Three Network Faces Call Outage, Data Still Active
Thousands of users on the Three mobile network across the UK reported that they were unable to make or receive phone calls, despite having full signal and mobile data working normally. The outage is believed to stem from a technical fault in the network’s voice call system, possibly linked to VoLTE infrastructure. Heavily impacted areas include London, Manchester, Birmingham, and Glasgow. Three has acknowledged the issue and is working to resolve it, but no estimated fix time has been provided yet. In the meantime, users are advised to use Wi-Fi calling or messaging apps as a workaround.
Ever had full bars—but your calls just won’t connect?
Thousands of Three network users across the UK are reporting they can’t make or receive phone calls, even though mobile data services remain unaffected.
By the end of this article, you’ll know what’s behind the disruption, who’s affected, what the company is saying, and when normal service might return.
Three Network Hit by Call Outage
What’s Happening?
Reports began flooding in early this morning that voice calls on the Three mobile network were down. Customers say they’re unable to place calls, with some also experiencing issues receiving them—though mobile data remains fully functional.
The outage appears to affect both 4G and 5G connections, with no distinction in impacted devices.
A company spokesperson said:
“We’re aware of a technical issue affecting some customers’ ability to make voice calls. Our teams are working urgently to resolve the problem. Data services are operating as normal.”
Where Is the Outage Happening?
Areas Most Affected
According to outage tracking site Downdetector, the highest number of complaints are coming from:
- London
- Manchester
- Birmingham
- Glasgow
- Leeds
The issue appears nationwide, but urban centers are experiencing the brunt of disruptions.
Why Only Voice Calls Are Down
A Deeper Look Into the Problem
Experts suggest the issue may lie with Three’s Voice-over-LTE (VoLTE) infrastructure, which enables phone calls to run over the data network. If VoLTE fails but data routing remains intact, users can still access the internet but can’t use traditional calling functions.
Telecom analyst Sarah Bloom explains:
“It’s not unusual for voice and data to function separately on modern mobile networks. Failures like this typically point to a backend configuration issue or a regional node failure.”
What You Can Do Right Now
Workarounds for Affected Users
If you’re impacted by the Three network call outage, try these alternatives:
- Use Wi-Fi calling, if enabled on your phone
- Switch to messaging apps like WhatsApp, Signal, or Telegram
- Enable airplane mode for 10 seconds, then disable it to refresh your network
- Use mobile data for video/audio calls via apps
Three has not yet confirmed an estimated time for full service restoration.
Conclusion: Calls Down, Data Holding Strong
The Three network outage highlights just how reliant we’ve become on always-on mobile service—and how fragile even large-scale infrastructure can be. While data remains online, voice outages disrupt both personal and professional communication for millions.
Have you been affected by this issue? Drop your city in the comments and let us know how you’re staying connected.
Stay tuned—we’ll update this story as more information becomes available.
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