UK Mobile Network Technical Information
Three UK
Key Technologies & Dates:
- VoLTE (4G Super-Voice): Launched September 2015 (initially B20 only, then expanded).
- 4x4 MIMO: Not explicitly stated for early introduction, but generally aligns with Cat.6 (Nov 2018).
- 256 QAM: Not explicitly stated for early introduction, but generally aligns with Cat.11 (Sep 2019).
Spectrum Holdings (Key Bands):
- 700 MHz (B28): 10 MHz (Apr 2021)
- 800 MHz (B20): 5 MHz (Sep 2015)
- 1800 MHz (B3): 15 MHz (Dec 2013) - Now 20Mhz (Jun 2025) (+5.8 MHz from Vodafone)
- 2100 MHz (B1): 10 MHz + 4.6 Mhz UMTS (Aug 2017) now 15Mhz LTE (3G Shutdown ongoing)
- 1400 MHz (B32): 20 MHz (Sep 2019)
- 3500 MHz (N78): 100 Mhz + 40 MHz (140 MHz)
- Carrier Aggregation (e.g.): 25 MHz (CA_1A_3A) (Cat.6) (Nov 2018)
Additional Info:
- First UK network to launch commercial VoLTE.
- Active network sharing with EE via MBNL (Mobile Broadband Network Limited) for 3G, but increasingly structure sharing for 4G/5G.
EE
Key Technologies & Dates:
- VoLTE (IMS): Launched November 2016 (available on all bands). PAYG rollout started June 2021.
- 4x4 MIMO: Introduced June 2016. Increasingly deployed on 1800MHz+2100MHz, 2600MHz.
- 256 QAM (DL): Introduced September 2017. Ubiquitous across the network.
- 64 QAM (UL): Ubiquitous across the network.
- 256 QAM (UL): Available in some areas.
Spectrum Holdings (Key Bands):
- 800 MHz (B20): 5 MHz (Nov 2016)
- 1800 MHz (B3): 20 MHz + 10 MHz + 10 MHz (Oct 2012) + 5 MHz GSM
- 2100 MHz (B1): 20Mhz (Sep 2018)
- 2600 MHz (B7): 20 MHz + 15 MHz + 15 MHz (Oct 2014)
- 700 MHz (B28): 10 MHz 5G NR + 20 MHz SDL (B670
- 3500 MHz (N78): 40 MHz + 40 MHz not contiguous.
- Carrier Aggregation (e.g.):
- 30 MHz (CA_3C) [4x4 MIMO] (Cat.9) (Jun 2016)
- 30 MHz (CA_3C) [4x4 MIMO, 256 QAM] (Cat.11) (Sep 2017)
- 40 MHz (CA_3A_7A) (Cat.6) (Oct 2014)
- 55 MHz (CA_3A_7C) (Cat.9) (Sep 2016)
- 85 MHz (CA_1A_3C_7C) [4x4 MIMO, 256 QAM] (Cat.19) (Sep 2018)
Additional Info:
- First UK operator to launch 4G (Oct 2012).
- Substantial deployment of carrier aggregation, supporting theoretical gigabit 4G.
- Publicly launched Standalone 5G (SA) in early September 2024.
- Also rolling out License Assisted Access (LAA) 4G.
- Joint venture with Three via MBNL.
- Enhanced Voice Services Super Wideband (EVS-SWB) available for direct customers.
- First UK operator to launch 5G (May 2019).
O2 (Virgin Media O2)
Key Technologies & Dates:
- VoLTE: Launched March 2017.
- 4x4 MIMO: Introduced April 2016.
- 8x8 MIMO: Introduced June 2019 (B40, not all sites).
Spectrum Holdings (Key Bands):
- 700 MHz (B28): 10 MHz + 5G NR (Apr 2021)
- 800 MHz (B20): 10 MHz (Aug 2013)
- 900 MHz (B8): 10 Mhz (Sep 2021), 5 MHz UMTS, 2.4 MHz GSM
- 1800 MHz (B3):5 MHz (Sep 2016)
- 2100 MHz (B1): 10 MHz (Dec 2017) + 5G NR (DSS)
- 2300 MHz (B40): 20 MHz (Apr 2018) + 20 MHz (Nov 2018) Total=40Mhz (20+20)
- 2600 MHz TDD (B38): 25 MHz (Nov 2022) - 5Mhz Unused
- 3500 MHz (N78): 80 MHz
- Carrier Aggregation (e.g.):
- 15 MHz (CA_3A_20A) (Cat.4) (Sep 2016)
- 20 MHz [4x4 MIMO] (Cat.6) (Apr 2018)
Additional Info:
- Infrastructure sharing with Vodafone (Cornerstone).
- 5G Standalone (SA) network switched on February 2024 in 14 cities across the UK.
- Recently acquired additional spectrum from Vodafone (June 2025) including 20 MHz of 5 MHz Supplemental Downlink, 18.8 MHz of 2100 MHz Frequency Division Duplex, 20 MHz of 2600 MHz Time Division Duplex, and 20 MHz of 3400 MHz Time Division Duplex.
Vodafone
Key Technologies & Dates:
- VoLTE: Launched July 2017.
- 4x4 MIMO: Introduced October 2016.
- 64x64 MIMO: Introduced June 2017.
- 256 QAM: Introduced June 2017.
Spectrum Holdings (Key Bands):
- 800 MHz (B20): 10 MHz (Aug 2013)
- 900 MHz (B8): 10 MHz (Sep 2021) - 7.4 MHz GSM
- 1800 MHz (B3): 5 MHz (Jul 2016) - Available on limited sites only.
- 2100 MHz (B1): 15 MHz (Apr 2016) + 5G NR (DSS)
- 1400 MHz (B32): 20 MHz (May 2021)
- 2600 MHz (B7): 20 MHz (Oct 2014)
- 3500 MHz (N78): 50 MHz + 40 MHz (90 MHz) not contiguous.
- 2600 MHz TDD (B38): 20 MHz (Oct 2016) 5 MHz Unused - Available on single sites in some city centers.
- Carrier Aggregation (e.g.):
- 20 MHz (CA_1A_20A) (Cat.4) (Oct 2016)
- 30 MHz (CA_7A_20A) (Cat.6) (Oct 2014)
- 40 MHz (CA_1A_7A_20A) (Cat.9) (Jun 2017)
- 45 MHz (CA_1A_7A_20A) [4x4 MIMO, 256 QAM] (Cat.15) (Jun 2017)
Additional Info:
- Infrastructure sharing with O2 (Cornerstone).
- Recently merged with Three UK, forming VodafoneThree.
EE:
- EE only announces 5G SA availability once a location has at least 95% outdoor coverage.
- By the end of March 2025, EE's 5G SA network was live and available to over 28 million people across 50 major towns and cities (over 40% of the population).
O2:
- 5G SA network is now available in 450 major towns and cities and continues to expand.
- O2's 5G network covers thousands of towns and cities and over 50% of the UK population.
Three:
- Merged with Vodafone UK in June 2025 to form VodafoneThree.
Vodafone:
- Recently merged with Three UK, forming VodafoneThree (June 2025).
VodafoneThree:
- VodafoneThree plans to invest £11 billion over the next 10 years in network build.
- As of June 2025, 7 million Three and SMARTY customers received an average 20% speed boost on 4G due to combined spectrum sharing.
- Automatic roaming between Three and Vodafone networks for customers is planned within a few months of the merger, connecting users to the best available signal. (MOCN not Network Roaming)
- VodafoneThree aims for 95% 4G geographic coverage by 2027.