incorporating 5G-inspired motifs, such as dynamic wave patterns in digital assets and , to evoke speed, reliability, and next-generation connectivity while maintaining the core "3" symbol. Following the May 2025 merger of with to form VodafoneThree, a new combined was introduced, featuring the triangle integrated with the "3" symbol in red and tones to represent the joint venture's unified branding.

Marketing and Sponsorships

Three UK's launch in 2003 featured advertising campaigns that highlighted the potential of technology for video calling and mobile entertainment, positioning the network as a pioneer in data-driven experiences such as streaming and interactive content. These early promotions emphasized the excitement of high-speed data for entertainment, differentiating Three from competitors focused on voice services. The company has engaged in high-profile sponsorships to boost brand visibility, particularly in the UK during the . Three became the Official Connectivity Partner for music festivals organized by Live Nation, including the , providing enhanced network coverage and exclusive fan experiences like pop-up viewing platforms and ticket presales through its rewards app. This partnership, which began in the mid-, aligned the brand with and live entertainment, reaching millions of attendees annually. In other markets, Three has supported sports initiatives; for example, in , Drei (Three's local brand) ran campaigns promoting youth participation in local sports clubs to foster . Post-2020, Three shifted toward strategies to promote its rollout, integrating activations and influencer partnerships to demonstrate real-world applications like seamless streaming and . Campaigns such as the 2021 "Life Needs a Big Network" initiative featured collaborations with #VanLife influencers on platforms like and , showcasing -enabled connectivity in travel and lifestyle scenarios to appeal to younger demographics. These efforts included targeted content on social channels, emphasizing low-latency experiences and unlimited data perks. Market-specific adaptations have tailored promotions to local audiences.

Corporate Structure and Ownership

Parent Company and Ownership

3 (company) is owned by subsidiaries of , a multinational conglomerate formerly known as , which acquired the foundational assets in the early 2000s to establish the global 3 mobile network brand. The Li Ka-shing family maintains significant influence over through its controlling stake, with Victor Li serving as chairman and group co-managing director since 2018, following Li 's transition to senior advisor role. As of 2025, the core assets of 3 operate under Hutchison Telecommunications Hong Kong Holdings Limited (66.09%-owned subsidiary) for Asian markets and 3 Group Europe Limited (wholly owned subsidiary) for European operations. A key development occurred with the completion of the merger between Vodafone UK and Three UK on May 31, 2025, forming VodafoneThree as a joint venture with Vodafone holding 51% ownership and CK Hutchison 49%, thereby introducing partial divestment of control in the UK market while retaining substantial equity. Additionally, CK Hutchison has been exploring strategic options for its global telecom business, including potential listings in Hong Kong or London, amid ongoing portfolio reviews post-merger. The global subscriber base for 3-branded networks stood at approximately 110 million registered customers as of 2022. By June 30, 2025, 3 Group reported 60.5 million registered mobile customers, reflecting merger impacts in the UK where the combined VodafoneThree entity serves 28.8 million registered customers on a 100% basis. Overall governance remains centralized in at CK Hutchison's , with regional structures handling day-to-day operations in to ensure localized execution. CK Hutchison holds a 66.09% stake in HTHKH. Through Hutchison Asia Telecom (HAT), it has an effective interest of about 20.8% in Ooredoo Hutchison.

