Which networks piggyback off Three's network?

Contents list 5G networks using Three's infrastructure Smarty iD Mobile 4G networks using Three's infrastructure Frequently asked questions (FAQs)

Three is one of the UK’s leading 5G networks, with widespread coverage and impressive speeds. But you don’t need to be on Three itself to get Three’s 5G experience, as some MVNOs (Mobile Virtual Network Operators) use Three’s coverage and infrastructure.

That means that anywhere Three has 5G coverage, these networks will too, so they’re worth considering if you want Three’s 5G.

Note that there are also many:

• EE MVNOs
• Vodafone MVNOs
• O2 MVNOs

so if you prefer the coverage for any of those networks, they’re worth checking out too.

Here though, we’ll be looking specifically at the networks that piggyback off Three’s network. First up you’ll find the 5G networks using Three’s infrastructure, then further down we’ve touched briefly on 4G networks.

5G networks using Three’s infrastructure

At the time of writing there are only two 5G networks that use Three’s infrastructure (other than Three itself), so there’s not loads of choice, but the available options are compelling.

Smarty

Smarty is a mobile network that’s owned and operated by Three, so this is no small company, but it has things going for it that Three itself doesn’t.

For one thing, it’s typically cheaper than Three itself, and you’re never tied into a long-term contract, as all Smarty’s plans are just 30 days long.

It also offers free roaming in the EU, which Three doesn’t anymore on most plans, and you can take advantage of Wi-Fi Calling, 4G Calling, and tethering, at no extra cost.

Smarty also offers 5G as standard, you can get up to unlimited data, and all of its plans also come with unlimited minutes and texts (other than its Data Only plans).

However, Smarty just offers SIM Only and Data Only plans, so it doesn’t have as wide a choice of options as Three itself, or some other networks.

iD Mobile

iD Mobile is a Three MVNO that’s owned by Currys, and it’s got quite a wide selection of plans, including Pay Monthly smartphones, SIM Only, and Pay As You Go.

It also has a variety of plan lengths on SIM Only, with 1, 12, and 24-month options, and even provides data rollover, so you can roll over your unused data and get a second chance to use it – or just pick an unlimited data plan and never need to worry.

4G Calling and Wi-Fi Calling are included too, as of course is 5G, and you can roam across the EU at no extra cost. This then is a feature-packed network, and it’s competitively priced too.

4G networks using Three’s infrastructure 

As well as the above 5G networks, there are also a couple of Three MVNOs which currently don’t offer 5G.

So we won’t spend much time on these, but for reference they include FreedomPop, which is a super-cheap network, but with very limited plans and no roaming.

There’s also Superdrug Mobile, which offers SIM Only plans with up to unlimited data, and includes perks like data rollover, as well as double Health & Beautycard points on all Superdrug shopping.

Frequently Asked Questions