How Vodafone and Three Are Sharing Their Mobile Networks
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📡 Timestamps (Based on Blog)
- 00:00 – What's the Deal Between Vodafone & Three?
Intro explanation of their long-standing network relationship and shared goals. - 01:30 – What Network Assets Are Shared?
Breakdown of active vs passive sharing: towers, spectrum, and base stations. - 03:00 – MORAN and MOCN: Understanding the Tech
What these acronyms mean, how they impact spectrum use and core separation. - 04:25 – Business Contract Advantages from Shared Networks
Improved signal reliability, especially in rural and semi-rural UK areas. - 05:40 – Risks and Strategic Implications
Competition concerns, future with VM02 merger attempts, and Huawei legacy kit.
For the full technical blog and business mobile context, visit our post: Vodafone & Three Network Sharing.
Sharing Their Mobile Networks – What Businesses Need to Know
Significant changes are underway in the UK mobile market, which could have a real impact on how your business stays connected. Vodafone UK and Three UK have officially joined forces, creating a new joint venture called VodafoneThree. This partnership will improve mobile coverage, reduce costs, and offer better service across the board, thanks to advanced Multi-Operator Core Network (MOCN) technology. Businesses with Vodafone SIMs, including sub-brands like VOXI and Talkmobile, will automatically tap into the best available signal from either Vodafone or Three.
The impact of this partnership is already being felt, with 7 million Three/SMARTY customers experiencing a 20% boost in 4G speeds within two weeks of launch. This translates to faster uploads and downloads, smoother cloud access, and more reliable connectivity.
What Is Access to Roam?
Access to Roam is a new feature that allows Vodafone and Three business customers to use the best available mobile signal, whether it's from Vodafone or Three. This means that teams will automatically connect to the stronger signal, without needing any extra effort. The result is better mobile coverage in more places, including an additional 16,500 square kilometres, which is 10 times the size of London.
Benefits for Businesses
This improvement benefits not only Vodafone and Three customers but also those of VOXI, Talkmobile, and Smarty, all part of the VodafoneThree family. Whether you're running a local business or a national enterprise, your teams will enjoy more reliable mobile service, especially in hard-to-reach areas or while working remotely.
The Tech Behind It – MOCN
MOCN is a smart technology that enables seamless network switching. Imagine two roads, one belonging to Vodafone and one to Three. With MOCN, devices can use the road that offers the best conditions, ensuring a smoother and faster experience. This technology connects devices to the nearest, strongest mast, regardless of the owner, while keeping data processing secure and efficient.
What Does This Mean for Businesses?
The good news for businesses is that no action is required. The switch between networks happens automatically, and devices stay connected as usual. There are no extra charges for Access to Roam, and it's free for all VodafoneThree customers.
Availability and Future Plans
MOCN is currently available at 24 mobile masts across the UK, with plans to expand to 10,000 more locations by March 2026. Within eight years, the entire country will be part of this smarter, stronger mobile network.
Business Features and 5G Support
Business features like RCS messaging, Visual Voicemail, and mobile-first apps will work normally, even when switching between networks. 4G and 5G (Non-Standalone) are already supported, with 5G Standalone (Vodafone's "5G Ultra") on the roadmap.
Rural Areas and Dual SIM Phones
The partnership will also bring improvements to rural areas, where remote teams or factories are located. The Shared Rural Network (SRN), built to eliminate mobile coverage gaps, uses MOCN. For teams using dual SIM phones, MOCN won't interfere with SIM card control for calls, data, and texts.
Why It Matters for B2B
For businesses, this partnership is more than just a better phone signal. It's about:
- Improved employee mobility in urban and rural areas
- Stronger customer communications anywhere in the UK
- Faster data access for apps and cloud services
- More reliable mobile-based operations, like payments and field support
Final Word
Now is a great time for businesses to review their current mobile contracts, check if their teams are getting strong coverage and fast speeds in key locations, and explore options like trial SIM cards, bundled mobile and broadband services, or moving early to 5G.
With mobile tariffs now capped for a few years, this is a good moment to lock in medium-term contracts for more predictable costs. VodafoneThree's Access to Roam is a game-changer, and businesses of all sizes can benefit from a more connected UK.
We are working closely with VodafoneThree helping customers navigate these changes, so if you want to discuss how this can benefit you, give us a call today.