Organizational Divisions

Hutchison Telecommunications Hong Kong Holdings Limited (HTHKH) serves as the primary operational entity for 3-branded mobile services in and . As an indirect of CK Hutchison Holdings Limited, HTHKH provides a range of mobile , data, and related solutions under brands including , 3SUPREME, and 3Business. As of 30 June 2025, HTHKH had approximately 6.1 million active mobile customers in these markets. Hutchison Asia Telecom (HAT), another key division under CK Hutchison, focuses on emerging Asian markets and oversees mobile operations primarily through its investments. In , HAT holds a significant stake in Ooredoo Hutchison, the merged entity of former Indosat Ooredoo and Hutchison 3 Indonesia, which operates under the Indosat brand but incorporates 3's legacy spectrum and infrastructure. As of the first quarter of 2025, Indosat Ooredoo Hutchison reported a subscriber base exceeding 95 million. HAT also maintains operations in via Hutchison Telecommunications Lanka. 3 Group Europe represents the coordinated operational framework for CK Hutchison's European mobile businesses, excluding the post-merger. This division encompasses subsidiaries in (Hutchison Drei ), Denmark and (3 Denmark and 3 ), and (3 ), delivering mobile voice, data, and services under the 3 brand. As of 30 June 2025, 3 Group Europe served approximately 60.5 million registered mobile customers and 56.6 million active customers across these markets. In , operations are managed separately through Wind Tre, a CK Hutchison-owned entity formed from the 2016 merger of 3 Italia and , focusing on integrated mobile and fixed services. For fixed-line services, 3 entities integrate broadband offerings through strategic partnerships rather than direct ownership. In the UK, following the 2025 merger forming VodafoneThree—a 49%-owned by CK Hutchison—fixed is provided via collaborations such as with Community Fibre, enabling bundled mobile and home solutions for customers. Similar integrations occur in select European markets to complement core mobile operations.

Current International Operations

Asia-Pacific Markets

, a subsidiary of Limited, launched commercial mobile services in 2003 as the region's first operator, focusing on data-centric offerings from . The company rolled out services on April 1, 2020, achieving 99% coverage across , , and the by leveraging spectrum in the 3.5 GHz and 28 GHz bands. In June 2025, 3 serves approximately 6.1 million active mobile subscribers in and combined. This growth includes a 67% year-over-year increase in postpaid subscribers to 4.735 million, with prepaid subscribers increasing 8% year-over-year in the first half of 2025, and penetration at 57% among postpaid customers. In June 2025, the company began deploying -Advanced technology in high-traffic areas such as the Exhibition Centre to support advanced applications. In addition to mobile services, the company offers fixed under the MO+ brand, providing fiber-to-the-home connections with speeds up to 1 Gbps to support high-density urban households. Operations in Macau are fully integrated with those in since 2003, operating under the same Hutchison entity to streamline cross-border services. 3 Macau emphasizes roaming solutions tailored for , offering seamless data connectivity for the influx of visitors—projected to reach 38-39 million in 2025—through partnerships that enable affordable international plans and options for short-term users in the gaming and sectors. This focus aligns with Macau's recovery in visitor arrivals, which hit 19.2 million in the first half of 2025, bolstering demand for mobile data during peak travel periods. In , PT Hutchison 3 Indonesia commenced operations in 2006, initially targeting urban youth with affordable data plans under the Tri (3) brand. Following the 2022 merger with to form Indosat Ooredoo Hutchison (IOH), the 3 legacy continues through the IM3 brand, which now serves as the consumer-facing mobile arm. As of the third quarter of 2025, IOH reports a cellular subscriber base of 95 million, with IM3 driving growth in postpaid services relaunched as IM3 Platinum in late 2024 to attract premium users via AI-enhanced personalization. The network has prioritized and rollouts in major urban centers like and , achieving expanded coverage through deals with for multi-band deployments starting in 2025, though rural penetration remains a work in progress. Across the operations, 3 faces intense regional challenges, including fierce competition from market leaders like in , which commands over 170 million subscribers and pressures ARPU through aggressive pricing and superior rural coverage. In , regulatory hurdles around spectrum re-assignment persist, with the Office of the Communications Authority planning a 50 MHz auction in the 2.5/2.6 GHz band for Q4 2025 to address capacity needs amid ongoing urban data demand. These factors underscore 3's of urban-focused while navigating consolidation and allocation constraints to sustain growth.

European Markets

3's presence in European markets is shaped by stringent EU regulatory frameworks, including harmonization and merger approvals aimed at fostering and enhancing network resilience across borders. The company operates in five key countries—Austria, , , , and —while navigating post-Brexit adjustments in the UK through a major merger. These operations emphasize rollout aligned with the European Electronic Communications Code, prioritizing ubiquitous coverage and sustainability in line with the EU Green Deal. Unlike more fragmented strategies elsewhere, 3's European approach integrates cross-border roaming under the "Roam Like at Home" policy and collaborates on EU-wide initiatives for digital inclusion. In , Hutchison Drei Austria (H3G Austria), launched in 2003 as the country's first operator, serves approximately 3.0 million registered customers as of mid-2025. The subsidiary has invested heavily in network modernization, achieving over 90% population coverage with by the end of 2024 through the deployment of 3,200 macro sites utilizing 2 GHz and 3.4-3.7 GHz spectrum bands. This expansion supports high-speed data services and positions Drei as a leader in Austria's telecom market, where total mobile subscriptions exceed 15 million. 3 Scandinavia, encompassing operations in Denmark and Sweden, was established in 2008 through the integration of local 3-branded networks under a unified Nordic structure to optimize costs and coverage. As of early 2025, the group boasts a combined subscriber base of around 4.5 million, with 3 Sweden at 2.77 million and 3 Denmark at 1.76 million, reflecting steady postpaid growth amid competitive pricing. The division prioritizes sustainability, sourcing 100% renewable energy for its networks and partnering on solar initiatives that reduced Scope 1 and 2 emissions by over 90% compared to baseline levels; this aligns with Nordic environmental standards and EU taxonomy for sustainable activities. In Ireland, 3 Ireland has operated since 2007, evolving into the nation's largest mobile provider with a 48.7% market share and nearly 5.2 million registered customers as of June 2025. The company has invested over €2 billion in infrastructure, attaining 99% 4G population coverage and more than 92% 5G availability, with targeted expansions into rural areas to bridge the digital divide—where national rural 5G penetration lags below 10%. These efforts include partnerships with Ericsson for standalone 5G trials, enhancing low-latency services for agriculture and remote connectivity in line with Ireland's National Broadband Plan. 3 Italia, introduced in 2003 as Italy's pioneering network, now functions within WindTre following the 2016 merger, contributing to a combined mobile subscriber base of approximately 19 million as of mid-2025. The 3 brand retains a strong identity with around 10 million legacy and branded users, focusing on premium data plans and youth-oriented services. To broaden accessibility, 3 Italia engages in MVNO partnerships, hosting operators like CoopVoce and others on its infrastructure, which supports Italy's competitive market where MVNOs account for over 10% share; this model facilitates EU-compliant wholesale access and drives innovation in bundled offerings. In the , 3 UK's operations merged with in May 2025 to form VodafoneThree, a that integrates Three's legacy base of 10.3 million subscribers into a combined 28.8 million registered customer network as of June 2025. The merger, approved by the in late 2024, commits £11 billion over 10 years to deploy one of Europe's most advanced infrastructures, targeting 99% population coverage and enhanced rural connectivity while adhering to post-Brexit rules. This investment aims to boost GDP by up to £102.75 billion through improved digital services, marking a pivotal shift in 3's European footprint toward consolidated scale.

Discontinued and Past Operations

Australia

Hutchison 3G , operating under the 3 brand, launched in April 2003 as the pioneer of 's first commercial third-generation () mobile telecommunications network. This initiative by Hutchison Telecommunications () Limited (HTAL) introduced advanced mobile data services, including video calling and mobile internet, at a time when competitors like and were still reliant on 2G infrastructure. The launch positioned 3 as an innovator in the market, rapidly attracting customers seeking faster connectivity and multimedia capabilities. By the time of its peak, 3 had grown to over 2 million subscribers, establishing a significant foothold despite being a late entrant to the mobile sector. However, the company faced intense challenges from established incumbents and , which dominated with larger customer bases and more extensive coverage. Spectrum limitations further hampered expansion, as 3's focus on required substantial investment in new frequencies while lacking the low-band spectrum holdings that aided competitors' nationwide reach. These pressures, including high capital expenditures estimated at over AUD 3 billion for network buildout, strained profitability in a highly competitive environment. In response to these issues, HTAL merged its operations with in June 2009, forming a 50:50 named Vodafone Hutchison Australia (VHA) valued at approximately AUD 4 billion in annual revenues. The merger allowed for shared infrastructure and spectrum resources, addressing 3's standalone vulnerabilities, but it marked the beginning of the end for independent 3 operations. VHA primarily marketed under the brand while retaining limited rights to the 3 name during a transition period. Full integration occurred by 2013, when VHA discontinued the 3 mobile service entirely, absorbing its customers and network assets into the unified platform. This closure eliminated the 3 branding in , with no ongoing presence under that name. Despite its short lifespan, 3's early deployment influenced the broader Australian telecommunications landscape by accelerating the shift to data-centric services and paving the way for nationwide adoption in the following decade.

Other Former Networks

Hutchison acquired 3G spectrum licenses in various markets, including , but did not launch commercial 3-branded services there. This pattern reflects 3's broader strategic shift from aggressive global expansion to focused consolidation in core European and Asian markets, enabling greater efficiency and investment in infrastructure.

Services and Offerings

Mobile Broadband and Data Services

Three has been a pioneer in mobile data services since its launch as the world's first commercial 3G network in 2003, emphasizing broadband connectivity from the outset. The company introduced unlimited data plans in 2010, becoming the first UK operator to offer such tariffs, which allowed customers unrestricted access to mobile internet without data caps. These plans, initially available as supplements to existing contracts, evolved into standalone offerings and remain a core feature, supporting high-data usage for streaming and browsing on 4G and 5G networks. In 2025, Three's network delivers peak download speeds of up to 917 Mbps (95th percentile) in urban areas, enabling ultra-fast for applications like HD video streaming and services. Average speeds across the reach around 220 Mbps (as of H1 2025), with Three consistently ranking as the fastest provider in independent tests. The network's 4G coverage extends to 99% of the population outdoors, while is available to approximately 70-75% of the population (as of late 2025, following merger expansions) and in hundreds of major cities across where Three operates, including strong urban coverage in . Following the May 2025 merger with to form VodafoneThree, customers benefit from combined network access, improving overall speeds and coverage for services. Beyond mobile plans, Three provides home services through fixed-wireless access, leveraging and technologies. In the UK, "3 Broadband" offers unlimited home internet with average download speeds of 150 Mbps, requiring no or engineer installation for plug-and-play setup. In , via the merged WindTre entity, fixed-wireless access (FWA) serves urban households with speeds up to 1.6 Gbps in select areas, targeting regions underserved by . Hong Kong's 3 operates plans starting at HK$168 per month, delivering infinite data via CPE devices for seamless home connectivity without traditional cabling. Three has driven innovations in data services, including early bundles optimized for video streaming launched alongside its 3G rollout to promote mobile consumption. More recently, the company has expanded into IoT data plans for businesses, offering scalable connectivity solutions like NB-IoT and for device fleets in sectors such as and smart metering, with flexible pricing starting from low-volume usage tiers. These offerings integrate with Three's core to support low-latency, high-reliability applications, enhancing for enterprise customers.

Voice, Messaging, and Roaming

Three UK pioneered Voice over LTE (VoLTE) services in the United Kingdom, launching the technology in September 2015 under the branding "4G Super Voice," which enables high-definition (HD) voice calls over its 4G network for clearer audio quality compared to traditional circuit-switched calls. The rollout was completed across the entire 4G network by October 2020, allowing customers to make and receive calls without dropping to 3G or 2G, thereby maintaining data connectivity during conversations. Many of Three's contract and SIM-only plans include unlimited domestic voice minutes to standard UK landlines and mobiles at no additional cost, supporting seamless nationwide calling within allowance limits. For messaging, Three provides unlimited SMS in its base pay-monthly and pay-as-you-go plans when bundled with data packs, ensuring customers can send texts to numbers without per-message fees. The company rolled out (RCS) in June 2019 through Google's Enhanced Chat upgrade, introducing features like rich media sharing, group chats, and read receipts over data connections for a more interactive experience beyond standard . This RCS implementation supports multimedia messaging on compatible Android devices, with expansions to iOS users via Apple's iOS 18.2 update in December 2024. Three's roaming offerings, originally branded as the "Feel at Home" policy, allowed free use of voice, text, and data allowances in the and select global destinations prior to in 2020, covering over 70 countries without extra charges. Post-, the policy evolved into the tiered "Go Roam" framework effective from May 2022, where roaming incurs a £2 daily fee to access allowances for calls and texts in 48 destinations, while and other international spots fall under £5 daily passes for up to 12GB of data alongside voice and messaging. Following the 2025 merger with , network sharing enhancements have improved roaming reliability by enabling seamless access to combined infrastructure, with MOCN enabled at 500 sites initially (as of August 2025) and targeting 10,000 by March 2026 for better international connectivity.

Partnerships and Value-Added Services

3 (company) has pursued strategic partnerships to enhance its service offerings through integrated device bundles and value-added services (VAS), focusing on collaborations that leverage third-party applications and hardware for improved user experiences. The 3 Skypephone series, launched in 2007 as a between Hutchison 3G and , featured handsets with built-in Skype functionality enabling free voice and video calls over networks. The initial model, the 3 Skypephone S1, supported unlimited Skype-to-Skype voice calls without additional data charges, while the subsequent S2, released in 2008, added video calling capabilities. These devices were distributed across multiple 3 markets, including the , , and , until the series was phased out around 2010. Building on this collaboration, 3 introduced the "Skype on 3" service in 2009, allowing unlimited Skype-to-Skype voice calls and globally for customers with a compatible 3 SIM and device, at no extra cost beyond standard data plans. This initiative extended Skype's VoIP integration directly into 3's mobile ecosystem, promoting seamless over-the-air communication without dependency. In terms of device partnerships, 3 has maintained exclusive distribution deals for smartphones in several European markets, offering bundled contracts with advanced features like access and trade-in programs. Historically, in Asia, signed a landmark agreement with Apple in 2008 to exclusively launch the , supporting Chinese language and HSDPA connectivity, which marked one of the region's earliest introductions. Value-added services have included zero-rated music streaming partnerships, such as the 2017 "Go Binge" initiative with , which exempted audio streaming data from monthly allowances to encourage unlimited listening. Three offers cloud storage as an add-on option, providing up to 100GB for backing up photos, contacts, and files across devices without incurring extra data fees.

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  115. https://www.three.co.uk/support/roaming-and-calling-abroad/roaming-abroad/go-roam
  116. https://www.vodafone.co.uk/newscentre/features/merger-sharing-mobile-networks-everything-you-need-to-know-mocn/
  117. https://www.theguardian.com/business/2007/oct/29/4
  118. https://www.mobilephonemuseum.com/phone-detail/skypephone
  119. https://www.adamok.net/2008/10/3-skypephone-s2-review.html
  120. https://www.commsbusiness.co.uk/content/news/3-opens-way-to-skype
  121. https://www.mobileworldlive.com/old_latest-stories/3-pushes-free-skype-calls/
  122. https://www.three.co.uk/mobile-phones/brands/samsung
  123. https://web.three.com.hk/pressrelease/20080529e.pdf
  124. https://www.silicon.co.uk/networks/three-go-binge-216541
  125. https://www.three.co.uk/offers/google-one
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